Through Slow Start, Jeimer Candelario Sticking To The Process

SEVIERVILLE - Tennessee Smokies third baseman Jeimer Candelario turned a lot of heads last season. The switch-hitter began his 2015 campaign with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High-A) where he hit .270 (86-318) with five home runs, 39 RBI, three triples and 25 doubles.

Candelario was then assigned to the Smokies on July 21 of last year and his numbers did nothing but improve during his 46 games at the Double-A level. He went 46-158 at the dish (.291), which included five home runs, 25 RBI, one triple and 10 doubles. During those 46 games in a Smokies uniform he was held hitless just 12 times and put together 10 multi-hit games.

After his strong showing during the 2015 campaign, the New York native was added to the Chicago Cubs' 40-man roster during the offseason on November 20 of 2015. He was also named the Cubs' No. 11 prospect by Baseball America.

Then, the 22-year-old posted an impressive .350 clip (14-40) with three home runs in 15 Major League Spring Training games with the Cubs highlighted by a blast to left field off of 2014 World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner of the San Francisco Giants.

To say the least, Candelario entered the 2016 season with the Smokies with momentum and confidence on his side, but he hasn't been able to find that consistency at the dish that he possessed a season go through 35 games this season.

During the first three series of 2016, Candelario played in 14 of the 15 contests and posted an average of .170 (9-53) while driving in just two runs and striking out 14 times. During the team's next series in Mobile, it looked as if Candelario had refound his pop going 6-for-16 at the plate while picking up a hit in each contest including two long balls and a massive six RBI game to close out the Smokies' five-game sweep over the BayBears.

Following his dominant series in Mobile where his average jumped to .217, Candelario has fallen back into a bit of a slump with his average dropping back to .197 for the year to go along with his 11 RBI and 28 strikeouts total.

Despite his inconsistencies and struggles at the dish this season, Candelario realizes that this is just one short chapter of what he hopes to be a long successful career.

"Everyone is going to have some ups and downs throughout the season," the 6-foot-1 third baseman said. "I have to continue to be aggressive in the zone and ultimately just help the team win; that's the only thing that matters. Trying not to make too many adjustments and focusing in on the win is my biggest key."

Just like any switch-hitter, Candelario has seen more success on one side of the plate compared to the other this season. On the right side of the dish Candelario has hit for .282 (11-39), but swinging as a leftie he has managed an average of .159 (14-88) on the year. As to if Candelario prefers swinging on the right or left side of the plate, his comfort level fluctuates day in and day out.

"Sometimes you're going to feel better on the right side of the plate and sometimes you're going to feel better on the left," Candelario said. "It's difficult as a switch hitter because that feeling changes everyday, but I work hard everyday on both sides of the plate but one side will always feel more comfortable than the other."

Despite putting together somewhat of an inconsistent stat line so far this season, Candelario does lead the Smokies in doubles with 11 as well as walks with 24. He has also scored 19 runs, which puts him at the top of the Smokies' roster along with right fielder Billy McKinney. Connecting for 11 doubles and his success in drawing free passes as well as scoring runs, Candelario has stuck with his same pregame routine and mindset during at-bats.

"I'm doing my same routine everyday with my short bats and in the batting cage, I haven't changed that," Candelario said. "That is what makes me feel the most comfortable for the game and I step to the plate and try to do my thing. I'm not trying to change much up there."

After a tough 1-for-15 series in Montgomery in the team's last series, Candelario has started off the team's series against Birmingham in fine fashion going 3-for-8 so far including two doubles and two runs scored in two games.

As for what seems to be working for Candelario in the small sample size of two games, Tennessee head coach Mark Johnson credits it to Candelario's short-term memory loss and being aggressive when seeing a fastball.

"Hitting is a difficult thing; it's one of the hardest things in sports to do and you're failing all the time," Johnson said. "If you can't have that short-term memory and be able to move on from bad at-bats and bad approaches then it just prolongs it. Jeimer's doing his work, getting in a better position to hit and he's been getting on that fastball again which he has struggled a little with and that's what he needs to."

Candelario has been able to keep a positive mindset despite getting off to a slow start this year. The ups and down are just a part of the process and Candelario knows that.

"I know I am going to have success this year, you just have to stay positive and you just have to trust in the process," Candelario said. "I have to continue to work hard everyday and trust in the process, that's my mindset each and everyday."

 

ABOUT THE TENNESSEE SMOKIES

The Tennessee Smokies are the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Members of the ten-team Southern League, Smokies baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America's national pastime in the East Tennessee region for over 100 years. To learn more about the Tennessee Smokies, visit www.smokiesbaseball.com.