To take a step forward, sometimes you have to take a step back. Not only is it wise philosophical advice, but in the case of the Blue Jays’ Devon Travis, those words of wisdom are quite literal.

After a dreadful first month of the season in which Travis slashed .130/.193/.195 and was worth a paltry wRC+ of 1, he completely turned around his season in May. Over the course of 26 games in May, Travis slashed .364/.373/.646 and his wRC+ in May alone skyrocketed up to 171.

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In April, Travis had three measly extra-base hits, while in May he collected 20 extra-base hits and now has the most doubles of any hitter in MLB with 18.

What’s the reason for his dramatic turnaround? The answer may be a simple step backward in the batter’s box.

Earlier in the season, Travis was standing much closer to home plate. In essence, that also pushed the barrel of his bat even farther away from the plate and was causing him to chase pitches outside the strike zone or induce weak contact.

But a small shift backward in the batter’s box has lined the barrel of his bat back into the strike zone. It’s rejuvenated his swing and Travis has enjoyed a tremendous spike in extra-base hits throughout May.

(Courtesy of MLB.TV) https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/sporting_news/76/7c/devontravisapproach-mlb-060117_1frwadkkyl4o017x0xpq7odbv7.jpeg?t=1678315652&w=500&quality=80

MLB.TV

To help keep his stance farther back in the batter’s box, Travis lays his bat over top of home plate and uses the knob as an indicator of where to set his front foot.

Up until about the end of April, for whatever reason, Travis kept inching closer toward home plate. Compare how close Travis was standing to home plate earlier in the season with a recent at bat.

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MLB.TV

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It’s apparent that Travis has backed away at least one foot behind his old position in the batter’s box so he’s closer to the third base side.

The proof is in the numbers. In April, Travis hardly displayed any extra-base power. But after making this adjustment at the plate, Travis has been barreling balls to the opposite field at a regular rate.

(Courtesy of Baseball Savant/MLB) https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/sporting_news/d8/5e/devontravisspraychart_10uggu3s1hiom1qar9qjbcr08f.jpeg?t=1678647180&w=500&quality=80

Baseball Savant/MLB

During the first month of the season, Travis pulled the bulk of his batted balls into left field at a 40 percent rate while driving balls to the opposite field only 21.7 percent of the time. In May, Travis flipped the script and went to the opposite field 40.7 percent of the time while pulling the ball only 29.6 percent of the time.

The clearest indicator of Travis’ move in the batter’s box is the pitches he’s swung at. Travis’ primary point of contact in the zone shifted from the inner part of the strike zone to the heart of the plate.

(Courtesy of Baseball Savant/MLB) https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/sporting_news/2e/c6/devontravisheatmap_rojj3xzeufwg171q27ivzsjkc.jpeg?t=1678827652&w=500&quality=80

Baseball Savant/MLB

Earlier in the season, Travis induced weak contact on inside pitches or was missing altogether. Now, Travis takes pitches over the plate and barrels them to the outfield.

Throughout April, the bulk of his swings and misses were on pitches in the inner half of the strike zone. Like many right-handed hitters, Travis found that location to be his Kryptonite. But now with his new position in the box, he predominantly whiffs on offerings down and away.

(Courtesy of Baseball Savant/MLB) https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/sporting_news/34/11/devontravisheatmap2-bs-060117_16s7igm20mljg11inu7fp4x1y4.jpeg?t=1679119308&w=500&quality=80

Baseball Savant/MLB

Whether it was Blue Jays hitting coach Brook Jacoby, Travis or someone else on the Blue Jays’ staff, someone noticed Travis needed to make a change. He had inched too close the plate, which was causing the barrel of his bat to drift out of the strike zone and toward the first base side. Not anymore.

If home plate measures 17 inches across and one factors in how far Travis has stepped back, it’s as if the barrel of Travis’ bat has moved a foot-and-a-half inside toward the third base side. Now that Travis has made a cognizant effort to plant his feet farther back in the box, the barrel of his bat is back where it belongs — in his wheelhouse.

This slight adjustment is helping transform Travis into an extra-base-hit beast for the Blue Jays. That’s how he’s become one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball.

SN contributor Ian Hunter is a Blue Jays blogger, baseball writer, podcaster and GIF maker. Follow him on Twitter @BlueJayHunter.