NORTH PORT, Fla. – Alex Call believes in himself. Just as any professional athlete does, but maybe ratcheted up just a little extra. It’s what you have to do when you’re an undersized, non-first-round pick from Ball State who has had to earn his way onto every roster he’s ever played on.
“Bottom line, I think I’m a good player and I think I’m capable of putting up good numbers,” he said, “no matter if it’s spring training or during the season.”
Call consistently puts up good-to-great numbers in spring training. He’s played in 83 official Grapefruit or Cactus League games since 2017 with the White Sox, Guardians and now Nationals. His total offensive numbers: a .333/.456/.475 slash line, not to mention way more walks (32) than strikeouts (23).
And he’s up to his old tricks this spring, going 7-for-21 with four doubles, six RBIs and a ridiculous 10-to-1 walk-to-strikeout ratio.
If it feels like Call treats these exhibition games like they’re regular season games, he does.