Ricky Henderson on the Yankees; CC by License 2.0
The leadoff hitter is among the most necessary spots within the order because it begins the sport off and will get probably the most at-bats. Nevertheless, there’s quite a lot of dialogue on what it takes to be a leadoff hitter and how much {qualifications} a leadoff hitter ought to even have. The spot itself has gone via quite a lot of change lately within the MLB and what individuals consider it. Earlier than analyzing the spot and discovering some present leadoff guys that match the standards, you will need to perceive the historical past of the spot.
Historical past of the leadoff hitter
One can argue that the leadoff hitter has been one of the crucial modified features of baseball within the analytical period. All through a lot of the earlier historical past of baseball, crucial factor from a leadoff hitter has been velocity and the flexibility to steal bases. It was thought that having a man who can steal bases persistently and supply constant velocity, even when the hitter was not precisely the very best at getting on base and even hitting, most groups simply needed a man who might run. An instance of this comes from the 1970 Yankees who persistently put one of many worst hitters in baseball that 12 months within the leadoff spot. Horace Clarke hit leadoff in 157 video games for the 1970 Yankees and his slash line was .251/.286/.309 for an OPS of .595 and a 68 OPS+. Clarke stole 23 bases this 12 months and it was the 4th consecutive season of 20+ steals however what’s the level of that velocity if he by no means will get on base? The Yankees might have benefited from having 1B Danny Carter or RF Curt Blefary from hitting leadoff. Neither of those guys was a risk on the basepaths however posted OBP of .340 and .324 respectively. This Yankees workforce received 93 video games and simply missed the playoffs however might have simply received a pair extra video games by having a man hitting leadoff who might get on base. Nevertheless, one workforce was forward of its time throughout this period and that was the Baltimore Orioles whose supervisor, Earl Weaver, had a extra fashionable method when it got here to platooning, managing a bullpen, and numerous different issues. In the course of the 1975 season for instance, the Orioles’ major leadoff hitter was RF Ken Singleton who stole simply 3 bases. Nevertheless, he had a slash line of .300/.415/.454 for an OPS of .869 and a 153 OPS+. This workforce had 4 guys with over 14 steals however Weaver knew the worth of getting a man in that spot who might get on base. There have been numerous guys pre-sabermetrics who stole bases and had been nice leadoff hitters so it is vitally doable to do each, nonetheless, the tactic of selecting a leadoff hitter was largely based mostly on velocity. In the course of the 2000s and 2010s, there started a shift within the leadoff hitter that was to place excessive stroll and excessive on-base guys in that slot forward of men with velocity. This mannequin is healthier throughout and it makes extra sense for making a lineup.
Dream leadoff hitter
Now it’s time to undergo completely different stats which are essential for a really perfect leadoff hitter.
Will get On Base
The only most necessary factor about my leadoff hitter is that he will get on base loads. The job of the leadoff hitter must be to discover a solution to get on base for the remainder of the order. The run expectancy doubles when the leadoff hitter will get on first base, so to say that it can be crucial is an understatement. Usually your 2-5 goes to be your finest hitters so that you need somebody who’s persistently on base for them to drive residence. A perfect leadoff hitter ought to have an OBP of at the very least .345 or an xwOBA of across the similar. This offers the workforce an opportunity to persistently rating on the prime of the lineup. Now it could be higher to have a better OBP however this .345 mark is an effective minimal to should create quite a lot of runs.
Walks
Walks are the best solution to get on base as a result of the hitter simply has to take a seat there and take a look at pitches. The power for my leadoff hitter to stroll goes past that although. It is crucial for a leadoff hitter to see quite a lot of pitches and to make the pitcher work. The significance of the leadoff hitter to work the depend is invaluable. Any supervisor is aware of that they need the pitcher to should work to get the leadoff man out so he is likely to be tiring down extra by the point he will get to the guts of the order. A perfect BB% for my leadoff hitter is 10% or increased. That is roughly the highest 30% of the league in stroll fee. It is a good quantity to work the depend and assist the OBP be increased. One other side of walks will not be chasing on the pitch aka Chase%. A perfect chase% for a leadoff hitter is round 25% or much less. This might once more be prime 30% within the league and this mixture of BB% and Chase% would make for a affected person and superb leadoff hitter.
Onerous contact
The objective each time a hitter goes to the plate is to make exhausting contact and barrel the ball up. It’s a should for a leadoff hitter to at the very least have the ability to do that nicely sufficient. To succeed in our first objective of getting on base, hitting the ball exhausting will end in doing that extra. The best leadoff hitter ought to have a median exit velo of round 90 MPH which is within the prime 40% of all hitters. A Barrel% of 9% and HardHit% of round 42% are additionally necessary. These metrics collectively ought to produce a hitter that may persistently hit the ball exhausting which can result in getting on base loads. Alongside these similar strains are further base hits that are nonetheless semi-important for a leadoff hitter. It’s sometimes additionally necessary for a leadoff hitter to have round 10 to 25 residence runs and 20 to 30 2Bs a 12 months. A leadoff hitter is rarely a big-time energy man as a result of he wouldn’t be a leadoff hitter if he was. Nevertheless, he nonetheless wants to have the ability to have constant energy to the place he can present stable extra-base hit numbers. All of this put collectively would result in a really stable leadoff hitter that may hit the ball exhausting and get further base hits.
Strikeouts
An necessary factor for my leadoff hitter is to keep away from strikeouts. Strikeouts can kill an innings and a strikeout means there isn’t a likelihood to get on base and as talked about beforehand getting on base is crucial factor. A Okay fee of 20% or much less would qualify as fairly good for the best leadoff hitter. Avoiding strikeouts can result in getting on base increasingly walks. An enormous a part of avoiding strikeouts will not be whiffing so a Whiff% of 23% or much less could be superb for a leadoff hitter.
Baserunning
As mentioned earlier, groups used to take velocity into consideration as the first focus. Now it shouldn’t be the first focus, it ought to be being competent on the basepaths. Being quick on the basepaths can result in being put in a scoring place and extra runs being scored. A dash velocity of 28.0 Ft/Sec and 10 SB a 12 months could be very useful on the prime of the lineup. This stuff aren’t essential however generally is a good contact to a leadoff hitter.
Not being the very best hitter
The final part for a leadoff hitter will not be being the very best hitter on the workforce. 9/10 the very best hitter hits 2-4 within the order and doesn’t hit leadoff. The explanation for that is to allow them to drive within the runs whereas the leadoff hitter’s principal job is to get on base for the very best hitters.
Dream Leadoff hitter stat line
Finest present choices for leadoff hitters
Lars Nootbaar
Nootbaar is among the finest present choices for a modern-day leadoff hitter. He has a .351 OBP throughout his profession and a .376 mark this 12 months. He additionally walks at a close to 15% clip whereas having an honest 21.5% Okay%. The Okay% is somewhat excessive however not too dramatic. His XBH numbers aren’t there as his 2Bs are particularly low however he makes up for it with stable exhausting contact charges. His exit velo is precisely 90 MPH, a Brl% of 9%, and an HH% of 41%. These are all extraordinarily superb for a leadoff hitter as nicely. He additionally Chases at simply an 18% clip and whiffs at only a 20% clip. He can even present respectable velocity at 27.9 Ft/sec and has 7 SB this 12 months already. Now there are some issues that he’s lacking however all in all, Nootbaar is among the finest present choices for the leadoff spot.
Corbin Carroll
Carroll might find yourself being too good for hitting leadoff nonetheless if he might get some energy bats behind him he might find yourself being the best choice for hitting leadoff. Caroll has been getting on base at a .365 clip and has an OPS over .900 this 12 months. His walks are somewhat low as they’re at 9.5% however his Okay% is stable for a leadoff at 20.5%. His XBHs are the place he’s most precious as he has already gotten 20 HRs and 2Bs this 12 months. The exit velo mark of 90.5 MPH, Brl% of 9.1%, and HH% of 41.6% are all additionally excellent for any hitter, particularly one that may hit leadoff. His Chase and Whiff charges are each excessive with them being 27.4% and 22.1% respectively. His velocity is a large plus as he has 30 SB and a 30.1 Ft/Sec. Total, if Caroll can get some stable bats behind him, he may very well be an elite leadoff hitter.
Riley Greene
Greene is one other younger man just like Carrol. If he will get some bats behind him he may very well be an elite leadoff hitter. His .379 OBP and OPS nearing .850 are each very a lot superb. His walks are about common at 9% however Okay% are a minor subject as they’re nearing 28%. He makes up for this although with very stable exhausting contact charges: 92 MPH, 9.7 Brl%, and 48.6% HH%. His XBH numbers aren’t superb however with these exhausting contact numbers, they don’t matter as a lot. His chase and whiff charges are each excessive at 28% for every of them. His velocity helps contribute to his worth as his 28.4 Ft/Sec and he has 6 SB this 12 months as nicely. Greene has some stuff to work on however may very well be an elite leadoff hitter.
These are simply a few the very best leadoff hitter choices in at this time’s recreation. I attempted to keep away from hitters who’re among the finest in baseball that hit leadoff like Mookie, Acuna, and even Ohtani typically. Guys like this succeed irrespective of the place they hit and solely hit leadoff because of the depth of their respective lineups. These aren’t precisely the very best ones however are simply among the finest.
Finest to ever do it
With all this being mentioned, the dream leadoff hitter and by far the very best leadoff hitter ever was Rickey Henderson. It ought to be apparent but when one had been to start out a workforce all time; Rickey has to hit leadoff. He checks just about the entire packing containers listed above and does them to the very best diploma doable. He was a profession .400 OBP and .820 OPS man. His profession stroll fee was over 16% and a Okay% at 12% are each unbelievable and very good for what we’re on the lookout for. His XBH was no subject in addition to he was persistently placing up 15-30 HRs and 20-35 2Bs. It doesn’t must say something about his SB apart from this: he stole 1406 profession SB, and it’ll by no means get touched once more. Rickey is the golden customary for hitting leadoff hitters and he’ll possible by no means get touched.
Sources:
Baseball savant
Baseball reference
