We’re taking a close look at discipline+ to discover what it tells us about the versatility of Mike Trout, Juan Soto and Ronald Acuna Jr. For a look at which players are currently the best in the majors this category, check out our metrics leaderboard.
From the perspective of a hitter digging into the box, every pitch initiates a critical split-second thought process that could impact the entire at-bat: to swing or not to swing.
Some websites dedicated to analytics focus on metrics like a batter’s swing rate, often on pitches both in and out of the strike zone, in an effort to measure discipline. That’s not good enough. Not all decisions on a given pitch are created equal.
For example, a batter protecting the plate with two strikes who swings at a pitch just out of the zone shouldn’t be penalized the same as a hitter whiffing on a pitch way off the plate on a 3-1 count.
Discipline+ is formulated by first assigning a value to every pitch based on velocity, movement, location, and count. From this, the hitter is given a value of his own based on his decision to swing or take the said pitch. A batter gets more credit for swinging at a pitch that has a 90% chance of being called a strike than if he decides to cut loose on a pitch that has a lower probability.
Using 2020 data as an example, some of the game’s most patient hitters finished in the top 10 in discipline+. But plenty of sluggers, like Juan Soto, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Mike Trout, were up there too. Soto had the fewest plate appearances per walk (4.8) in the majors and hit .351 with 13 home runs in 154 at-bats.
Carlos Santana and Christian Yelich had down years in 2020, but plate discipline wasn’t to blame as they finished second (47) and third (46), respectively, in the majors in bases on balls.
Data analysis provided by Lucas Haupt.