David Bote’s Second-Half Numbers Quietly Good in Limited Role

This may come as a surprise, but David Bote has created more runs than an average hitter since the All-Star break. It’s easy to overlook Bote’s numbers because they’ve come in limited action after he was optioned twice due to roster crunches. But folks, let me bring attention to Bote’s quietly productive last 90 plate appearances.

We’re not talking about slightly better than league-average numbers here. No, Bote’s 138 wRC+ means he has created 38% more runs than the average hitter. That has come as the result of his improved plate discipline.

In the first half of the season, Bote swung at 34% of the pitches he saw outside the strike zone. But in the second half, he has only swung at 27% of…