Why the Blue Jays Think They Can Unlock Zack Collins’ Full Potential

The hitch, a slight wiggle of the hands before a batter strides, can derail a hitter’s approach, oftentimes lengthening the swing and subsequently making it hard to catch up to major-league fastballs.

For some hitters, though, the hitch works—and Martinez wants Collins to stop fighting that mechanical imperfection.

“That was our conversation—embrace what he’s doing,” Martinez said.

Former Rangers and Angels slugger Josh Hamilton swung with a successful hitch, Martinez said, and while Collins isn’t as big or strong as Hamilton, he could see it working to similar success.

“[The hitch] is something that he's been doing for a long time, since high school, college,” Martinez said. “He has minimized it, but it's in his genes, so might as well embrace it and maybe just make sure that you start on time and make sure he's in the right positions when he fires.”

Collins has been on the Jays roster for just over a week, but he’s already receptive to Martinez’s ideas, which goes back to the pair’s shared history at the minor-league level.

Martinez crossed paths with Collins while he was a minor-league coordinator in the Cubs’ organization and Collins was a player on Birmingham Barons, the White Sox’s Double A team. Both guys are from Miami, so they connected on social media prior to Collins joining the team this season.

Since Martinez knows Collins’ swing so well from when the catching prospect was tearing up the minor-league level, they already have a very understanding relationship.

“You could be the smartest hitting coach in the world, if you don't have that relationship with a player, it doesn't matter,” Martinez said.

With a little hitting tutelage, some rediscovered confidence, and a change of scenery, Collins has solid expectations for his Blue Jays career—and if Toronto maintains its right-handed heavy lineup, he’ll have plenty of chances to prove himself.