Salisbury: For Burrell, the benefits of confidence

The one year I leave Burrell off my team...(sigh).

For years, instructors talked to Burrell about the importance of staying back on pitches. Committing too early caused him to fly open with his left shoulder and made him vulnerable to off-speed pitches on the outside corner.

People told Burrell: Stay back. Recognize the pitch and trust your hands. Use the whole field as you did in college and in the minor leagues.

Burrell seems to have made these adjustments, even if data provided by Stats Inc. show that he’s pulling the ball more than he did last year. Hitting coach Milt Thompson said he was seeing a willingness to hit the ball to the opposite field, and believes that has helped Burrell’s overall swing.

“The biggest thing is he’s not consciously trying to pull everything,” said one rival scout, a veteran Burrell observer. “He’s continued what he started the second half of last season. He looks like he’s trying to use the whole field. You don’t know how long it will last, but he’s definitely become a more complete hitter. He’s more intelligent. He got himself out a lot early in his career.”