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Houston Astros: Evan Gattis: The Forgotten Man of 2017

By James Zeankowski

May 19, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Evan Gattis (11) prior to the game against the Cleveland Indians at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
May 19, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Evan Gattis (11) prior to the game against the Cleveland Indians at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Sticky Situations

Over his career, Evan Gattis has not been a superstar when it comes to situational hitting. With elite power typically comes higher strikeouts and less consistent contact. Streaky is another term that usually comes to mind with this.

In 2017, however, Gattis has actually proven to be very effective when utilized. Of the 48 games he has played, 32 of them (2/3) have seen him have at least one hit. And in 8 of those games (1/6), he has had multiple hits. Add to that, he also has 16 extra base hits, 5 home runs, and 31 RBI in 165 at-bats across 184 total plate appearances.

The bear is on pace for another 70+ RBI season, and has also been perennial in situations that warrant it. Here are some of his up-to-date situational hitting slash numbers. (BA/OBP/SLG/OPS) These come courtesy of ESPN.com:

  1. Nobody On: .220/.290/.374/.664
  2. Runners On: .324/.369/.486/.855
  3. RISP (Runners in Scoring Position): .346/.403/.500/.903
  4. Bases Loaded: .400/.500/.600/1.100
  5. Leading Off Inning: .273/.314/.545/.859 
  6. RISP with 2 outs: .316/.480/.474/.954

For context, Evan Gattis has consistently had tremendous numbers across his career in leading off an inning or with the bases loaded. That continues even to this day. The two areas of drastic improvement between this year and over the first 4 years of his career have been both of the RISP situations.

He does still struggle with nobody on in the middle of an inning. It could be that Gattis is putting increased pressure on himself to get on base. In all honesty, he may not need to do that. But if it is part of his personal game plan of attack, so be it.

Who’s Gonna Drive You Home Tonight?!?

Drawing more walks, increasing on-base numbers, and decreasing strikeouts have certainly helped those RISP situations. Gattis has increased his overall contact rate from 75 percent last season to 81 percent this season, and his strikeout rate has plummeted from 25.5 percent last season to only 14.1 percent this season.

In fact, he has the second fewest strikeouts on the team to Nori Aoki. Gattis also has the 10th most sacrifice flies in the entire American League at 3, and has the 2nd highest fly out rate on the team behind Josh Reddick. Basically, he’s getting on base and either driving in runs, or scoring them himself.

Having the reputation of a lefty masher, Evan Gattis has flipped that script in 2017. Against LHP, he is sporting only a .205 batting average and a .720 OPS. Against RHP, however, in an area he has had more struggles with in his career, he actually has a .289 BA with a .761 OPS this season when a righty is on the mound.

This Houston Astros team, as a whole, has the highest GIDP numbers in the league. Meanwhile, Evan Gattis is tied with Marwin Gonzalez for the 3rd fewest GIDP on the team behind Carlos Beltran and Jake Marisnick at only 4 all season long. Makes you think, doesn’t it?!

Given more time to actually play, El Oso Blanco could be putting up some of the best all around offensive numbers the likes of which has never been seen before. Even some that may rival the likes of Bryce Harper or Mike Trout.

Bold statement? Not entirely.

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