If you are looking for the player who has made the largest jump in power in 2023, the name Luke Ritter may surprise some, considering the big-time hitting prospects in the organization. However, the 26-year-old who was selected in the seventh round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the New York Mets has been the player that has seen his home run numbers skyrocket this year.

In 103 games (split amongst Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse), Ritter has a slash line of .244/.375/.479 with nine doubles, a triple, 24 home runs, and 58 RBIa. Before this season, his personal best for a season at the minor league level was a year ago (15 with the same two levels).

We saw Ritter’s surge begin in June. Over that month, he hit .297/.375/.681 with three doubles, a triple, 10 homers, and 20 RBI.

On June 11 against Reading, he hit three home runs in the first four innings during the team’s 8-6 victory. As he has gone up to Triple-A, Ritter has four home runs and 12 RBIs in 23 games during July.

Since July 25, Ritter has reached base in 17 of 19 games and he has drawn at least one walk in all but five of those games, including a streak of 12 straight games with a walk. On August 1, he had a walk-off hit against Worcester to lead Syracuse to an extra-inning victory.

https://twitter.com/SyracuseMets/status/1686553562883481600

Defensively, Ritter provides much-needed versatility with his ability to play all over the infield and occasionally out in the outfield. This month, I had the chance to talk to Ritter about his professional journey and how one day in the batting cage this year helped him find what he was looking for to help his power game.

Ricky: What was draft day like for you when you found out the Mets would select you?

Luke: I remember I was sitting with my family at home. It was my second time getting drafted. This time, I kind of knew I was going to play baseball professionally. For the most part, it was a dream come true. I’ve been wanting to play professional baseball since I was a little kid, and I couldn’t have been happier to share that moment with my family.

Ricky: How do you feel you have grown as a player from the start of your career till now?

Luke: I’d say I’ve learned a lot. I’ve definitely become a better baseball player, defensively and offensively. Definitely have more power, and I’ve just kind of grown into a more complete player than I was in college.

Ricky: What do you think has been the main reason behind the power surge this year?

Luke: I think development of the swing. I learned how to hit the ball in the air to the pull side a little better than I had in the past, where I would roll over and hit more line drives or ground balls. I felt like I could always hit the ball hard. It’s more hitting more mistakes and getting good pitches to hit and not missing those pitches. I’ve felt like I have done that more lately.

Ricky: Any swing changes that you made or any changes to your mechanics?

Luke: There was one day in the cage this year. Sometimes, you hear about the ol’ lightbulb click in your brain when you are hitting and your swing. I was working with our Double-A hitting coach, Darin Everson. He has helped me a lot. It was something we did that day, and I think I hit a home run that night. The next night, I hit another one. Then, I kind of went on a stretch we don’t see very often as hitters. It was a lot of fun. As a hitter, you always want to be at the plate when you are feeling good. I think it was that one day in the cage when I felt something I hadn’t felt in a year.

Ricky: You had a three-home run game earlier in the year. How does it feel when you are that locked in at the plate?

Luke: I guess as a hitter, you will probably be in that kind of mode once a season where for the month, you feel like you can’t get out. You go up to the plate, and you see the ball very well. Every time you swing, you usually make really, really solid contact and you are really confident. I think that’s the big thing. Every time you go up to the plate, you know you are feeling good and you are probably going to get a hit. Every hitter will have a stretch like that, and we are all trying to figure out how to maintain that stretch for as long as possible.

Ricky: How often do you look at advanced stats and is there an advanced stat you look at more than most?

Luke: We get really good scouting reports, which helps me as a hitter for a plan at the plate. Does he have a straight fastball? Is there a sinker? Is he a curveball secondary pitch, or is it more of a slider? Then, you can kind of form your plan as a hitter. Then, in order for me to get better, I look at chase rate. How often am I staying in the zone? Am I making quality swing decisions? I think that correlates to quality at-bats and how often you are hitting the ball hard. If you are not swinging at good pitches, it’s hard to hit the ball and have good at-bats. When I try to hit, I try to have quality at-bats whenever I come up.

Ricky: How would you describe your approach at the plate?

Luke: When I’m up there, I have some sort of plan. Depending on what the pitcher is and for the most part, I’m looking for something down the middle. Not a particular pitch, but I’m always staying on the fastball and I’m looking to be aggressive and hit every mistake that’s left in the middle of the plate.

Ricky: You’ve played a bunch of different positions. How much pride do you take in that ability and how much time does it take to adjust to a new position?

Luke: I definitely take pride in defense because if you don’t play defense, it’s hard to keep you in the lineup. So you have to be able to play defense. I’ve been playing multiple positions, which gives me the most opportunity to be in the field. I don’t really care where I’m at on the field. I just want to be in the lineup every day, so wherever I’m at that day, I’ll try to work there in batting practice and get better at that position. Anytime I have the ability to be in the lineup, I’m happy to play whatever position they have me play.

Ricky: What has stood out to you about the progression Ronny Mauricio and Mark Vientos have made?

Luke: I’ve always been impressed with Mark as a hitter. He’s probably one of the best hitters I’ve ever seen. What he does in his work every day and how he has quality at-bats can put a string of power/average together. I think that’s the hardest thing and he does it very well.

Ronny has always been able to hit. I’ve been impressed with him since I’ve played with him at every level. He’s good at every spot I’ve been with him at and I think he will continue to do that no matter where he’s at.

Ricky: What is it like to play defense behind Mike Vasil?

Luke: He is a really good confidence about him. I think he controls the game well. He attacks the zone. Defensively, it’s fun to play defense behind him because we aren’t usually on defense very long. He’s attacking them with strikes on all of his three pitches and he’s kind of got the confidence that he knows he’s a good pitcher, which is what you need at this level.

Ricky: You got the chance to play in the AFL last year. What did you take away from that experience?

Luke: Looking back on it, there’s really good competition there. I had played for the most part the best in all of minor league baseball, and it gave me the confidence for the next year of what I learned of the ability that I could play with them and how I could compete against different kind of stuff, and it made me a better baseball player playing with them everyday and working and seeing what guys were doing. It was a really great experience.

Ricky: Is there a player in the pros that you kind of emulated your game after as an infielder?

Luke: I think growing up I was a Red Sox fan. As an infielder, I always liked Dustin Pedroia. Lately, as I got older, one of my favorite hitters just because of his swing type and how he plays third base is Alex Bregman.