Fantasy Baseball: 3 Young Hitters who are Launch Angle Improvement Candidates
By Lucas Kelly
Fantasy Baseball Stats We’re Looking For
2019 HRs – Obviously a player would change their launch angle in order to hit more home runs. We can look back at last season to see who should be hitting more in 2020.
High ground ball rate (GB%) – If a player is hitting the ball on the ground a lot and hard, perhaps they should take that power and try to elevate the ball. If a player is hitting for average, getting on base often and generally doing well by hitting the ball on the ground (Luis Arraez) then they should probably leave their launch angle alone. But a hitter who keeps getting outs, but is hitting the ball hard, may want to tweak some things.
High home run to fly-ball rate (HR/FB) – This means that a player hits the ball up in the air and it often results in a home run. So, therefore, maybe the hitter should try hitting it up into the air more often.
High hard-hit rate (Hard%) – You won’t hit dingers unless you hit the ball hard. Give me the bat and let me take a rip, maybe I’ll get it out of the infield.
Pull hitters (Pull%) – If a hitter can pull the ball, they have a higher chance of getting it over the wall. High pull hitters who are hitting it hard are perfect candidates to increase launch angle in hopes of adding another homerun hitting skill.
Here are three young hitters who may just be able to increase their HR counts in 2020 with a little work (I am aware of how gigantic of an understatement that is, but just go with it…) on their swing.