Understanding His Swing Is Next Step For Astros’ Jacob Melton
Jacob Melton’s hitting ability is the first thing that stood out when Astros farm director Jacob Buffa saw him play for Oregon State.
Melton is more than a hitter, though.
The Astros envision the 6-foot-3, 208-pound Melton as a big league center fielder, and that’s where the 23-year-old is likely to see most of his playing time this season.
“I saw (Melton’s) swing in college,” Buffa said of the 2022 second-rounder. “My first thought was, ‘Wow this kid can hit.’ If you look at what he did in college, that’s got to be your first thought.
“When I saw him in person when he first got here, my first thought was that this kid is a far better athlete than I thought.”
Melton has steadily climbed the minor league ladder after signing. He reached Double-A Corpus Christi late last season after playing primarily for High-A Asheville. In 99 total games he hit .245/.334/.467 with 23 home runs and 46 stolen bases.
Melton has put together solid stretches of hitting, but he must now be more consistent at the plate.
“I think the big thing is hitters as they get through the system, we’d just love for Melton to start to understand himself a little bit better,” Buffa said. “So when he gets in slumps, he can anchor himself to what he does best.”
Melton was a .364 hitter at Oregon State, and he must figure out a way to hit more consistently in pro ball to raise his batting average.
“I think the present power is there,” Buffa said. “I feel confident saying that he can slug. We believe he can also hit for average because he’s done it before, which is why I’m most excited for him to understand his own swing.”
Once Melton understands how to anchor to the positive attributes of his swing, the Astros are hopeful that he’ll have a better chance to avoid long slumps.
