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How Mookie Betts and other players have brought a different feel to ‘small ball’

WASHINGTON (AP) — In decades past they would have been given nicknames like “Pee Wee” and coached to shorten their swings, keep the ball close to the ground, find holes and use their speed to leg out base hits.

Now, “small ball” has a new meaning. This homer-happy era of baseball is proving that big sluggers can be found in tiny packages.

Consider some of the guys in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game: Jose Ramirez, all 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds of him, whose 29 homers at the break are tied for the AL lead. Mookie Betts, also 5-foot-9, has 23 long balls and hit 31 last season.