He had two more hits Saturday evening for Single-A Lakeland, which pumped Roberto Campos’ batting average for June to .382 — with on-base (.488) and slugging (.500) tag-ons contributing to an OPS of .988.
Peel back to games beginning May 26 and Campos is batting .332.
So, this is why the Tigers three years ago gave Campos more money ($2.85 million) than they had ever dished out for an international teen.
Campos later this week turns 19. He plays center field, bats right-handed, is 6-foot-3 and weighs 200-plus pounds.
His manager, Andrew Graham, was talking Saturday about what he sees in a player whose physical frame is so mature it reminds one of that short-time Tigers slugger of yesteryear, Juan Gonzalez.
“He has the ability to hit the ball,” Graham said during a phone conversation. “And when he hits it, he hits it as hard as anyone in the game.”
Those words again from Graham, who does not toss around empty plaudits: “… he hits it as hard as anyone in the game.”
The Tigers, as fans might have noticed, are due for a big outfield bat from their years of Latin American talent hunts. Avisail Garcia is the last such player they brought to Detroit. But he disappeared from Comerica Park in 2013 as part of a deal that delivered shortstop Jose Iglesias.
Some necessary history:
Campos was born in Cuba and at age 13 defected, with his father and a brother, to the Dominican Republic.
Even then he was a prospect. And while these matters are quiet within MLB circles, it is possible the Tigers then initiated, if not reached general agreement, on a signing package. Such an accord would be fulfilled when Campos turned 16, the age at which Latin teens can legally sign with a MLB team.
Two traits, somewhat at odds, are noticed with Campos.
Unlike so many young Latin teens, who often arrive with aggressive swings and little strike-zone discretion, Campos will take a walk: 20 in 54 games for the Flying Tigers, compared with 46 strikeouts.
“He’s more selective, not just swinging at the first pitch, and laying off chases more,” Graham said of a player who this season carries an overall .340 on-base percentage and .271 batting average entering Sunday. “He’s been swinging at pitches in the heart of the plate.
“Just, basically, having a better mental approach,” Graham said. “There are meetings every day and he’s taking a more simplified approach. Really basic hitting philosophy.”
This was one reason the Tigers liked Campos even as a young teen. He had faced more sophisticated pitching in his early years at Cuba and had absorbed more instruction and discipline from coaches.
A separate semi-surprise is that Campos, for all his size and ability to “crush” a ball, as Graham says, has only three home runs in 54 games. He has a mere nine doubles to go with three triples. That amounts to a gentle season slugging percentage of .396.
But note that, since May 26, the slugging percentage has jumped to .500.
Graham says it’s a matter of Campos “just letting his pitch come to him.” Pitches need to get deeper in the Campos wheelhouse, allowing for more extension. There are slight adjustments being made to his swing, as well, as the Tigers apply science from their developmental technology to Campos’ loft and launch angles.
Mostly, they say, this is a matter of age. A man who for a few more days remains 18, is playing Single-A professional baseball. He is handling center field as the Tigers work to put more zip in throws that aren’t as furious as his size might also imply.
But what they’re beginning to see is a player whose gifts inspired all that money being lavished on him three years ago.
He remains a teen. A team will allow Campos all the time he needs.
Lynn Henning is a freelance writer and retired Detroit News sports reporter.