On-Field Batting Practice Is Dead. Here’s How All-Star Sluggers Prepare to Hit. - Sports Illustrated
Major League Baseball hitters are adapting to increased pitch velocity and complex pitch movement by utilizing advanced technology and data analytics. Traditional pregame batting practice is being replaced by high-tech simulations that mimic specific pitcher profiles.
Why it matters
The integration of high-end technology into sports training is fundamentally changing how athletes prepare and perform, reflecting a broader trend of data-driven decision-making in professional sports.
When it comes to velocity and a vast menu of pitch shapes, hitting in the major leagues has never been harder than it is today.
In just the past 10 years, the average four-seam fastball velocity has shot up from 93.2 mph to 94.8 mph, giving hitters less time to react. Simultaneously, hitters have more pitch types to decipher in the literal eyeblink it takes to decide to swing. Despite increased velocity, fastball use (four-seamers, sinkers and cutters) has dropped from 61.5% in 2016 to 54.8% this year.
Thousands of old-school heaters have been replaced with sweepers, kick changeups, seam-shifted two-seamers, splitters, splinkers, knuckle curves and assorted other lab-grown pitches designed to keep hitters guessing and miss barrels.
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