Very few hitters go on a hot streak like the one Henry Bolte went on to start the season, let alone prospects with a 45-grade hit tool. While Bolte may be better known for his power, he certainly showed more than that recently. Bolte has become one of the highest-performing prospects to start the season. The Athletics prospect has done nothing but rake in Triple-A, which resulted in him getting the call to the majors earlier this week and the continuation of the Athletics’ youth movement.
Who’s Henry Bolte and Why Should You Care About His Hot Streak
While Bolte may not have been a prospect to reach the major leagues due to injury, he certainly forced the Athletics’ hand. This all started in Spring Training, when he showed enough to be considered for a spot on a big league roster. However, the Athletics decided to option Bolte to Triple-A to begin his season. Bolte then destroyed the ball in May, starting a hot streak like something you’ve never seen.
Bolte achieved the unfathomable, raising his OPS by over 200 points in just one week. This was on the heels of going 5-5 with five extra base hits last Friday. Then he came back to the plate to extend his hot streak, adding his second consecutive 5-5 night. Sunday then brought more of the same when he added two more hits to his streak. This three-game stretch resulted in seven extra-base hits, including three homers. One of these home runs was measured at 479 feet, which makes it the longest home run hit at any level this season. Bolte clearly has left a lasting impression on Athletics’ fans while down in Triple-A. In just 37 games, Bolte has 22 extra-base hits, 17 stolen bases, and an OPS of 1.076. This hot streak was even enough to see him promoted to Sacramento earlier this week. Since then, he’s done nothing but produce. But what else is new for the young hitter? Manning center field for the Athletics, he made a diving catch to steal a hit. He also showed his advanced approach at the plate, walking twice while going 2-2 with an RBI.
Long-Term Impact
Trying to catch lightning in a bottle with prospects on a hot streak is nothing new for Major League organizations. The Pirates tried it with Jack Suwinski, who turned in a couple of solid years before becoming a disappointment.
So the question holds: What kind of player will Bolte turn into? Bolte’s best tool is by far his speed. During his debut, he beat out an infield single with a sprint speed of 31.3 feet per second. This speed was also on full display in Triple-A as he snagged 17 steals in under 40 games. Bolte’s next best tool is his power. Bolte comes in at 6’3″ and nearly 200 pounds. As mentioned earlier, he uses this strength and athleticism to crush baseballs. Bolte also shows power in all fields as displayed during his recent hot streak, where he hit two home runs to right field. While Bolte has been on a hot streak, his hit tool creates concerns for scouts. He strikes out at a large clip with a career strikeout rate of over 36% in the minors. Now, a lot of this comes with being young for the leagues, as Bolte was drafted out of high school. He has managed to decrease his strikeout rate as he progressed through the higher levels, but there are questions regarding what success he could find in Sacramento.
Where Does He Fit?
There’s no doubt that Bolte has been electric at this point in the season. In his first three games in Sacramento, he’s hitting .500 while driving in two runs. Bolte has also created a spark on the base paths, stealing a total of 18 bases in 40 games between Triple-A and the majors. Luckily, for Bolte, there should be playing time while Denzel Clarke is injured. As for when he comes back, Bolte is capable of playing any of the three outfield spots thanks to his elite speed. The main outfield group for the Athletics has a combined -0.9 bWAR between their starting outfielders this season. If Bolte can continue his hot streak, he could have a long-term home in Sacramento.
