I've always believed the difference between a major-league hitter and a minor-league hitter is the sound the ball makes off the bat.

Case in point Sunday at Classic Park. Shin Soo Choo, recovering from a broken left thumb, is ahead of schedule in his bid to return to the Indians' lineup before September.

The outfielder took batting practice with the Captains before their night game on Sunday, and Choo didn't disappoint, looking and sounding good.

Choo didn't talk much after the workout. His bat did all the talking, and it sounded so good. No offense to the Captains players who joined him in the batting cage, but the ball coming off Choo's bat sounded different. Major-league different.

Maybe it was Choo's bats, or the fact his swing is major-league ready, and contact is that much more precise coming off his bat. Either way, there is no sweeter sound in sports than the ball meeting the wood of a major-league hitter.

I can't explain why. It just does. Watching - and listening - to Choo take batting practice was mesmerizing. He sprayed the ball to all fields, and even took aim at the Captains' batting practice building way beyond the right-field fence. The swing looked effortless, but the ball sprang off the bat.

Choo's swing sounded that good, and he's not even 100 percent back from his broken thumb. It was sweet enough.

- Mark Podolski