For any prospect, there are many productive methods to announce your arrival at a brand new stage. Then there’s what Hudson Haskin did Sunday.
Haskin, the Orioles No. 16 prospect, achieved the primary three-homer sport of the 12 months within the Minor Leagues, leaving the yard thrice to steer Double-A Bowie to an 11-6 win over Richmond. Hitting solo photographs within the fourth and sixth and a two-run homer within the seventh, Haskin matched the staff file, changing into the sixth participant in Baysox historical past to take action.
“I am very fortunate and grateful that I used to be in a position to have the day that I did,” Haskin stated. “It’s humorous, folks had been asking me: ‘Have been you interested by it in any respect?’ Actually, I wasn’t, as a result of I’ve by no means hit two dwelling runs earlier than in a sport. I am not a house run hitter.”
Haskin’s barrage got here towards three completely different pitchers. He cleared the Prince George’s Stadium wall in middle along with his first and despatched the subsequent two to the alternative discipline.
“After I hit the primary one, I used to be like, ‘Okay, nice, let me keep locked into the sport and attempt to hit one thing arduous and assist the staff,’” Haskin stated. “Once I hit the second, I used to be like ‘Wow, that is loopy.’”
It was a breakout energy surge for Haskin, who hit 5 homers throughout 83 video games in 2021, his first full skilled season. However the Orioles have at all times seen energy potential within the speedy middle fielder, who they drafted out of Tulane within the second spherical (thirty ninth general) in 2020. The 23-year outdated stood out largely in ’21 for his mixture of on-base abilities and pace, stealing 22 bases with an .381 OPS.
Now at Double-A, he’s part of arguably the biggest assortment of position-player expertise anyplace in Baltimore’s top-ranked farm system, alongside infielders Gunnar Henderson (Orioles No. 3 prospect), Jordan Westburg (No. 6), Joseph Ortiz (No. 15) and others. Westburg additionally homered Sunday, his second in three video games this season.
For Haskin, well being was a purpose heading into 2022, after he missed the ultimate six weeks of final season with a fractured thumb.
“Since I signed, I’ve been always making changes, attempting to get essentially the most out of who I’m as a hitter,” Haskin stated. “This offseason, I labored on conserving my posture and permitting my physique to be in a greater place so I will be athletic and use my palms, that are considered one of my greatest strengths.”
He additionally has one other, distinctive secret weapon. Haskin didn’t do something completely different Sunday morning previous to the sport. However he did combine up his food plan a bit Saturday evening whereas at Olive Backyard with Henderson.
“We shared a cheesecake for dessert,” Haskin stated. “And I jokingly stated, this has bought some hits in it, for certain!’ Now I believe that is one thing I’ve bought to return to over the course of this 12 months.”
To Haskin, it was kismet. He and Henderson really ordered a distinct, off-menu dessert, solely to choose the cheesecake when it was served. Then he wakened and had the most effective sport of his life. The way in which he sees it, he has little alternative however make cheesecake his go-to postgame deal with.
The one downside is perhaps staying in baseball form.
“I’m going to have to put it aside for particular events,” he joked.
