Corrected Exit Velocity Data & Leaderboards

by
December 14, 2016

Statcast data is now everywhere and everyone seems to be using it in some form. While detailed pitch information has been available via Pitchf/x, full season batted ball data was missing. Now the batted ball data is leading to some interesting findings, but it’s not a true answer. So far, 12.6% of the batted balls is missing data. I wouldn’t see this as an issue if the missing data was evenly distrusted, but it is biased. I have made a simple correction to the data and now how have available corrected overall data and leaderboards.

I went over the procedure I used to correct the data in this previous article. Here is a quick review of the problem and corrective procedure:

  • 12.6% of all the batted balls are missed by Statcast. No bunts or foul balls were counted though.
  • Most of the missing data are weak infield popups and groundballs. As a general rule, weak, groundball hitters are missing the most data. For pitchers, groundball pitchers are obviously the ones with more data.
  • I found the average value for all detected batted balls fielded by each position.
  • If the data is missing, I replaced it with the calculated league average values.

At the time, I wanted to have some form of a leaderboard created. No such luck. My initial query kept timing out, so I could only run a few players at time. I finally cleaned up the code and now can run the yearly averages and here it is:

2015 and 2016 Corrected Statcast Batted Data

The data can be downloaded by going to File -> Download As. A person can sort and filter the data all they want.  The data I have included is:

  • Name, season, balls in play, percentage missed.
  • Corrected and uncorrected average distance, angle, and exit velocity.
  • Hitter data includes ISO and HR/FB.
  • Pitcher data includes HR/9, HR/FB, BABIP, and GB%.
  • I included another sheet of just hitter data on line drives and flyballs to help with home run projections.

What fun is a new dataset without any leaderboards? I will start with the hitters and then move onto the pitchers. I would love to add some more context to each leaderboard, but I am also still trying to process what the data exactly means for fantasy purposes. Enjoy the data and I will be looking into it in the near future.

Hitters

Highest Exit Velocity (All Hitters)
Name Year Hit Speed Hit Distance Total
Aaron Judge 2016 94.5 241 43
Miguel Cabrera 2015 92.0 217 349
Miguel Sano 2015 91.5 239 162
Nelson Cruz 2016 91.3 219 437
Miguel Cabrera 2016 91.3 229 485
Josh Rutledge 2016 91.1 186 30
Tommy Pham 2016 91.0 213 88
Domingo Santana 2016 91.0 214 156
Tyler Flowers 2016 90.9 218 194
Mike Trout 2015 90.9 229 422
Giancarlo Stanton 2016 90.8 221 275
Carlos Peguero 2015 90.7 233 39
Chris Davis 2015 90.5 238 370
Ryan Howard 2016 90.5 236 220
Jesus Montero 2015 90.4 213 80
Jose Tabata 2015 90.3 168 31
Keon Broxton 2016 90.2 216 119
Brandon Snyder 2016 90.1 228 30
Christian Yelich 2016 90.1 194 445
Christian Yelich 2015 90.1 177 373

 

Highest Exit Velocity (min 400 PA)
Name Year Hit Speed Hit Distance Total
Miguel Cabrera 2015 92.0 217 349
Nelson Cruz 2016 91.3 219 437
Miguel Cabrera 2016 91.3 229 485
Mike Trout 2015 90.9 229 422
Giancarlo Stanton 2016 90.8 221 275
Chris Davis 2015 90.5 238 370
Christian Yelich 2015 90.1 177 373
Christian Yelich 2016 90.1 194 445
Miguel Sano 2016 90.0 237 263
Kendrys Morales 2016 89.9 221 443
Ryan Howard 2015 89.9 226 332
Mark Trumbo 2016 89.8 219 443
Kendrys Morales 2015 89.6 214 469
DJ LeMahieu 2016 89.6 210 478
J.D. Martinez 2016 89.6 228 337
Pedro Alvarez 2015 89.5 193 309
Freddie Freeman 2016 89.4 237 423
Khris Davis 2016 89.4 223 393
David Ortiz 2015 89.4 217 442
David Ortiz 2016 89.4 235 457

 

Longest Average Distance (All Hitters)
Name Year Hit Speed Hit Distance Total
David Wright 2016 89.0 247 82
Brett Nicholas 2016 84.6 243 31
Nick Castellanos 2016 88.5 243 305
Trevor Story 2016 88.0 243 243
Aaron Judge 2016 94.5 241 43
Ryan Schimpf 2016 84.3 240 174
Miguel Sano 2015 91.5 239 162
Matt Carpenter 2016 88.7 239 367
Matt Adams 2016 86.3 238 218
Cole Gillespie 2016 89.9 238 38
Chris Davis 2015 90.5 238 370
Freddie Freeman 2016 89.4 237 423
Miguel Sano 2016 90.0 237 263
Chris Carter 2016 88.7 237 353
Jarrod Saltalamacchia 2016 87.6 237 147
Ryan Howard 2016 90.5 236 220
J.D. Martinez 2015 89.1 236 421
Curt Casali 2015 89.2 235 68
Matt Carpenter 2015 87.2 235 427
David Ortiz 2016 89.4 235 457

 

Longest Average Distance (min 400 PA)
Name Year Hit Speed Hit Distance Total
Nick Castellanos 2016 88.5 243 305
Trevor Story 2016 88.0 243 243
Matt Carpenter 2016 88.7 239 367
Chris Davis 2015 90.5 238 370
Freddie Freeman 2016 89.4 237 423
Miguel Sano 2016 90.0 237 263
Chris Carter 2016 88.7 237 353
J.D. Martinez 2015 89.1 236 421
Lucas Duda 2015 88.6 235 333
Matt Carpenter 2015 87.2 235 427
David Ortiz 2016 89.4 235 457
Brandon Belt 2016 84.8 234 397
Chris Davis 2016 88.5 234 349
Brandon Moss 2016 84.6 232 276
Chris Carter 2015 86.5 231 245
Brandon Belt 2015 87.4 230 349
Miguel Cabrera 2016 91.3 229 485
Mike Trout 2015 90.9 229 422
Evan Longoria 2016 87.5 229 496
Daniel Murphy 2016 88.2 228 482

 

Longest Average HR and Flyball Distance (All Hitters)
Name Year Hit Speed Hit Distance Count
Gary Sanchez 2016 100.5 376 34
Trevor Story 2016 95.7 358 75
Giancarlo Stanton 2015 101.7 358 61
Byung-ho Park 2016 97.3 357 47
Franklin Gutierrez 2016 98.5 354 41
Franklin Gutierrez 2015 96.4 354 30
Ryan Raburn 2016 95.9 353 29
Mikie Mahtook 2015 97.9 353 24
Christian Yelich 2016 97.7 351 65
Robinson Chirinos 2016 93.9 349 25
David Freese 2016 96.0 349 38
Ryan Braun 2016 95.7 348 79
Pedro Alvarez 2015 98.3 348 70
Miguel Cabrera 2016 97.1 347 131
Yasmani Grandal 2016 95.1 347 73
Josh Hamilton 2015 96.5 346 26
Tyler Naquin 2016 95.3 346 47
Chris Davis 2016 96.6 346 124
Kendrys Morales 2016 96.0 346 119
Josh Donaldson 2015 96.1 345 136

 

Longest Average HR and Flyball Distance (min 400 PA)
Name Year Hit Speed Hit Distance Total
Pedro Alvarez 2015 98.3 348 70
Nelson Cruz 2016 98.2 344 125
Christian Yelich 2016 97.7 351 65
Khris Davis 2016 97.3 342 122
Miguel Cabrera 2016 97.1 347 131
Chris Carter 2016 96.8 343 126
Chris Davis 2016 96.6 346 124
Chris Carter 2015 96.5 340 93
Miguel Sano 2016 96.4 335 93
Mike Trout 2015 96.4 340 115
J.D. Martinez 2015 96.4 341 149
Miguel Cabrera 2015 96.3 335 92
Nelson Cruz 2015 96.2 340 108
Joc Pederson 2016 96.2 337 68
Mark Trumbo 2016 96.2 338 138
Josh Donaldson 2015 96.1 345 136
Kendrys Morales 2016 96.0 346 119
Chris Davis 2015 96.0 335 127
Seth Smith 2016 96.0 338 61
Mitch Moreland 2015 96.0 342 88

 

Pitchers

Lowest Exit Velocity (All)
Name Year Hit Speed Hit Distance Total
Luis Avilan 2016 76.0 175 39
Donnie Hart 2016 76.5 155 51
Aroldis Chapman 2015 77.2 180 124
Shawn Armstrong 2016 77.8 182 31
Luis Avilan 2015 77.9 171 151
Tony Zych 2015 78.4 182 46
Grant Dayton 2016 78.4 202 54
Rich Hill 2015 78.6 159 63
Anthony Swarzak 2016 78.7 182 84
Cory Rasmus 2015 78.7 200 48
Noe Ramirez 2015 78.7 191 39
Ryan O’Rourke 2015 78.8 190 57
Dellin Betances 2015 79.4 165 157
Darren O’Day 2015 79.4 205 156
Pat Venditte 2016 79.4 191 70
Tyler Clippard 2016 79.5 206 160
Koji Uehara 2015 79.5 216 101
Mychal Givens 2016 79.5 197 173
Tyler Wagner 2016 79.7 183 31
Rex Brothers 2015 79.8 177 32

 

Lowest Exit Velocity (min 15 GS)
Name Year Hit Speed Hit Distance Total
Jered Weaver 2015 81.1 203 527
Clayton Kershaw 2015 81.5 178 529
CC Sabathia 2016 81.6 182 534
Eduardo Rodriguez 2016 81.6 207 314
Kenta Maeda 2016 81.9 199 477
Dallas Keuchel 2015 82.0 160 638
Jake Arrieta 2015 82.0 168 569
Kyle Hendricks 2016 82.0 186 517
Tommy Milone 2015 82.0 192 407
Chris Young 2015 82.1 223 367
Shelby Miller 2015 82.1 187 597
Chris Sale 2015 82.3 201 522
Jeremy Hellickson 2016 82.3 197 555
Collin McHugh 2015 82.4 193 618
Justin Verlander 2015 82.4 206 385
Tyler Anderson 2016 82.6 191 340
Clayton Kershaw 2016 82.6 187 352
John Danks 2015 82.7 199 574
Johnny Cueto 2015 82.7 196 628
Max Scherzer 2016 82.8 208 544

 

Highest Exit Velocity (All)
Name Year Hit Speed Hit Distance Total
Caleb Cotham 2015 93.8 221 32
Josh Ravin 2015 93.2 235 30
Austin Adams 2016 92.5 232 64
Jake Esch 2016 91.2 215 42
Cory Mazzoni 2015 91.0 197 40
Manny Banuelos 2015 90.7 225 87
Chris Capuano 2016 90.6 236 63
Ryan Webb 2016 90.6 202 62
Jacob Turner 2016 90.6 213 86
Kyle Lohse 2016 90.6 258 40
Nick Masset 2015 90.5 191 84
Rob Rasmussen 2015 90.3 245 54
Dalier Hinojosa 2016 90.3 188 33
Erik Johnson 2016 90.2 233 114
Brandon Cunniff 2016 90.2 245 45
Anthony Swarzak 2015 90.1 216 44
Jason Gurka 2015 89.9 229 30
Neil Ramirez 2015 89.9 218 39
Cody Ege 2016 89.8 223 38
Steve Geltz 2016 89.8 255 79

 

Highest Exit Velocity (min 15 GS)
Name Year Hit Speed Hit Distance Total
Danny Salazar 2016 88.8 208 356
Andrew Cashner 2016 88.7 215 397
Patrick Corbin 2015 88.2 207 254
Marcus Stroman 2016 88.0 184 626
Tyler Duffey 2016 88.0 205 437
Bud Norris 2016 87.6 205 336
James Paxton 2016 87.6 197 367
Nathan Eovaldi 2016 87.6 201 384
Kendall Graveman 2015 87.6 195 380
Williams Perez 2015 87.5 197 377
Wei-Yin Chen 2016 87.3 214 388
Shelby Miller 2016 87.3 217 342
Sonny Gray 2016 87.3 193 377
Patrick Corbin 2016 87.3 199 492
Chris Archer 2016 87.3 209 537
C.J. Wilson 2015 87.2 198 385
Kendall Graveman 2016 87.2 191 621
Jake Odorizzi 2016 87.2 218 545
Matt Andriese 2016 87.2 212 392
Carlos Carrasco 2016 87.2 203 410





 

Jeff, one of the authors of the fantasy baseball guide,The Process, writes for RotoGraphs, The Hardball Times, Rotowire, Baseball America, and BaseballHQ. He has been nominated for two SABR Analytics Research Award for Contemporary Analysis and won it in 2013 in tandem with Bill Petti. He has won four FSWA Awards including on for his Mining the News series. He's won Tout Wars three times, LABR twice, and got his first NFBC Main Event win in 2021. Follow him on Twitter @jeffwzimmerman.

8 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Dominikk85Member since 2020
8 years ago

Why is Stanton so bad in the exit velocity? Worse than tyler flowers and domingo santana? (Top leaderboard)

-3
JDX
8 years ago
Reply to  Dominikk85

Just spit-balling here, but perhaps the deviation of the batted ball sample also matters.

For example, if you hit 100 balls at 91mph, you might have worse expected results than if you hit 50 balls at 110mph and 50 balls at 70mph.

But that’s just a guess on my part.

0
Big Daddy V
8 years ago
Reply to  Dominikk85

When he hits the ball perfectly, it goes a long, long way. But he doesn’t get that perfect contact anywhere near as often as a guy like Cabrera does.

Trying to hit a home run is different from trying to hit the middle of the ball.

0