Max Stassi's batting power helps carve out role with Astros

ARLINGTON—Max Stassi continues to display prodigious power the world might not have seen before but he knew he had in the tank all along.

He launched a 466-foot bomb to center on Saturday for his sixth of the year and the farthest homer of his career.

"I felt that I've always had that kind of power," said Stassi, who is playing his first full season in the majors at 27 years old. "It just never would show up routinely because I didn't make enough contact for it to show up. Finally now that I like where my swing's at, I have the chance to show the power that I have."

The recent knee injury to Brian McCann offered Stassi more at-bats to prove himself. Because McCann is a left-handed hitter and Stassi right-handed, manager A.J. Hinch plans to play Stassi more often against left-handed pitchers.

Stassi is batting .378 with a 1.073 OPS against southpaws.

"He's killing left-handed pitching," Hinch said. "He's got big power. The ball carries really far for him. He's got great strength, great bat angle."

Stassi credited his preparation against faster pitching machines for his ability to do the most with his limited playing time.

"The double machine in the cage with one of the coaches either throwing fastballs or breaking balls that are timed up for game replication," he said.

Stassi's bat, pitch-framing and overall handling of the staff has offered much more value than his struggles to throw out runners. He has one of the lowest velocities on throws to second. In his last six games, he has allowed eight stolen bases and caught two runners.

After appreciating Stassi's home run power, Hinch identified with the catcher's impact in Saturday's 4-3 win.

"You catch a winner and get a hit, as a catcher, you feel pretty good about your night. You catch a winner and hit a homer, you feel that much better."