NEW YORK — Alex Bregman wasn’t getting the outcomes he wished, so the Astros third baseman went trying to find solutions. After two years of subpar numbers — the results of inconsistent mechanics following a collection of accidents — Bregman took drastic steps this 12 months to place his physique and his swing within the correct place to return to the All-Star type he had in 2018 and ’19.

Bregman, who completed second to the Angels’ Mike Trout within the 2019 American League MVP race, was slowed by a hamstring harm in ’20 and a quad harm final 12 months. He additionally wound up having postseason surgical procedure to repair a proper wrist harm that was making it onerous for him to grip the bat. His efficiency on the plate suffered, however his confidence by no means did.

“I’ve at all times felt assured,” Bregman mentioned. “Even when the swing wasn’t going the best way I wished it to early within the 12 months, I felt assured that I can get it the place I wish to get it and play at an elite degree.”

Bregman’s objective was to enhance his bodily form to attempt to stop additional accidents. He additionally added some batting drills midseason to assist remind him of his swing mechanics and replicate them. He responded with a monster second half: He posted a 1.133 OPS with seven homers and 22 RBIs in August and he carried it over within the postseason, slashing .318/.375/.636 in 5 Astros wins between the AL Division Sequence and the AL Championship Sequence

Bregman hit a key three-run homer within the Astros’ 3-2 win over the Yankees in Thursday’s Recreation 2 of the AL Championship Sequence at Minute Maid Park.

“Personally, I really feel like — after I’m mechanically proper, I really feel like among the best gamers on this planet,” mentioned Bregman, who performed in 155 video games this 12 months. “Once I’m not, I really feel prefer it’s extra of a grind, extra of a battle. … For the final 4 months, I have been mechanically proper, and I have been in a position to play at a excessive degree.”

Right here’s a better have a look at what Bregman did to regain his type:

Along with working with the Astros energy and conditioning coaches, Bregman’s camp sought additional assist. He reached out to Alex Guerrero, the long-time coach for legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady, previous to the season to search out out what Brady does to remain on prime of his sport.

“We talked to him and simply mentioned, ‘Hey, what do you guys do to remain wholesome for therefore lengthy?’” Bregman mentioned. “And we began to include that.”

After breakfast every morning, Bregman does deep-tissue work on his decrease physique. When he will get to the ballpark every day, he does high-intensity band work with the Astros energy and conditioning coaches to activate the totally different muscle groups he’s going to make use of in-game.

“And that’s type of like my, ‘Okay, physique, time to show the on change on,’ after which we do loads of isometric work as effectively for the hamstring, quad, the hip complicated,” Bregman mentioned. “After which after the sport, we do extra of a calm-down tissue work on the physique. I really feel implausible. By no means felt higher. Actually.”

Bregman’s physique felt terrific heading into the season, however he was slashing .238/.356/.408 with 11 homers and 46 RBIs on the All-Star break (a .764 OPS). In July, he started working with hitting coach Troy Snitker on pregame drills to harness the proper mechanics — particularly decrease physique mechanics. They began the day after the All-Star break once they decided what his miss was.

“We began to essentially discover that after I landed accurately [with his front foot] and had gotten to the bottom accurately, I used to be in a position to keep closed and never spin off the ball,” Bregman mentioned.

Bregman and Snitker do a collection of drills within the cage earlier than they arrive out for batting observe to strengthen the mechanics of his swing and the place he needs his ft to land in. When Bregman comes out onto the sector for BP, he tries to copy these drills to verify he not solely has the proper swing mechanics but in addition is ready to hit all various kinds of pitches to totally different places.

“It has been an excellent second half,” mentioned Bregman, who posted an .894 OPS after the All-Star break. “I believe the injury has gone up, which is what we wished. And the swing selections have been good all 12 months. They have been good for almost all of my time right here, however I believe the most important factor is after I’m mechanically sound with good swing selections, I believe that produces a excessive OPS.”