Teams and players have different approaches to hitting.
Some are more patient and preach waiting on the right pitch to hit.
Others take advantage of the fact that MLB pitchers often try to get ahead of the count and swing at the first pitch.
For both strategies, you need proper execution, but the second one can be really, really effective.
It’s the one being applied by the Tampa Bay Rays.
You might like it or not, but the Rays are 13-0 and are one of the best hitting teams in baseball, so you can’t really argue with the results so far.
They have been destroying the ball, particularly on the first pitch.
“Slugging percentage on the first pitch, 2023: Tampa Bay Rays —–> 1,140. The rest of MLB ——> .543,” Codify Baseball tweeted.
Slugging percentage on the first pitch, 2023:
Tampa Bay Rays —–> 1,140 😮
The rest of MLB ——> .543 pic.twitter.com/SrjtaivIPK— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) April 14, 2023
If anything, that data should be useful for MLB organizations, since they might not know it but they are performing very, very well if they swing at the first pitch.
The Rays, however, are on another tier.
A 1,140 slugging percentage is absolutely nuts.
Some of the Rays’ biggest stars such as Wander Franco, Randy Arozarena, Isaac Paredes, Brandon Lowe, Yandy Diaz and Josh Lowe are continually pouncing on the first offering they see.
First pitches are, additionally, fastballs for the most part.
There is no better pitch to hunt than a fastball in the strike zone.
Let’s see how long can the Rays keep up that torrid pace, because the league will eventually adjust and start throwing breaking pitches or balls early in the count.
Still, they are getting results for as long as they can.
NEXT:
The Rays’ Current Run Is Having A Remarkable Viewing Effect
