NEW YORK -- Speed has always been a part of A.J. Ewing’s prospect profile. On-base acumen, absolutely. Power? Not so much.
Yet Ewing, who hit just three home runs last season in the Minors, needed only three games to launch his first as a big leaguer. The recent callup took Tigers right-hander Keider Montero deep in the third inning Thursday at Citi Field, hitting a 93.2 mph fastball a Statcast-projected 405 feet off the roof of the home bullpen.
That was the second extra-base hit of Ewing’s career, following an RBI triple in his Major League debut. Counting the home run, Ewing reached base safely in six of his first 10 Major League plate appearances.
Despite his advanced approach at the plate, the 21-year-old Ewing has never featured much over-the-fence power, hitting 15 homers in 1,099 Minor League plate appearances prior to his callup. MLB Pipeline gave his power a 40 grade on the 20-80 scouting scale, which is below-average for a big leaguer.
Ewing’s extra-base pop has shown up more frequently in his ability to shoot balls to the gaps, resulting in 49 doubles and 15 triples as a Minor Leaguer.