Pittsburgh Pirates
Nine out of 30 MLB teams have squared up 100% of their hard-hit balls, and 28 out of 30 have achieved at least 99%. The Atlanta Braves are nearly there as well, having squared up 98.8% of their hard-hit balls this season, just shy of 99% due to a minor rounding discrepancy.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, however, are in a unique position. They have managed a significant number of hard contacts—defined as hits with an exit velocity of 95 mph or higher—without fully squaring up the ball.
This means that many of their hits have reached speeds of 95 mph or more without achieving 80% of their potential maximum exit velocity. For example, several Pirates batters have produced hard-hit balls that could theoretically reach a maximum exit velocity of 119 mph or more.
The implications of this are mixed. On one hand, it demonstrates that some Pirates players possess remarkable strength, capable of generating considerable power without perfectly barreling the ball. On the other hand, it also indicates that the team is not fully capitalizing on their potential exit velocity. Key examples of players underperforming in this regard include Oneil Cruz, Rowdy Tellez, and Jack Suwinski, who have not maximized their power at the plate this season.
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