WHAT AND WHY WE TEST

BALL SCORE

Hitting Terms

Peak Exit Velocity Average EV50 Launch Angle Hard-Hit % Barrel %

Exit velocity directly correlates with offensive performance. It measures the speed of the ball off the bat after contact, providing valuable insights into a hitter’s power and effectiveness. Players who can generate high exit velocities consistently are more likely to excel at higher levels of baseball.

  • Balls hit with higher exit velocity are more likely to become hits and extra-base hits, as they are harder to field.
  • A player’s max exit velocity shows their power potential. Consistent high exit velocity indicates a strong hitter
  • Exit velocity data helps track improvements in swing mechanics, strength, and bat speed.
  • Scouts use exit velocity to evaluate a player’s offensive potential, especially for power hitting.
  • Exit velocity, along with launch angle, helps determine a hitter’s expected performance and differentiate between luck and skill.

Average EV50 (Average Exit Velocity of a player’s top 50% hardest-hit balls) is an advanced metric that evaluates a hitter’s true power potential.

  • EV50 is a better indicator of power potential than average exit velocity because it focuses solely on a player’s hardest-hit balls, giving a clearer picture of their true hitting ability.
  • High EV50 hitters typically have higher slugging percentages and expected stats and are better predictors of future power output
  • EV50 is used to improve swing mechanics and assess raw power and hitting efficiency.

Launch angle, when combined with exit velocity, helps hitters optimize their performance by maximizing the chances of extra-base hits and home runs. Understanding and adjusting launch angle has become a key part of modern hitting strategy.

  • Ideal launch angle (10-30 degrees) = line drives and home runs.
  • Too low (0-10 degrees) = ground balls.
  • Too high (above 30 degrees) = pop-ups/flyouts.
  • Optimal launch angle (10-30) + high exit velocity = extra-base hits and home runs.
  • Home runs typically = 20-35 degree launch angle + high exit velocity.

Hard-Hit %, the percentage of batted balls hit at a certain mph or higher (age dependent), and is crucial due to its direct correlation with offensive success. Harder hits result in higher batting averages, more extra-base hits, and reduced defensive playability.

  • Hard-Hit % is a better predictor of future performance than traditional stats and is a key indicator of hitter quality. Players with a high Hard-Hit % tend to have higher slugging percentages (SLG) and on-base plus slugging (OPS).
  • Coaches use Hard-Hit % to evaluate swing mechanics, strength, and identify elite hitters and power potential
  • Hard-Hit % removes luck from the equation and focuses on quality of contact. Hitters with high Hard-Hit % have better offensive potential and are more likely to succeed.

Barrel % is the percentage of batted balls with the ideal exit velocity and launch angle, and is a key indicator of a hitter’s power and effectiveness.

  • Barrels result in more extra-base hits, higher batting averages, and better slugging and home run rates
  • Barrel % is more predictive of offensive performance than traditional stats because it measures quality of contact.
  • A barrel is a ball hit with a certain mph exit velocity (age dependent) and an optimal launch angle (26-30°).
  • Coaches and scouts use Barrel % to evaluate a hitter’s ability and make adjustments to swing mechanics or approach.

Pitching Terms

Peak Velocity Average Velocity Vertical Break Horizontal Break VAA (Vertical Approach Angle) for a 4-Seam Fastball Strike %

Peak velocity is a critical measure of a pitcher’s arm strength, potential, and effectiveness. While command and pitch movement are also crucial, pitchers who throw harder tend to have a greater margin for error and a higher ceiling for success

  • Higher peak velocity makes pitches harder to hit, as hitters have less reaction time. It makes batters more vulnerable to off-speed and breaking pitches by creating a larger separation between fastballs and secondary pitches, making the overall arsenal more effective.
  • Tracking peak velocity over time helps measure improvements in mechanics, strength, and conditioning.
  • Coaches and trainers use peak velocity data to tailor training programs, optimizing mechanics, mobility, and arm care.

A strong average velocity is crucial for sustained success, impacting a pitcher’s durability, effectiveness, and long-term potential at all levels of baseball.

  • A pitcher who maintains high velocity deep into games is more valuable than one who peaks early but fades. Sustained velocity shows stamina and efficiency
  • A higher average velocity means fastballs stay effective throughout the game, making off-speed pitches more deceptive and harder to adjust to.
  • Scouts and coaches prioritize pitchers with consistent velocity over those who occasionally hit high speeds but lack endurance.
  • Tracking average velocity helps measure improvements in strength, mechanics, and arm durability over time.

Vertical break is a key factor in pitch effectiveness, deception, and strikeout potential, making it crucial for both scouting and player development.

  • More vertical break makes fastballs appear to “rise” and off-speed pitches drop more sharply, making them harder to hit.
  • High vertical break on fastballs leads to more swings and misses, especially up in the zone. Increased break on breaking balls generates more
    strikeouts.
  • Pitchers with elite vertical movement stand out, as movement is just as valuable as velocity in modern pitching analytics
  • Tracking vertical break helps refine pitch design, grip adjustments, and mechanics to optimize movement.

Vertical break is a key factor in pitch effectiveness, deception, and strikeout potential, making it crucial for both scouting and player development.

  • Horizontal break creates movement away from or toward a batter, making pitches harder to track and hit. For example, a slider with significant horizontal movement fools batters by shifting away from their swing plane.
  • More horizontal break increases the likelihood of weak contact, as hitters often swing under or over breaking pitches, leading to ground balls or flyouts.
  • Pitchers with elite horizontal movement, like sharp sliders or two-seam fastballs, stand out in scouting as they generate more swing-and-miss potential and can control the plate better.
  • Tracking horizontal break helps coaches fine-tune pitch mechanics, grips, and release points to enhance movement and optimize pitch
    effectiveness.

Vertical Approach Angle (VAA) refers to the angle at which a 4-seam fastball enters the hitter’s strike zone. VAA is key for a 4-seam fastball’s effectiveness and deception, creating swing-and-miss potential and better control of the strike zone.

  • A steeper VAA (6-8 degrees) makes the fastball appear to “rise,” making it harder for batters to make solid contact.
  • A sharp VAA creates more swing-and-miss opportunities, especially when thrown high in the zone.
  • Fastballs with a strong VAA are highly valued by scouts, as they make the pitch more difficult to hit.
  • A well-executed 4-seam fastball with an optimal VAA generates weak contact and keeps hitters off-balance.

Strike percentage is crucial for pitcher control, efficiency, and consistency. A high strike percentage helps reduce walks, improve pitch execution, and enhance overall effectiveness.

  • A high strike percentage indicates a pitcher’s ability to throw consistent strikes, which is crucial for controlling the game and avoiding walks. It helps identify areas for improvement in a pitcher’s control, mechanics, and ability to execute pitches in the zone.
  • Pitchers who throw strikes tend to work more efficiently, throwing fewer pitches per inning and reducing the likelihood of deep counts
  • A solid strike percentage demonstrates a pitcher’s ability to stay in the strike zone and avoid issuing free passes, a key trait for scouts and teams.