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Royals batted ball mix and comparables

Who are the best comps to Royals hitters based on what they hit?

By Jeff Zimmerman
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Over at FanGraphs, I have been using Inside Edge data to dig a little deeper into hitter profiles. For almost 15 years three pieces of batted ball data has been available, line drives, flyballs and groundballs. The new information has extra information on how hard hit these balls were: well-hit, medium and weak. With this additional information, nine batted ball categories (well-hit flyball, weak groundball, etc) exist instead of three. I just started going over the data and here are the values for the Royals hitters.

A couple of notes on the data. It is only batted ball data and doesn't take into account player speed or plate discipline. It is just measures how hard they hit the ball. For simplicity sake, I have put all the values on a percentage scale. 100% is league average, 90% is 10% below league average and 110% is 10% above league average. Finally, the values are ordered in the order which will generally produce a hit. If you want them in order of damage done per hit, well-hit flyball should be first. Here are the league wide values on each of the nine batted ball types.

Batted Ball Type: xBABIP, wOBAcon, % of batted balls

  • Groundball – Weak: .151, .112, 31.4%
  • Groundball – Medium: .461, .416, 9.5%
  • Groundball – Well-Hit: .647, .610, 3.8%
  • Line Drive – Weak: .622, .579, 2.3%
  • Line Drive – Medium: .650, .638, 7.3%
  • Line Drive – Well-Hit: .719, .815, 11.1%
  • Flyball – Weak: .078, .074, 18.5%
  • Flyball – Medium: .069, .081, 8.2%
  • Flyball – Well-Hit: .641, 1.168, 7.8%

With these values, I have created four values to determine a hitter’s talent level.

  • BABIPwHR_plus (including home runs, but excluding bunts) – Number of batted balls which went for hits where 100% is league average.
  • xBABIPwHR_plus (including home runs, but excluding bunts) – Number of batted balls which should have went for hits knowing the batted ball mix where 100% is league average.
  • wOBAcon_plus (how hard is the contact) – Each hit is weighted to an average run value. I used 0.9 for single, 1.25 for doubles, 1.6 for Triples and 2.1 for home runs. A 100% value is the league average.
  • xwOrig_xBABIP_plus – Each batted ball is weighted to an average run value knowing the league averages for each batted ball type. I used 0.9 for single, 1.25 for doubles, 1.6 for Triples and 2.1 for home runs. A 100% value is the league average.
Besides the batted ball information, I have included the ten players with similar batted ball profiles who have played in the last three season.

Name Season Total Batted Balls BABIP AVG wOBA ISO BABIPwHR+ xBABIPwHR+ wOBAcon+ xwOBAcon+
Salvador Perez 2012 260 0.299 0.301 0.340 0.170 100% 105% 97% 104%
Salvador Perez 2013 438 0.311 0.292 0.329 0.141 104% 97% 96% 92%
Salvador Perez 2014 485 0.278 0.260 0.303 0.144 95% 99% 89% 95%
Name Season LD_WH+ LD_M+ FB_WH+ GB_WH+ LD_W+ GB_M+ GB_W+ FB_W+ FB_M+
Salvador Perez 2012 115% 74% 105% 70% 151% 132% 94% 97% 91%
Salvador Perez 2013 85% 85% 74% 83% 89% 156% 93% 103% 125%
Salvador Perez 2014 91% 142% 72% 80% 170% 75% 92% 111% 126%

Salvador Perez Comps
  1. Lonnie Chisenhall, 2014
  2. Jeff Keppinger, 2013
  3. Dioner Navarro, 2014
  4. Kyle Seager, 2013
  5. Jed Lowrie, 2014
  6. Ruben Tejada, 2014
  7. Nolan Arenado, 2013
  8. Angel Pagan, 2013
  9. Coco Crisp, 2014
  10. Nate McLouth, 2013
Quick thought: Perez's well-hit numbers have been morphing into medium hit balls.

Name Season Total Batted Balls BABIP AVG wOBA ISO BABIPwHR+ xBABIPwHR+ wOBAcon+ xwOBAcon+
Eric Hosmer 2012 440 0.255 0.232 0.291 0.127 86% 97% 81% 94%
Eric Hosmer 2013 525 0.335 0.302 0.350 0.146 115% 106% 105% 103%
Eric Hosmer 2014 409 0.312 0.270 0.314 0.127 100% 100% 95% 93%
Name Season LD_WH+ LD_M+ FB_WH+ GB_WH+ LD_W+ GB_M+ GB_W+ FB_W+ FB_M+
Eric Hosmer 2012 97% 56% 83% 159% 40% 113% 116% 96% 79%
Eric Hosmer 2013 93% 108% 96% 94% 108% 140% 113% 60% 97%
Eric Hosmer 2014 122% 98% 54% 63% 64% 122% 118% 78% 97%

Eric Hosmer Comps

  1. Daniel Descalso, 2013
  2. Martin Prado, 2013
  3. Kevin Kiermaier, 2014
  4. Bobby Abreu, 2012
  5. Melky Cabrera, 2013
  6. Michael Bourn, 2014
  7. Marcell Ozuna, 2013
  8. Andrelton Simmons, 2014
  9. Kendrys Morales, 2014
  10. Leonys Martin, 2013
Quick thought Just too many ground balls for "power" hitter.

Name Season Total Batted Balls BABIP AVG wOBA ISO BABIPwHR+ xBABIPwHR+ wOBAcon+ xwOBAcon+
Omar Infante 2012 480 0.291 0.274 0.310 0.144 94% 96% 90% 95%
Omar Infante 2013 405 0.333 0.318 0.346 0.132 108% 103% 98% 100%
Omar Infante 2014 462 0.275 0.252 0.280 0.085 89% 92% 79% 84%
Name Season LD_WH+ LD_M+ FB_WH+ GB_WH+ LD_W+ GB_M+ GB_W+ FB_W+ FB_M+
Omar Infante 2012 107% 66% 97% 70% 109% 95% 92% 143% 75%
Omar Infante 2013 107% 112% 83% 115% 107% 110% 73% 133% 104%
Omar Infante 2014 74% 176% 39% 56% 122% 74% 96% 120% 140%

Omar Infante Comps

  1. Billy Hamilton, 2014
  2. Rajai Davis, 2013
  3. Scooter Gennett, 2014
  4. Eric Sogard, 2013
  5. Dioner Navarro, 2014
  6. Zack Cozart, 2014
  7. Carlos Ruiz, 2014
  8. Jimmy Rollins, 2013
  9. Jimmy Rollins, 2014
  10. Alexi Amarista, 2013
Quick thought He hits like Billy Hamilton and Rajai Davis, but he sure doesn't run like them.

Name year Total BABIP AVG wOBA ISO BABIPwHR+ xBABIPwHR+ wOBAcon+ xwOBAcon+
Alcides Escobar 2012 482 0.344 0.293 0.316 0.098 109% 98% 96% 91%
Alcides Escobar 2013 516 0.264 0.234 0.247 0.066 86% 88% 74% 80%
Alcides Escobar 2014 491 0.326 0.285 0.307 0.092 101% 95% 89% 86%
Name year LD_WH+ LD_M+ FB_WH+ GB_WH+ LD_W+ GB_M+ GB_W+ FB_W+ FB_M+
Alcides Escobar 2012 94% 69% 57% 129% 198% 103% 119% 98% 62%
Alcides Escobar 2013 61% 152% 40% 40% 110% 94% 113% 114% 113%
Alcides Escobar 2014 76% 157% 37% 68% 221% 70% 118% 90% 111%

Alcides Escobar Comps

  1. Placido Polanco, 2013
  2. Ruben Tejada, 2014
  3. Jordan Pacheco, 2013
  4. Jeff Keppinger, 2013
  5. Angel Pagan, 2014
  6. Daniel Murphy, 2014
  7. Salvador Perez, 2014
  8. Rajai Davis, 2014
  9. Skip Schumaker, 2013
  10. Lonnie Chisenhall, 2014

Quick thought Just not many well-hit balls.

Name Season Total Batted Balls BABIP AVG wOBA ISO BABIPwHR+ xBABIPwHR+ wOBAcon+ xwOBAcon+
Mike Moustakas 2012 437 0.274 0.242 0.305 0.171 93% 94% 96% 97%
Mike Moustakas 2013 393 0.257 0.233 0.287 0.131 88% 88% 86% 86%
Mike Moustakas 2014 380 0.220 0.212 0.281 0.149 80% 96% 80% 92%
Name Season LD_WH+ LD_M+ FB_WH+ GB_WH+ LD_W+ GB_M+ GB_W+ FB_W+ FB_M+
Mike Moustakas 2012 101% 41% 125% 118% 90% 81% 70% 180% 83%
Mike Moustakas 2013 71% 102% 89% 79% 89% 74% 85% 164% 108%
Mike Moustakas 2014 117% 87% 65% 68% 114% 90% 95% 132% 95%

Mike Moustakas Comps

  1. Mike Aviles, 2013
  2. John Mayberry, 2013
  3. Brad Miller, 2014
  4. Omar Infante, 2012
  5. Cliff Pennington, 2012
  6. Andrelton Simmons, 2013
  7. Zack Cozart, 2013
  8. Shane Victorino, 2013
  9. Marcell Ozuna, 2013
  10. Pablo Sandoval, 2013

Quick thought: I would have never guessed he had all those weak flyballs.

Name Season Total Batted Balls BABIP AVG wOBA ISO BABIPwHR+ xBABIPwHR+ wOBAcon+ xwOBAcon+
Alex Rios 2012 514 0.323 0.304 0.361 0.212 110% 108% 111% 111%
Alex Rios 2013 510 0.311 0.278 0.330 0.154 105% 94% 101% 91%
Alex Rios 2014 400 0.335 0.280 0.309 0.118 108% 106% 99% 100%
Name Season LD_WH+ LD_M+ FB_WH+ GB_WH+ LD_W+ GB_M+ GB_W+ FB_W+ FB_M+
Alex Rios 2012 135% 62% 134% 156% 51% 87% 80% 117% 97%
Alex Rios 2013 87% 105% 84% 56% 77% 108% 99% 113% 120%
Alex Rios 2014 115% 138% 62% 45% 130% 135% 93% 89% 109%

Alex Rios Comps

  1. James Loney, 2013
  2. Coco Crisp, 2014
  3. Michael Brantley, 2013
  4. Nick Markakis, 2014
  5. Yonder Alonso, 2014
  6. Danny Espinosa, 2014
  7. Danny Valencia, 2014
  8. Carlos Ruiz, 2014
  9. Domonic Brown, 2014
  10. Juan Lagares, 2014
Quick thought: Look at those well-hit flyballs drop off.

Name Season Total Batted Balls BABIP AVG wOBA ISO BABIPwHR+ xBABIPwHR+ wOBAcon+ xwOBAcon+
Lorenzo Cain 2012 170 0.319 0.266 0.318 0.153 115% 104% 107% 104%
Lorenzo Cain 2013 315 0.309 0.251 0.291 0.098 100% 91% 91% 85%
Lorenzo Cain 2014 354 0.380 0.301 0.330 0.110 121% 99% 109% 89%
Name Season LD_WH+ LD_M+ FB_WH+ GB_WH+ LD_W+ GB_M+ GB_W+ FB_W+ FB_M+
Lorenzo Cain 2012 112% 65% 114% 182% 102% 67% 103% 100% 88%
Lorenzo Cain 2013 83% 114% 58% 66% 41% 105% 115% 107% 103%
Lorenzo Cain 2014 79% 179% 40% 51% 123% 102% 130% 67% 84%

Lorenzo Cain Comps

  1. Jon Jay, 2013
  2. DJ LeMahieu, 2013
  3. Juan Pierre, 2013
  4. Martin Prado, 2014
  5. Adeiny Hechavarria, 2014
  6. Erick Aybar, 2014
  7. Andre Ethier, 2014
  8. Billy Hamilton, 2014
  9. Gerardo Parra, 2014
  10. Donovan Solano, 2014

Quick thought: Cain is the king of the medium hit ground ball and line drive.

Name Season Total Batted Balls BABIP AVG wOBA ISO BABIPwHR+ xBABIPwHR+ wOBAcon+ xwOBAcon+
Jarrod Dyson 2012 220 0.318 0.260 0.291 0.062 100% 92% 85% 83%
Jarrod Dyson 2013 150 0.317 0.258 0.307 0.108 95% 89% 90% 80%
Jarrod Dyson 2014 214 0.330 0.269 0.294 0.058 106% 81% 85% 70%
Name Season LD_WH+ LD_M+ FB_WH+ GB_WH+ LD_W+ GB_M+ GB_W+ FB_W+ FB_M+
Jarrod Dyson 2012 86% 75% 41% 141% 138% 71% 142% 83% 73%
Jarrod Dyson 2013 60% 110% 43% 86% 145% 90% 140% 81% 91%
Jarrod Dyson 2014 42% 84% 36% 85% 102% 82% 177% 69% 46%

Jarrod Dyson Comps

  1. Eric Young, 2014
  2. Derek Jeter, 2014
  3. Dee Gordon, 2014
  4. Nori Aoki, 2013
  5. Jarrod Dyson, 2013
  6. Casey Kotchman, 2012
  7. Ben Revere, 2014
  8. Emilio Bonifacio, 2014
  9. Josh Thole, 2012
  10. Everth Cabrera, 2014

Quick thought: Weak ground balls and line drives. I would have never guessed those outcomes.

Name Season Total Batted Balls BABIP AVG wOBA ISO BABIPwHR+ xBABIPwHR+ wOBAcon+ xwOBAcon+
Alex Gordon 2012 494 0.356 0.294 0.357 0.160 114% 104% 111% 102%
Alex Gordon 2013 497 0.310 0.265 0.326 0.156 107% 97% 103% 97%
Alex Gordon 2014 428 0.310 0.266 0.346 0.165 103% 99% 102% 97%
Name Season LD_WH+ LD_M+ FB_WH+ GB_WH+ LD_W+ GB_M+ GB_W+ FB_W+ FB_M+
Alex Gordon 2012 117% 84% 97% 120% 158% 80% 96% 111% 83%
Alex Gordon 2013 67% 111% 115% 62% 149% 113% 86% 110% 145%
Alex Gordon 2014 63% 119% 109% 72% 132% 123% 95% 91% 139%

Alex Gordon Comps

  1. Alex Gordon, 2013
  2. Carlos Corporan, 2013
  3. Chase Headley, 2013
  4. Starlin Castro, 2013
  5. Brandon Phillips, 2013
  6. Nate McLouth, 2013
  7. Ike Davis, 2014
  8. Carl Crawford, 2013
  9. Jason Kipnis, 2013
  10. Domonic Brown, 2013

Quick thought: Medium power accross the board and he is his own best comp.

Name Season Total Batted Balls BABIP AVG wOBA ISO BABIPwHR+ xBABIPwHR+ wOBAcon+ xwOBAcon+
Kendrys Morales 2012 370 0.315 0.273 0.339 0.194 112% 110% 111% 112%
Kendrys Morales 2013 489 0.309 0.277 0.342 0.171 108% 106% 105% 111%
Kendrys Morales 2014 300 0.244 0.218 0.271 0.120 86% 96% 79% 89%
Name Season LD_WH+ LD_M+ FB_WH+ GB_WH+ LD_W+ GB_M+ GB_W+ FB_W+ FB_M+
Kendrys Morales 2012 103% 52% 147% 182% 82% 120% 102% 85% 61%
Kendrys Morales 2013 98% 82% 159% 90% 71% 104% 112% 70% 92%
Kendrys Morales 2014 102% 110% 52% 95% 58% 100% 115% 84% 124%

Kendrys Morales

  1. Brett Gardner, 2014
  2. Nick Markakis, 2013
  3. Michael Bourn, 2013
  4. Casey McGehee, 2014
  5. Melky Cabrera, 2013
  6. Matt Joyce, 2014
  7. Yunel Escobar, 2014
  8. Miguel Montero, 2014
  9. Martin Prado, 2013
  10. Lorenzo Cain, 2013

Quick thought: Huge drop in well-hit flyballs

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