Zack Collins Continues Strong Month of May

Ask Birmingham Barons catcher Zack Collins to point out the most important day of his Southern League season so far and he'll likely point you to April 23^rd.
Following the completion of a suspended game against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Collins sat for the second part of the day and observed the seven-inning contest listed as that night's regularly scheduled game. It was around that time that the University of Miami product chose to return his batting stance to what it had been in college.
The results were instantaneous.

Thanks to a pair of run-scoring doubles, the 23-year-old was able to match his season-long hit total (two hits in 13 games) during his next start, April 24. Over the next few days, the Florida native continued to string together hits and managed to raise his batting average nearly 100 points. One week after implementing his adjustments, Collins was named Southern League Player of the Week.
"This is obviously pretty nice; when you start slow but then all of a sudden you have a breakout week to get the confidence back and stuff," Collins admitted. "I knew all along that I'd be fine and obviously it's tough for fans and people outside of baseball to see a high prospect struggle but I knew I was going to be fine."
Video: Barons' Collins crushes two-run shot
Yet as much as Collins was rewarded for his pop - recording 16 total bases in six games - he was also acknowledged for his patience at the plate, drawing six walks to raise his on-base percentage to .392 in spite of a sluggish start.
Over the last month, Collins leads the league with a .479 on-base percentage (OBP) and 25 walks compared to just 27 strikeouts. He ranks second in the Southern League with a 1.063 OPS (OBP + slugging percentage) and fourth with 20 runs scored.
Despite his slow start, Collins is averaging a home run every 18 at-bats. That's the third best mark in the league, but thanks to a hard-hitting group around him including Eloy Jiménez and Seby Zavala; it's also the third best rate on his own team. After a 0-for-7 slide, Collins rebounded with his second career two-homer game this past Sunday against Montgomery.
Video: Collins blasts his second homer for Barons
Now a month removed from his early season struggles, the former first-round pick feels validated in his approach both while standing in the batter's box and while poised in a catcher's crouch. It's an unwavering mindset that he believes will help him through not only the remainder of the 2018 season, but the inevitable highs and lows of his entire career.
"That's the best part about catching," Collins said. "Even if you're 0-for-4 with four K's you can still be a big part of the game. Call a good game and hopefully win a good game for your team.
I definitely take a lot of pride in that especially since a lot of people have doubted me through the years, and when I was drafted they didn't really know if I was going to be at first or behind the plate. I've taken it real seriously, getting my body in shape and kind of working on everything behind the plate and now I think there's little doubt. I've just got to keep working."