Baseball has evolved significantly over the years, introducing new metrics and analytics to measure the performance of players and teams on the field. One such metric is xBA, which stands for expected batting average. xBA measures the quality of contact a batter makes, in addition to how often they make contact. This metric has been gaining prominence among baseball analysts and fans, and is quickly becoming a valuable tool to better understand the game.
What is xBA?
xBA is a metric that measures expected batting average. It is a statistic that combines the quality of contact a batter makes with the frequency of contact, to help evaluate the batter’s performance. xBA takes into account factors such as the type of pitch a batter is facing and the location of the pitch, as well as the batter’s exit velocity and launch angle.
How is xBA Calculated?
xBA is calculated by combining the expected batting average of each pitch a batter faces. This expected batting average is determined by the pitch type, pitch location, and exit velocity and launch angle of the batted ball. This data is then used to calculate an overall expected batting average for the batter.
The Benefits of xBA
xBA provides an additional layer of analysis for evaluating a batter’s performance. It can be used to identify strengths and weaknesses in a player’s approach, as well as to help pinpoint areas for improvement. Additionally, xBA can be used to compare different batters, as it takes into account the quality of contact made as well as how often contact is made.
xBA vs. BA
While xBA and BA are both metrics used to measure a batter’s performance, xBA is more comprehensive than BA because it takes into account the quality of contact made in addition to the frequency of contact. This allows analysts and fans to better understand a player’s performance, as xBA takes into account factors such as the pitch type, location, and exit velocity and launch angle of the batted ball.
Conclusion
xBA is quickly becoming a valuable metric for understanding and evaluating a batter’s performance. It takes into account the quality of contact made, in addition to the frequency of contact, providing an additional layer of analysis to better understand the game. xBA can be used to identify strengths and weaknesses in a player’s approach, and to compare different batters. As the metric continues to gain prominence among baseball analysts and fans, it is sure to become an important tool for evaluating players.