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These are the most difficult kinds of calls to make.

What you dream about is what Pete Alonso did in 2019: Hit the ground running after getting the call to the big leagues, start mashing big league pitching, and don’t stop until you’ve got 53 homers.

The blueprint is Jacob deGrom, who started striking out hitters beginning with one unexpected start against the Yankees in 2014 and never stopped. And never again sat in a Triple-A clubhouse, except on a rehab assignment, buying dinner for his teammates on a big league salary.

The reality is, the norm is closer to Mark Vientos, who hit some early, got sent back down again. Same with Brett Baty. Find your swing at Syracuse, keep building reps, and be ready when the second chance happens. Vientos hit the jackpot using that method in 2024. Baty has yet to put together a full month of big league-level hitting.