Improving his power stroke is focus for Cyclones' J.T. Schwartz

JT Schwartz isn’t your typical mashing home run-hitting first baseman. Although he stands at 6-4 and plays at what is commonly thought of as a power position, Schwartz is naturally more of a gap-to-gap and hit-for-average type of first baseman.

But that doesn’t mean Schwartz is stuck in his ways. The 22-year-old is focusing on improving his strength in the weight room to hopefully add to his power. He may never be the slugger Pete Alonso is for the Mets, but Schwartz can still contribute in his own ways.

“Obviously everybody has the give and take in their game,” said Schwartz, who plays for the Brooklyn Cyclones. “I’m trying to work on the things that other guys have that I don’t and I think other guys are trying to work on the stuff that I have that maybe they don’t. Everyone is trying to find that missing piece to complete their game.”

The Mets selected Schwartz in the fourth round (No. 111 overall) in the 2021 MLB Draft out of UCLA. He had his best season in 2021 with eight home runs, 45 RBIs and 44 runs scored over 44 games with a slash line of .396/.514/.628 resulting in an OPS of 1.142. 

Schwartz struggled in Class-A St. Lucie over 25 games after being drafted, hitting .195 with no home runs over 25 games.

He’s had better success this year with High-A Brooklyn, with his best month coming this June when he hit .299 with a home run, 11 RBIs and 12 runs scored over 27 games. Schwartz had three home runs, 31 RBIs and 36 runs scored with a slash line of .258/.352/.364 this season through Thursday.

“I think I naturally spray the ball around the field a little bit more than most guys,” Schwartz said. “There’s a lot of guys at this point that hit for more power and hit the ball pull side in the air a lot more than I do.”

Schwartz said he wants to work on increasing his power and he thinks that will come from the weight room. 

“A lot of it is just getting stronger and getting bigger and a lot of that is hopefully going to happen in the offseason,” he said. “It’s a long process for myself and in anyone’s career, but I think one of the big missing pieces for me right now is that missing power.”

But he still thinks he can contribute even without the traditional power of a first baseman. Schwartz has shown the ability throughout his baseball life to hit for average and drive the ball for extra-base hits. 

“I think that natural hit tool is definitely important but first base being more of a power-centered position, I guess that’s kind of the direction I need to be going now since the other stuff comes easier to me,” Schwartz said. “I think the power is the focus for me right now.”