The Texas Rangers have seemingly emerged from a hitting slump by shifting their focus from slugging to line drives. The team had initially aimed to become a powerhouse slugging unit, but as manager Bruce Bochy noted, intense discussions about slugging led players to overthink their swings and aim for big hits rather than focusing on solid contact. This resulted in excessive pop-ups and poor offensive numbers.

Recent adjustments to the coaching staff and a change in mindset have led to a significant turnaround. Since June 1, the Rangers have improved their line-drive percentage significantly, now ranking third in Major League Baseball, while also reducing their pop-up rate. Players like Marcus Semien have noticeably benefited from this new approach, translating into more consistent and productive at-bats.