Squared-up Rate
Definition
A swing¡¯s squared-up rate tells us how much of the highest possible exit velocity available (based on the physics related to the swing speed and pitch speed) a batter was able to obtain ¨C it is, at its simplest, how much exit velocity did you get as a share of how much exit velocity was possible based on your swing speed and the speed of the pitch. A swing that is 60% squared up, for example, tells you that the batter attained 60% of the maximum possible exit velocity available to him, again based on the speed of the swing and pitch.
Data observation has told us that it¡¯s only possible to attain that maximum possible exit velocity when a ball hits the sweet spot of the bat, approximately 4 to 9 inches from the head of the bat. Therefore, comparing the exit velocity observed with the exit velocity theoretically possible can tell us a great deal about how well the batter squared the ball up. Any particular swing can range from 0% squared up to 100% squared up.
For Statcast purposes, any swing that is at least 80% squared up is considered to have been ¡°a squared-up swing.¡±
Consider these two examples¡
Trevor Larnach HR
- [video link]
- 75.6 MPH swing off a 98.8 MPH fastball
- Max possible exit velo given that: 113.4 MPH
- Actual exit velo: 110 MPH.
- 97% squared up. (A squared-up ball.)
Ronald Acu?a Jr. fly out
- [video link]
- 78.6 MPH swing off a 98.4 MPH fastball
- Max possible exit velo given that: 117.4 MPH.
- Actual exit velo: 90.3 MPH.
- 77% squared up. (Not a squared-up ball.)
Larnach didn¡¯t actually swing as hard as Acu?a. But he squared it up MUCH, much better than Acu?a, who got jammed.
In 2024¡¯s first month, 25% of swings were squared-up and 33% of contacts were squared-up. The value difference between them is enormous.
Squared up
.371 BA // .656 SLG // .438 wOBA // 60% hard-hit rate // +11.4 run value per 100
Not squared up
.126 BA // .142 SLG // .119 wOBA // 1% hard-hit rate // -6.7 run value per 100
That said, a squared-up swing does not have to be a hard or fast swing. For example, this Adley Rutschman 95.8 MPH exit velocity (video link) single up the middle was almost perfectly squared up (97%), because the combination of a 77.2 MPH curveball and a below-average swing speed of 67 MPH each worked together to limit the highest possible exit velocity available to 98.7 MPH, which he came close to attaining.
For a more-valuable combination of squaring up the ball and doing so with a purposeful swing, please see: Blasts.
You may view the current season¡¯s squared-up leaderboard here.