What Is a Good Exit Velocity for College Baseball?
Contents
We all know that exit velocity is important in baseball. But what is a good exit velocity for college baseball players? Let’s take a look at the data.
Introduction
In baseball, exit velocity is the speed of the baseball after it is hit by the bat. The term is often used interchangeably with batted ball speed, which is the speed of the baseball before it is hit. Exit velocity is measured in miles per hour (mph).
There are a few different ways to measure exit velocity. The most common way is to use a radar gun. The second way is to use high-speed video cameras. The third way is to use a device called a Diamond Kinetics SwingTracker, which attaches to the bat and measures the speed of the bat at impact.
The average major league player has an exit velocity of 89 mph. The average minor league player has an exit velocity of 86 mph. The average college player has an exit velocity of 83 mph.
There is no definitive answer as to what is a good exit velocity for college baseball. However, anything above 85 mph would likely be considered above average. Anything above 90 mph would likely be considered exemplary.
What is Exit Velocity?
Exit velocity is the speed of a batted baseball as it leaves the bat. The higher the exit velocity, the further the ball will travel. Exit velocity is a measure of a batter’s raw power.
In general, a good exit velocity for college baseball is anything above 85 mph. However, there are some hitters who can generate high exit velocities even with lower speeds. For example, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge had an average exit velocity of 94 mph in 2017, while Milwaukee Brewers infielder Travis Shaw had an average exit velocity of 92 mph.
There are several factors that can affect a hitter’s exit velocity, such as swing plane, bat weight and bat speed. Exit velocity also tends to increase as a hitter gets older and stronger.
WhileExit Velocityis a good indicatorof raw power, it is not the only factor that determines how far a ball will travel. Air density, wind direction and ballpark dimensions all play a role in how far a ball will travel once it is hit.
How is Exit Velocity Measured?
There are a few different ways to measure exit velocity, but most use some combination of time and distance. For example, one popular method uses a radar gun to calculate how fast a ball is moving when it leaves the bat. The reading from the radar gun is then compared to the distance the ball traveled to estimate the exit velocity.
Exit velocity is important because it can be used to predict how far a batted ball will travel. For instance, a ball with a high exit velocity will likely travel further than a ball with a low exit velocity. This is why Exit Velocity is often used as a key metric for evaluating hitters.
While Exit Velocity is a useful metric, it’s important to keep in mind that it doesn’t tell the whole story. For instance, a player with a low exit velocity may still be able to hit the ball hard if they make good contact with the sweet spot of the bat. Similarly, a player with a high exit velocity may not always hit the ball far if they hit it off-center.
In general, though, Exit Velocity is a good indicator of how well a hitter can drive the ball. As such, most scouts and analysts agree that anything above 95 mph is considered “good” for college hitters. Anything above 100 mph is considered “excellent” and anything above 105 mph is considered “elite.”
Factors That Affect Exit Velocity
There are several factors that affect a baseball player’s exit velocity. These include the player’s grip on the bat, their stance, how they swing, the type of bat they are using, and the angle of their swing. The weight and composition of the ball also play a role in exit velocity. A heavier ball will typically have a higher exit velocity than a lighter ball.
Exit velocity is also affected by the weather conditions. If it is windy, the ball will not travel as far or as fast as it would on a calm day. Also, if the field is wet, the ball will not bounce as high or as far as it would on a dry field.
What is a Good Exit Velocity for College Baseball?
There is no magic number for exit velocity, but there are some general guidelines that can help you determine if your player has the potential to play at the collegiate level. The average Exit Velocity for Division 1 college hitters is between 80-85 MPH. However, there are some hitters that routinely hit the ball harder than that. For example, Bryce Harper had an Exit Velocity of 96.2 MPH during his junior year at the College of Southern Nevada.
While Exit Velocity is a good indicator of potential, it is not the only thing that college coaches look at. They also look at a player’s hitting mechanics, approach, and athleticism. A player with goodExit Velocity but poor mechanics or approach is not going to be as successful as a hitter with good Exit Velocity and good hitting mechanics.
If your player has an exit velocity in the 80-85 MPH range, they have a good chance of playing college baseball. However, they will need to have strong hitting mechanics and a sound approach to reach their full potential.
Conclusion
In order to be successful at the plate, hitters need to make solid contact with the ball. Exit velocity is a measure of how hard a batted ball is hit and is often used to evaluate a hitter’s abilities. College baseball players typically have an exit velocity range of between 70 and 95 mph. The average exit velocity for all Division I players in 2019 was 86 mph.