Preparing The Modern Hitter

Joshua Rodrigues
Aug 25, 2017 · 4 min read
Preparing the modern hitter for today’s game.

What does it take to hit in the modern game?

Hitting is tough, there is no question about that. After reading a bunch of different articles, coaching for over 60 games the past two summers, and endlessly reading, watching, interacting, and learning from so many amazing people I wanted to share what my perspective on this topic is.

The modern hitter is someone who can accomplish the following:

  1. Hit the ball hard
  2. Ability to Hit EXTREME velocity successfully
  3. Get the baseball in the air somehow

I know it sounds simplistic but I want to break down these three key concepts, along what I have learned to help players and coaches to successfully hit like a modern hitter.

Hit The Ball Hard

The most important aspect of being a modern day hitter is the fact that players need to hit the baseball as hard as they possibly can. This is not a selfish thing for a hitter to seek, it is the ultimate goal of any hitter. Hitting the baseball hard is literally the only thing that a hitter can control to some respects.

Hitting the baseball hard as David Fortenbaugh puts it:

“A batted ball with high velocity can result in one of at least two successful outcomes, depending on the ball’s trajectory. With a lower trajectory, the result is a hard ground ball or line drive; these types of hits can more easily pass by the infielders or at least significantly decrease the chance of them being successfully fielded.”

One practical way of accomplishing this is to ask ALL players to hit the ball harder, and further than they normally do. By giving a player the External goal of hitting the baseball hard it will allow players bodies to self organize itself to accomplish the goal. Players should have all attention when they step into a batter’s box focused on “Hitting The Ball Hard”

Ability to Hit Extreme Velocity

Probably could go as number one for almost all levels above little league. Modern players need to be able to handle velocity from a pitcher. Players now are facing higher velocities at younger ages, and it is really the number one skill that any player can have in my opinion. The ability to handle velocity is important because it offers several insights into a player’s swing. They need to have somewhat efficient mechanics in order to hit it, players who can “hit” higher velocities will have a better chance of succeeding as they climb the baseball ladder, and lastly it is the one skill that will help players against almost all pitchers, at all levels.

A good example of this is that if you can make somewhat solid contact against a pitcher, or pitching machine throwing 90+ MPH then you have a good chance of facing a pitcher who is throwing 80 MPH. You are not going to get fooled, and most importantly your brain will be prepared to and be able to adjust to higher end velocities that pitchers will throw at you.

I’m not going to go into extreme detail about what you can do to “learn” to hit extreme velocities because I feel that Jason Ochart has done a great job of laying out several key components to it. But I will suggest that players need to practice to as close to game speed as they possibly can. There is too much research to back this up at this point in time. We now have several professional hitters who have come out to say that they hit against the pitching machine to get them ready for the game.

Research:

Team Practice

Hitters Brain

Jake Lamb Hitting

Get the Baseball Into the Air

This one has been talked about to the most extreme degree so I am not going to go on about this forever, but I do want to stress what I feel is the key point in this whole situation. Groundballs do work at lower levels of baseball. The basic problem with programming a player to hit groundballs is that as they progress into higher levels of baseball it is clear that this is not a successful strategy for a player to use. The higher players get in the sport, the more they should be aiming to hit the ball in the air. I think this is the most overlooked aspect of modern coaching, at lower levels of baseball.

Players should, and need to get the baseball into the air in order for them to be able to succeed. Our goals as hitters should not be contact. Our goals need to be damage, and that starts with getting the baseball up into the air. I can go on forever with stats and information has been changed how we view this. You could tell me that players and coaches have always said this. But I now feel more than ever the modern hitter strives to get the baseball elevated somehow.

One way you can coach this into players is having them during batting practice, hitting stations, along with everything you do stress to players that they need to get the baseball up in order for them succeed. Whether it be through batting practice games, drills, or even through making it a goal as a staff. It is important for players to understand that hitting the baseball into the air is important for them to do and that ultimately it is the most effective strategy for them to use.

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Joshua Rodrigues

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MED: Instructional Tech, Future MLB Coach, Rays BBOPS, UMass Dartmouth, Salve Regina, Old Colony, Bourne Braves, Baseball EDU

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