Coach Helps Mariners Boost Home Run Output

It has always been assumed that home run hitters are born and not made.

Not true.

Of course, some home run hitters are naturals, but the truth is that power-hitters can be manufactured if they are willing to listen and apply a few changes in their batting mechanics.

One of the best around at teaching players how to become home run hitters is Deron Johnson, batting coach of the Seattle Mariners. Johnson was with the Philadelphia Phillies last season and the club led the National League with 147 home runs.

This year the Mariners have been leading the American League in home runs.

Call it the Johnson trend.

Johnson’s two pet projects this year are Phil Bradley and Jim Presley. Bradley did not hit a home run last year in 124 games, even though he batted .301. However, this year he already had five homers by May 2.

Unlike Bradley, Presley showed some long-ball potential last season by belting 10 homers in 70 games. This year he hit his seventh on May 1 and he credits Johnson with improving his home run stroke.

“He had me drop my hands down, so I have a different approach to the ball when it’s being thrown,” said Presley. “When I go into the pitch, I get more drive into the ball.”

Johnson said he hasn’t really done much with Presley, just made him more disciplined at the plate. Bradley, though, was a complete reconstruction project.

“You try to work with what’s in a guy,” said Johnson. “Bradley has more power than people give him credit for. We’re not talking 35 or 40 home runs. We’re talking more than none.”

With his five home runs Bradley already had more than his combined total for four professional seasons.

Johnson believes as long as a player is big and strong he has the potential to become a consistent home run hitter.

“Almost every guy has a chance to become one,” said Johnson. “You have to have the strength and the swing. You have to be big. You try to work with whatever a guy is capable of doing and show him what he can do best.”

Johnson said the key to being a successful hitting coach is “good communication.”

“You’ve got to keep up with the modern times,” he said.

Ralph Kiner, one of baseball’s all-time great home run hitters, subscribes to Johnson’s idea that hitters can be converted into power hitters.

“Some good examples are Sid Gordon (helped by Red Kress in 1947), Hank Aaron, Stan Musial (both changed by themselves) and myself (helped by Hank Greenberg in 1947).