Fast turnaround: TCU slugger Josh Watson leaves last year's struggles behind

Josh Watson had one of those seasons in 2017. The kind that can cripple a hitter's psyche.

The TCU slugger struggled at the plate despite his team's success, finishing with one home run and 13 extra-base hits a year after hitting 11 homers and collecting 28 extra-base hits as a freshman out of Arlington Martin in 2016.

He continued to struggle offensively during summer league play in Cape Cod.

The left fielder didn't panic, however, and eventually gained a better understanding of his swing.

Instruction from TCU hitting coach Bill Mosiello started finally getting through to Watson in the fall.

"I was being too passive, taking too many pitches in my at-bats," Watson said. "I think I had to see it for myself."

He's seeing it - and it's showing early this season. Watson leads the team with a .448 batting average and eight RBIs. He hit his second homer in TCU's 14-1 win over UT Arlington Thursday night at Lupton Stadium. The Horned Frogs (5-2) blew the game, which was called after seven innings, open with seven runs in the fifth inning.

Watson and Luken Baker hit consecutive homers in the first inning. Baker also had a double and two RBIs.

For Watson, it's another sign that the days of tinkering with his batting stance are over.

"We are so excited for Josh’s start," TCU coach Jim Schlossnagle said. "He went through a tough season last year but never stopped working and continued to help us get to Omaha in other ways. It's awesome to see him confident and back to being a strong presence in the batter's box."

The switch-hitter has settled on a hot zone and keeping a "selectively aggressive" approach in the box.

"This year, I've found a stance that was comfortable for me," said Watson, who has started every game the past two seasons. That wasn't the case a year ago. "If I didn’t have a good day I changed my stance the next day."

During summer ball, Watson studied his numbers and realized one of the things Mosiello had long taught: Put the ball in play.

"When I put balls in play and gave myself a chance I had a higher batting average," Watson said. "If it's in my zone, I have to have confidence in myself that if I make contact it's going to find some grass."

His stance now is more upright and a slightly shortened swing. He's relying more on his hands and keeping his lower body more relaxed. It's allowed him to concentrate on whether a pitch is in his zone and less on the type of pitch and the count. Last year, for instance, he often laid off curveballs.

"That’s still a good pitch to hit. In the past, if I saw a curve ball I would just take it," he said. "I've recognized I can hit that pitch, that’s a good pitch to hit.

This story was originally published March 1, 2018 at 9:44 PM with the headline "Fast turnaround: TCU slugger Josh Watson leaves last year's struggles behind."