Brandon Belt has never hit more than 18 home runs in a season. But through 44 games this season, he's already gone deep 11 times, putting him on a projected pace to finish with 26 homers, according to Steamer Projections and Dan Szymborski's ZiPS Projections.
Belt has homered in four straight games twice this season. He's homered in five of the last seven games for the Giants.
A career .270 hitter, Belt is hitting .313 through Sunday's game.
So what's gotten into Belt's improved numbers at the plate?
"I think the biggest difference is he's hitting the high fastball, which has always been an enigma when you watch this guy wave through, not even foul back, belt-high fastballs one after another. And now he's smothering them. He's having the year we all thought he could have, and more importantly, he's having the year he always thought he could have. He's matured into a nice mindset when he gets in that box. Very, very confident hitter," Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow said on KNBR 680 on Monday morning.
"I think this is the year he gets a lot of recognition for not only his at-bats, but for his glove. We've always felt he's been a gold glover waiting to happen and I think this is the year he finally gets one," Krukow said.
