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These are interesting results, and some interesting conversations followed. This pop up was hit at 107.2 MPH @ 63 degrees. By Savant's measures (95+), this was a hard hit ball. But maybe more importantly, (1/6) https://twitter.com/ckurcon/status/1247899096901246979
This was the hardest hit ball hit in the 60-70 degree launch angle bin in the history of Statcast. In fact, the 107+ EV looks like it might push the upper bounds of what is humanly possible at a 63 degree launch angle. Does that change your opinion?
I'm not saying this is "good" or "quality" contact - it isn't, but it is certainly hit hard. Sure it's 107, but it's also the top 0.01% in terms of EV at that angle.
Maybe searching for these types of batted balls can tell us something about the players power potential.
Maybe searching for these types of batted balls can tell us something about the players power potential.
. @ProspectJesus texted me "Are you going to report to a regional director that a guy hit a 105 mph pop up?" and the short answer is that yeah, maybe you should. It could signal immense raw power, and perhaps more to come after that.
Here are all the max EVs by a 2 degree launch angle grouping in the history of Statcast. Gallo is the spike to the right, pretty sure the left is noise (gotta check). 115 mph back up the middle at 0 deg is impressive, but *in terms of sheer power*, 110 @ 50 deg is more impressive
There's only been 9 balls EVER hit at 45+ degrees with 110+ mph EV and they were hit by:
Judge (x2)
Gallo
Dozier
Franklin Gutierrez
Lucas Duda
Refroe
Acuna
Alonso
Judge (x2)
Gallo
Dozier
Franklin Gutierrez
Lucas Duda
Refroe
Acuna
Alonso
I'm not just talking about pop ups, either. We can apply this thinking to every launch angle bin from -25 to 0 to 30. Idk what this really all means but I plan to tinker with some stuff and find out. Maybe it could be insightful to quantify "hard" hit balls as "% of possible EV"
