10 hitters with a rare blend of speed and power
Not simply in baseball, however throughout all sports activities, it’s uncommon for the quickest individuals to even be the strongest. After all, you don’t sometimes see an Olympic 100-meter sprinter double up as an expert Sumo wrestler in his or her down time. But the world’s greatest athletes discover methods to mix abilities which might be typically perceived as unconventional, and MLB is not any exception. Below, we break down the highest power-speed combos within the Majors this season.
How will we accomplish that? To begin, we’ll use two classes of Statcast information: barrel fee and common dash velocity. Barrels are probably the most harmful sort of contact in baseball — a extra formal definition could be seen on MLB’s glossary right here — however to summarize, they’re batted balls with the optimum mixture of exit velocity and launch angle. As such, a participant’s barrel fee is his share of batted balls which might be thought of barrels. A participant’s dash velocity on any particular person play is his toes per second throughout his quickest one-second window on that play, and solely a participant’s efficiency on “competitive runs” is taken into account for his total common dash velocity — see this hyperlink for extra element on how that common is calculated.
But along with the Statcast metrics, we additionally take into account among the old-school numbers: house runs and stolen bases. Given that there are nonetheless solely 4 members of the all-time “40-40 club,” it’s tough to rack up elite numbers in each of those statistics. And that is still true regardless of the 2023 rule adjustments which have led to a rise in stolen bases, which means that gamers ought to be appropriately credited when they’re ready put up massive numbers in each stats.
Without additional ado, under are our high 10 power-speed threats of the 2023 season so far. All stats under are getting into Monday’s video games.
1. Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Braves
Notable stats: 25 house runs, 53 steals, 88th percentile barrel fee
2. Corbin Carroll, OF, D-backs
Notable stats: 21 house runs, 36 steals, 99th percentile dash velocity
If Acuña wasn’t on such a preposterous HR-SB tempo, we’d seemingly be speaking much more about Arizona’s rookie sensation than we already are. Carroll himself is in place to make some historical past, on tempo for 30 homers and 52 steals this season. Not solely would he be part of Mike Trout (2012) as the one rookies ever to go 30-30, however he’d additionally be part of Eric Davis (1987) and Barry Bonds (1990) as the one gamers of any expertise degree to go 30-50 … an inventory that Acuña is 5 homers away from becoming a member of as properly. Led by Carroll’s elite velocity — which ranks behind solely Bobby Witt Jr. and Trea Turner amongst certified hitters — Arizona has turn into among the many most fun younger groups within the sport.
3. Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals
Notable stats: 20 house runs, 32 steals, a centesimal percentile dash velocity
Witt’s common dash velocity of 30.3 toes/second leads MLB’s 266 certified hitters, however you already knew that the Royals’ second-year shortstop was quick. What you may not have recognized was how well-rounded the different instruments of his recreation are. Witt has an outdoor likelihood to affix the aforementioned 30-50 membership, however even when he doesn’t accomplish that, he already has turn into the first participant ever to have at the very least 20 HR and 30 SB in every of his first two seasons. His hitting has improved vastly from Year 1 to Year 2, with a barrel fee that has jumped from 8.7% to 11.8%, making him a core pillar for a younger Kansas City squad.
4. Jose Siri, OF, Rays
Notable stats: 92nd percentile barrel fee, 97th percentile dash velocity, 21 house runs
Siri has damaged out as an influence hitter in his second full MLB season, already having hit 3 times as many homers as he did a 12 months in the past. He can also be one in all solely three certified hitters to be within the ninetieth percentile or higher in each barrel fee and dash velocity, becoming a member of Byron Buxton and Mike Trout. With Siri, Luke Raley and Randy Arozarena (extra on him later), the Rays are crammed with younger gamers who’ve impressed with their energy and their fleet toes.
5. Mike Trout, OF, Angels
Notable stats: ninety fifth percentile barrel fee, 96th percentile dash velocity, 18 house runs
Yes, we all know that Trout hasn’t performed in a recreation since July 3. And sure, we all know that the stolen base has kind of turn into an extinct side of his recreation as he’s tried to protect his physique later in his profession (he hasn’t had greater than two steals in a season since swiping 11 in 2019). But even with these caveats, you merely can’t construct a power-speed checklist with out together with the person whose profession has been outlined by these traits since he turned the primary rookie to have a 30-30 season 11 years in the past. Pertaining to this 12 months particularly, Trout is the one MLB participant within the ninety fifth percentile or higher in each barrel fee and dash velocity, displaying that the 32-year-old nonetheless has loads left within the tank.
6. Jack Suwinski, OF, Pirates
Notable stats: 97th percentile barrel fee, 84th percentile dash velocity, 21 house runs
Though the Pirates have cooled off since a scorching begin, Suwinski has continued to be one of many workforce’s high performers, main Pittsburgh’s certified hitters in house runs, slugging share and OPS. But whereas Suwinski is one in all 10 gamers to rank within the eightieth percentile or higher in each barrel fee and dash velocity, neither of these is his most spectacular trait. In truth, Suwinski ranks within the 99th percentile in chase fee, trailing solely Mookie Betts and Juan Soto. In his second MLB season, the 25-year-old outfielder has displayed an elite mix of energy, velocity and plate self-discipline.
7. Luis Robert Jr., OF, White Sox
Notable stats: 93rd percentile barrel fee, 82nd percentile dash velocity, 30 house runs
As was the case with Suwinski, Robert’s high trait may not be his energy or velocity, each of that are spectacular in their very own proper. One might simply argue that it’s his protection, a subject through which he ranks second amongst outfielders in Outs Above Average (behind a participant who can be talked about later). Of course, the truth that he has extra house runs already this season than he had from 2021-22 mixed is nothing to scoff at both. Combine all of that, and it’s straightforward to see why the 26-year-old earned his first profession All-Star berth in 2023.
8. Julio Rodríguez, OF, Mariners
Notable stats: 18 house runs, 27 steals, 97th percentile dash velocity
Maybe Rodríguez’s manufacturing has dipped a bit since his legendary 2022 Rookie of the Year marketing campaign, however this model of Rodríguez continues to be amongst MLB’s greatest power-speed threats. He already has extra steals than he did a 12 months in the past, and his house run whole, whereas on a weaker tempo than in 2022, continues to be tied for the workforce lead with Cal Raleigh. And like Robert, Rodríguez additionally offers immense worth on the defensive facet of the ball, main all outfielders with +11 Outs Above Average.
9. Fernando Tatis Jr., OF, Padres
Notable stats: 19 house runs, 17 steals, 94th percentile dash velocity
For apparent causes, Tatis’ 2023 offseason was crammed with questions. How would he be capable to shake off the rust of lacking the 2022 season? How would his physique reply to current wrist and shoulder surgical procedures? How would he deal with the transition to the outfield following the workforce’s acquisition of Xander Bogaerts at shortstop? As it seems, the reply to all of these questions was “very well.” At the plate, on the basepaths, and particularly within the subject — the place he ranks within the 97th percentile or higher in each Outs Above Average and arm power — Tatis has continued to be a star, placing any doubts to mattress about what he’d appear to be after the one-year absence.
10. Randy Arozarena, OF, Rays
Notable stats: 87th percentile barrel fee, 82nd percentile dash velocity, 18 house runs
There’s not a lot the 28-year-old can’t do on the sector, and consequently, he’s turn into one of many largest faces of Tampa Bay’s profitable season. While he’s at all times been quick, his energy hitting has been higher than ever this season. His common exit velocity (92.6 mph) and barrels/PA (8.3%) are each profession highs, serving to result in his first profession All-Star look. With 12 steals up to now this season, he has an outdoor shot at posting his third 20-20 12 months in as many full MLB seasons.
