Sports over the last few decades have changed drastically by way of journalism, scouting, construction of teams and even how the players are monitored with their production. The combination of sports science and computer analytics have evolved to advanced metrics.  

 

This vessel of information is becoming more complex and detailed to the point that franchises hire a complete staff specifically to study potential players, develop improvement programs and communicate their findings to the front office and ownership groups to make important decisions.  

 

Advanced stats for baseball are spread out to cover defense, offense, pitching and the team overall…

 

  • Four for the defense…
  • Four for the overall team…
  • 29 for pitching…
  • 12 for offense…

 

Make that 13 for the offense. MLB has introduced a new advanced stat named the “Average Bat Speed Metric”. Who is at the top of the list for the quickest bat speed? Our MLBbro power hitter Giancarlo Stanton. Not far down the list is fellow MLBbro Yankees teammate Aaron Judge. 

 

 

MLBbro.com breaks down baseball’s newest advanced stat.

 

Understanding the measurements of “Average Bat Speed Metric”:

 

All 30 MLB teams have placed five cameras to track the speed of the bat while dictating the path, location of the physical space and how it relates to the ball delivered by the pitcher.

 

The speed of the swing is ultimately measured by the sweet spot of the barrel, the middle of the big part of the bat.

 

 

On May 8, our MLBbro Stanton smashed this home run over the left field bleachers at a rate of 119.1 mph. To the eye test, Stanton got all of the pitch and hit a line drive laser out of the park. But look at it through the “Average Bat Speed Metric” advanced stat breakdown…

 

  • His swing speed was clocked at 83.7 mph, which is 11 mph faster than the MLB average of 72 mph. 
  • The swing had a length of 8.6 feet which is also above the MLB average of 7.3 feet. 
  • The swing was squared up at 100 percent.

 

Giancarlo’s home run featured three of the six Statcast metrics…bat speed, swing length and squared up rate. Here’s the full list.

 

Bat speed:

 

Based on the metrics, balls hit in the air are tracked for every one mph of bat speed adding to approximately six more feet of distance. That six feet could be the difference from a warning track flyout to a ball out of the park into the seats.  

 

Fast swing rate:

 

Any swing over 75 mph. Giancarlo Stanton has a reputation of being one of the hardest swingers in baseball no matter the situation. He might be at the top of the list for a while.

 

 

Squared up rate:

 

Squared up rate tells you how effective a hitter is at actually obtaining a swing’s maximum exit velocity, based on what’s possible considering the speed of the swing and pitch.

 

Blast:

 

A blast, technically, is “when a batter squares up a ball and does so with a minimum amount of bat speed,

 

Swing length:

 

The difference in style, in whether you’re trying to get power or contact.

 

Sword: (Basically an awkward swing):

 

 

Enjoy the games and when the metric comes up, you’ll be ready. Particularly when MLBbros walk to the batter’s box.