Exit velocity

Not to be confused withescape velocity.

Giancarlo Stantonheld the MLB record for highest exit velocity at 122.2 miles per hour (196.7 km/h) from 2015 to 2022

Inbaseball statistics,exit velocity(EV) is the estimated speed at which abatted ballis travelling as it is coming off the player's bat. Batters generally aim for a higher exit velocity in order to give opposingfieldersless time to react and attempt a defensive play; however, many batters are still able to accruehitswithout a high exit velocity. A pitcher will attempt to limit the exit velocity on the opposing batter's contact in order to allow the fielders or themself a better chance at making anout.

Exit velocity was first tracked byMajor League Baseball(MLB) in 2015 with the introduction ofStatcast.In MLB and many otherNorth Americanbaseball leagues, exit velocity is measured and presented inmiles per hour.

Origins

For most of baseball's history, there were no commonplace methods to quantify how hard-hit a batted ball was — the only aspect of the ball's speed being tracked was how fast the pitcher threw it, measured using various evolutions ofradar guns.In 2015, MLB introducedStatcasttechnology to all 30 of its ballparks, in part to track exit velocity. The league released its initial data the following year in a summary of the 2015 season's statistical notabilities. Throughout the 2016 season, more aspects of exit velocity were gradually rolled out to fans. MLB launched Baseball Savant in 2016 to provide fans easy access to exit velocity and other Statcast-recorded data.

External factors

Ballparks

Since every MLB stadium has its own unique set of dimensions and intricacies, there has been an observed ballpark-to-ballpark difference in exit velocity stats despite attempts to curtail it. MLB originally installedTrackManradar technology but switched to the optical-basedHawk-Eyesystem in 2020 — with both systems, the league was unable to avoid variances in data collection based on each ballpark. When Statcast is unable to accurately record exit velocity data for a batted ball, either because of ballpark factors or some other reason, itimputesa value in its place.

Equipment

Exit velocity can vary based on whether or not the ball is moisturized with ahumidor.From April 7 to May 22, 2021, the average exit velocity was 91.8 miles per hour (147.7 km/h) with a humidor and 92.8 miles per hour (149.3 km/h) without a humidor. During the same span of days in 2022, the average with a humidor was 91.2 miles per hour (146.8 km/h) and 92.2 miles per hour (148.4 km/h) without a humidor.

Uses

Since its introduction, MLB teams have used the exit velocity stat to gauge a batter's abilities. Transversely, exit velocity can be analyzed to improve a pitcher's results, especially those prone to giving up hard contact. Statcast technology in MLB ballparks allows teams to analyze exit velocity data points in real-time during games and make adjustments accordingly.

The use of exit velocity stats has been criticized by some. In 2018,Chicago CubsmanagerJoe Maddonexpressed his thoughts on advanced stats, stating: "Keep your launch angles, keep your exit velocities, give me a good at-bat." Maddon added that exit velocity and similar stats should instead be used to analyze potential player acquisitions.In 2023, a formerNew York Yankeesprospect criticized the organization for an alleged over-reliance on analytics, specifically citing a training game called "pitchers vs. hitters" that required a batter to hit a ball 95 miles per hour (153 km/h) or draw awalkto win.

According to Rotoballer, exit velocity can be used byfantasy baseballplayers to predict various outcomes and make roster decisions.

External links

• Exit Velocity DefinitionatMLB
• Baseball Savantwebsite