Gelof finishes torrid homestand with four-game HR streak

Monday was the ultimate sport of a six-game set between Triple-A Las Vegas and Spherical Rock, and each sport had Zack Gelof‘s fingerprints on it.

The Athletics’ No. 3 prospect tore the duvet off the ball in the course of the homestand, tallying a success in each sport and launching a house run in every of the final 4. The newest moonshot got here on Monday night time, within the Aviators’ 10-7 loss to the Categorical.

The tater got here within the eighth inning, with Tyler Soderstrom – the Athletics’ No. 1 prospect – on first base and right-hander Alex Speas on the mound. The outing was Speas’ second look for Spherical Rock after pitching two shutout innings in reduction in opposition to Las Vegas on June 30. This time round, Gelof wasn’t going to let Speas off so simply; the 23-year-old demolished a 404-foot shot that got here off the bat at 104.5 mph.

In six video games in opposition to Spherical Rock, the previous Virginia Cavalier went 10-for-24 with 4 lengthy balls and three doubles. The offensive outburst was sufficient to land him a spot on the Prospect Team of Week.

“I believe it’s simply making an attempt to maintain it easy, being as athletic as potential within the field and simply having enjoyable,” Gelof stated. “Once you’re free and use your athleticism, then good issues occur. And simply making an attempt to have enjoyable as a result of on the finish of the day, we’re simply enjoying a sport making an attempt to get higher and it is enjoyable doing it.”

Not solely was Gelof an offensive powerhouse within the collection, however he has additionally been on fireplace on the plate in each house sport this yr. The Delaware native is slashing .339/.440/.616 whereas enjoying at Las Vegas Ballpark, in comparison with a .256/.371/.430 line in away video games.

“I truly simply discovered that out,” Gelof stated. “Just a few days in the past, I checked out my splits. I believed I didn’t actually hit that nice at house as a result of I actually didn’t assume I noticed the ball as effectively. I believe it’s simply at house I’ve the identical routine and we now have an important clubhouse, eat effectively, sleep at house and stuff.”

Gelof should have a memory-foam mattress, as a result of these nights sleeping at house have led to huge manufacturing. Three of his 4 dingers traveled over 400 toes with the longest going 434 toes, and he put collectively a 3-for-5 efficiency on July 1, when he additionally stole a base.

The one streak Gelof has needed to this diploma was in September final season when he swatted 4 massive flies in 4 video games. The distinction in that streak was that he slugged two in a single sport and 0 in one other.

On the season, Gelof is slashing .296/.404/.519 with 11 house runs and 19 stolen bases. He’ll attempt to proceed his sizzling streak within the workforce’s subsequent collection vs. El Paso.