Resilient Pache clutch once again in walk-off

OAKLAND -- The A’s haven’t given up on Cristian Pache. Even as he entered Sunday holding the second-lowest on-base percentage (.197), OPS (.438) and wRC+ (28) among Major League hitters with at least 100 plate appearances, manager Mark Kotsay remains firm on the outfielder’s inclusion on his lineup card on a daily basis.

The 6-5 walk-off victory over the Rangers on Sunday afternoon was a prime example of why the A’s remain high on the rookie. Pache reached base in four of his five plate appearances, scoring the game-winning run on Jed Lowrie’s single off left-hander Brett Martin after setting the table with a leadoff single.

Despite the underwhelming numbers on his stat page, Pache getting a big knock in a clutch situation really shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. The center fielder has produced a handful of hits in those types of moments, also delivering a late-inning RBI double in a 7-6 loss to the Mariners on Monday.

“I think the kid really thrives in those situations,” Kotsay said of Pache. “He’s shown a knack to get a big hit. Great at-bat by him against a tough lefty today. He stayed on a fastball away and got the ninth inning going."

After enjoying a hot start to the season, Pache fell into a slump once pitchers learned to attack him inside. Over the past week, Pache has spent many pregame sessions with hitting coach Tommy Everidge working drills that emphasize getting his hands out more on pitches thrown over the inner half of the plate to drive more balls to the opposite field. The extra work seems to be paying off, as Pache has been driving a majority of his balls in play as of late to either center or right field, including Sunday’s single against Martin to lead off the ninth.

“Any time a hitter is using the other side of the field, it’s a good sign,” Kotsay said. “It means he’s staying on the baseball a little bit longer.”

There is also an element of bad luck that the A’s believe has contributed to Pache’s lackluster offensive numbers so far. A quick look at his player page on Baseball Savant will add support to this theory. Pache is batting .168 with a .245 slugging percentage and a .197 WOBA. However, His xBA (.258), xSLG (.383) and xWOBA (.289) are all significantly better than the actual numbers, indicating that he is hitting better than the numbers show.

Another one of Pache’s promising traits is his consistent ability to make solid contact. His 44.3 percent hard-hit rate puts him in the 72nd percentile among Major League hitters, sending the A’s a strong signal that he’s clearly not overmatched at the plate.

Essentially, the A’s expect Pache’s fortunes at the plate to turn around. The hard hits should begin to fall more often, like his ninth-inning single on Sunday that was scorched at 102.7 mph off the bat for what ended up the A’s fifth-hardest-hit ball of the game.

“For [Pache], you try to just give this kid these opportunities and try to build his confidence,” Kotsay said. “It’s not easy when you look up at the numbers on the board. But it’s a long season, and what we’re looking for from him is just progression in the right direction.”

If there is any frustration for Pache from his early offensive struggles, he certainly doesn’t allow it to carry over on defense. The 23-year-old’s Gold Glove-caliber defense that was touted when the A’s first acquired him from the Braves this spring has been as advertised. According to Statcast, his four runs prevented and five outs above average are most among Major League center fielders, showing his ability to impact the game in a variety of ways.

In what is a rebuilding season for Oakland, what type of player Pache can develop into remains one of the more intriguing storylines for fans, who have immediately become drawn to his exuberance and joy while playing the game. Between the stellar defense and improvements on offense that continued Sunday afternoon, Pache appears to be trending in the right direction.

“He’s been mentally tough,” Everidge said. “You see him building. He looks looser. There’s a real confidence. I told him, ‘You’re the magic in the outfield. Now let’s get the magic with the bat.’ He can be that same guy.”