In baseball, we frequently compare players to the likes of Major Leaguers with statements like “his delivery reminds me of so and so” or “his swing really looks like so and so’s swing.” But so much of that is based on an eye test.
What if there was a tool to help with that?
Insert the MLB Pitch Comparison App – I know, not too catchy and a bit of a mouthful but it’s self explanatory and potentially just a placeholder.
Here is early access to the project: MLB Pitch Comparison App
For each pitch type in a pitcher’s arsenal, this web app allows a player or coach to, within seconds, discover who the top 5 MLB pitch comparisons are for the uploaded pitcher.
This GIF is an example of the tool in action with the results below:
As seen from above, this tool can be used in a few easy steps:
The metrics used to generate these comparisons are velocity, spin rate, horizontal break, induced vertical break, and spin axis. The purpose of including the option to use Bauer Units (BU = spin rate/velocity) over just velocity and spin rate individually is to allow for pitchers with less than major league type velocity to use this tool as well. It is recommended to use the Bauer Unit option if the pitcher’s fastball is less than 90 MPH and the velocity and spin rate option if the pitcher’s fastball is greater than 90 MPH.
You may now say great, beyond saying “Cool, my curveball is a lot like this Major League pitcher’s curveball” – what is the use of this tool? Well that is up to you, but here are a few potential applications for this tool.
With this tool, no longer do players and coaches have to use the eye test to say what Major League pitcher most compares to themselves/their player. Now, in seconds, you can answer that question with a quick CSV upload.
Keep your eyes peeled and maybe you could see this MLB Pitch Comparison App join the BaseballCloud arsenal soon.
Comments (2)
Jerry Weinstein 14 Oct 2021 at 8:31 pm
Love this guys.
jw
Rylan Domingues 21 Oct 2021 at 1:30 pm
Thank you Jerry!