Samuel Basallo’s explanation for hard contact this spring was absolutely hilarious

As a whole, fans and experts alike can get lost in the details when trying to explain what makes a player productive or not. Don't get us wrong, launch angle, bat speed, barrel rate, expected stats, bat path, spin rate, and arm angle, among many other metrics, are extremely useful measurements, but they explain very specific parts of what is a large picture of a player. When it comes to Baltimore Orioles rookie Samuel Basallo, he tends to view things more holistically.

Basallo is having a really strong spring training thus far. Through March 20, Basallo has posted a 1.225 OPS across 32 at-bats while hitting .375 in camp. After cranking a pair of homers against the Pirates on Thursday down at camp, Basallo was asked for insight into his impressive exit velos this spring.

His explanation in response was both hilariously understated and honestly refreshing.

Samuel Basallo's simple explanation for his ability to impact the baseball undersells his talent

According to Basallo, he thinks "that has something to do with the fact that I'm pretty big" and went on to say that he doesn't go up to the plate looking to swing at pitches "like a crazy chicken." While we have certainly heard of going up hacking or swinging at everything, the phrase "like a crazy chicken" is a new one. Also, Basallo is right that his size certainly helps in the power department because while he is listed as 6'4 and 180 pounds, you should take the over on his weight and maybe his height as well every time. He is a big boy.

However, Basallo is downplaying his ability and talent quite a bit here. There are plenty of big-bodied players who have made it to the big leagues, but very few of them have the elite bat speed he has (other than Aaron Judge, anyway). Being physically strong does not have a direct relationship to in-game power per se, though it certainly helps. Your swing mechanics, reaction time, and ability to read pitches correctly are huge determining factors, and Basallo is clearly excelling at all three at the moment.

There are just guys that may not be able to explain how they do what they do. Some players are incredibly detail-oriented and break down every aspect of their game, looking for ways to improve. Others just have natural ability and instinct that they lean on because they were just born to play baseball. One is no better than the other. For now, it seems like Basallo may fall in the latter camp.