Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt is a two-strike master thanks to old-school approach
Share this @internewscast.com

The “professional” label follows Paul Goldschmidt around for good reason.

In nearly every aspect of baseball that requires finesse — such as the essentials of playing at first base or understanding the timing to steal a base without being particularly fast — the 37-year-old truly shines.

It follows, then, that he owns a master’s in the finer art of hitting with two strikes.

Entering play Sunday, 171 hitters had tallied at least 100 plate appearances in which they reached two strikes.

Goldschmidt’s .278 average in such situations ranked third.

Down to his last strike, the Yankees first baseman does what has become significantly less common around the game: He slides his hands up on the bat.

“I definitely choke up,” Goldschmidt said before finishing a series with the Red Sox in The Bronx. “Just try to simplify mechanics.

“When players inquire about handling two-strike situations, I often suggest that they shouldn’t burden themselves with too much pressure, like thinking, ‘I must make contact’ … because that’s when they tend to become too cautious.”

Goldschmidt developed his skill for hitting with a two-strike mindset during his time at Texas State and as he rose through the ranks of the Diamondbacks’ organization after being drafted in 2009.

He went through two-strike drills in the batting cage, the situational hitting a “high priority” for him, he said.

Different approaches for different counts certainly still exist in 2025, though not many hitters these days inch up on the handle to have a better chance at making contact.



Many hitters will still swing with authority, accepting strikeouts because doubles and home runs are appealing.

Before he reaches two strikes, Goldschmidt entered play with a .589 slugging percentage.

That number sunk to .365 when he encountered a two-strike count.

In gaining a bit more bat control and swinging a bit softer — his zero- or one-strike swing averaged 73.2 mph, while his two-strike swing ticked down to 72.1 mph — he is aware of and OK with the trade-off he is making.

“Maybe you’re giving up a little bit of power for hopefully a little bit of control,” Goldschmidt said. “For a guy who’s got a little bit higher swing-and-miss rate, I feel like it gives me a better opportunity with two strikes. Guys that probably have a higher contact rate, a lower swing-and-miss rate, they maybe won’t need to choke up. So it’s just kind of finding what you’re comfortable with.”

More than most, Goldschmidt is comfortable with having his back against the wall.

It is part of being a 15th-year major leaguer who has seen everything in the game and is probably headed to the Hall of Fame.

It is also part of being a slugger who entered with 369 career home runs and swings hard.

Taking healthy cuts early in the count will lead to whiffs and lead to plenty of two-strike at-bats.

“The mental part is just being OK getting two strikes and being OK knowing that I can still get a hit with two strikes, even though knowing overall the numbers [for any hitter] are not great,” said Goldschmidt, whose numbers are excellent even though he entered play in an 0-for-13 slump when reaching two strikes. “So I think still keeping that confidence even knowing it’s somewhat of a tougher situation.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
TEASER: '9-1-1: Nashville' joins 'DWTS,' 'High Potential,' 'Abbott Elementary' and more in ABC's primetime fall lineup

ABC Network Reveals Fall 2025 Premiere Dates for ‘9-1-1: Nashville,’ ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ and ‘High Potential’

LOS ANGELES — It’s heating up on ABC! The broadcast network announced…
Six arrested in connection to Park Avenue shooting incident

Six People Detained Related to Shooting on Park Avenue

The shooting led Jacksonville police to arrest a group of friends which…

Terrifying Incident: Passenger Falls from Edge of Infinity Pool on Royal Caribbean Cruise While Retrieving Glasses

THIS shocking incident occurred when a passenger on a Royal Caribbean cruise…
Crime scene with police and forensic officers.

Shocking Incident: Nursery Goes on Lockdown Following Fatal Stabbing at London Business

A MUM has told of her horror after her two-year-old son’s nursery…
Donald Trump and Keir Starmer in a meeting.

Trump Criticizes Sadiq Khan’s Performance, Only for Starmer to Defend Him: ‘He’s a Friend!’

DONALD Trump today savaged Sadiq Khan as a “nasty person” who has…
Cincinnati business owners slam viral 'out of control' beating amid fight to clean up downtown

Cincinnati Entrepreneurs Condemn Viral ‘Chaotic’ Assault as Efforts to Revitalize Downtown Continue

CINCINNATI – Business owners near the site of a viral weekend beatdown…
Chicago weather today: Extreme heat forecast prompts Chicago Heat Advisory; heat index exceeds 100 degrees in parts of area

Blazing Heat Advisory Issued for Chicago: Heat Index Surpasses 100 Degrees in Some Areas Today

CHICAGO (WLS) — Extreme heat is impacting the Chicago area on Monday…
Arizona prosecutors decline to charge father in drowning death of TikTok influencer's 3-year-old son

Arizona Prosecutors Decide Not to File Charges Against Father in Drowning Incident Involving 3-Year-Old Boy, Son of TikTok Influencer

The husband of a TikTok influencer in Arizona will not face charges…
NYPD officers at a New York City shooting scene.

Police Officer Critically Injured and One Other Hurt in Terrifying NYC Shooting Near Office Building

AN active shooter unleashed chaos in broad daylight in the heart of…
Screenshot of a video showing a person filling bottles with petrol, along with a van and a pickup truck.

Alarming Scene: Suspected Arsonist in Turkey Caught Filling Bottles with Gasoline Amid Wildfires That Claim 4 Lives; Warnings of a ‘Dangerous Week’ Ahead

THIS is the chilling moment a man who allegedly sparked a devastating…
Plane crash off California coast kills 3

Tragic Plane Crash off California Coast Claims Three Lives

Three individuals on a small plane tragically lost their lives when the…
FBI investigating death on board Carnival Dream cruise ship

FBI Launches Investigation into Death Aboard Carnival Dream Cruise Ship

The FBI is investigating a death onboard the Carnival Dream cruise ship. …