“He’s hitting velo, he’s hitting fastballs, he’s pulling balls, he’s staying back on breaking balls,” Mendoza highlighted all the reasons why Baty’s breakout is legitimate. “Even his takes are different. It looks like he’s ready to hit, and then just shoving it down.

Since returning to the big league roster following Jesse Winker’s oblique injury, Baty has gone 6-for-17 (.353) with four home runs and seven RBIs. It’s a small sample, but the swing is real. The poise is real. The opportunity was real—and Baty seized it.

A decision that was rather simple earlier in the season was “not an easy decision” on Wednesday, manager Carlos Mendoza said.