The Correlation Between Major League Baseball Positions and Batting Average: A Statistical Analysis
By: Rachel Berg
Introduction
Every game of baseball involves a decent size of quantitative data from every player at-bat, to the number of pitches thrown each inning. However, when comparing these stats many studies like to focus on either what makes an outstanding player or how a player returns to the game after suffering an injury or surgery. They do this by comparing the players' previous stats to their stats after returning to the game. What is missing from this field of statistical study is comparing a player's field position to their overall batting average. It is known pitchers are usually not great hitters, but does one specific position usually excel at hitting, or is primarily just based on player ability?
Literature Review
The first study looked at examined visual skills with batting average. This can be relevant to player positions as well when it comes to throwing and catching. In the minor league’s players must have annual eye exams to play. This study took the results of the exams and compared them to the batting averages of each player while looking at convergence, divergence, recognition, and tracking of the ball from the pitching mound to the plate. The study found a positive relationship between divergence and strikeout percentage (Spaniol, Cruz, Alves, Cochran, Hicks, Warren, and Lawson, 2015).
Another study done, also looked at visuals to batting average, however, this focused on the anticipation of pitch type while up to bat. By looking at the at-bats of the best players from a single A minor league team, this study found how in control a batter really is depending on the type of pitch thrown to them. They found a significant positive correlation to fastballs and change-ups to runners making it on base (Müller and Fadde, 2016). This suggests these pitches are the most anticipated and prepared for by players.
The next study looks at the comparison of height and weight to player position and batting performance. Their study found shorter and lighter players play more than taller players on average 3.4 games more. This goes against the stereotype of baseball the best baseball players being tall and muscular built. These shorter and lighter players are played because of better batting averages and are typically faster runners (Yeager, 2016). While not pointed out in the study, smaller players are usually most likely to be pitchers, catchers, and infield positions excluding first base.
Lastly, an article takes a historical look at player hitting records to player position. They first looked at the 2006 season counting all 162 regular-season games and looking at every player on each team. The biggest amount of hits came from designated hitters which would make sense given their position so we will not count that. Therefore, first would be first basemen. This would make sense given the usual build and skill level involved with this position, which is arguably the most important behind the pitcher. The next three being left field, right field, and third base. The article found offensive and defensive positions have a negative correlation meaning the more a player is expected to play defensively the likely they are expected to be good at hitting. Which are usually why pitchers always have designated hitters (Gassko, 2007).
RQ: Does a player’s field position have a positive correlation with batting average?
Method
Baseball data from 1903–2018 was found broken into different categories of statistics. While years could have been narrowed down it was decided to compare all the years for better accuracy of results. Since only player positions and batting averages are being compared, baseball teams that no longer exist will not be a limitation to this study.
Results
Comparing the statistics, we see here we have a positive correlation to the relationship of batting average to player position, meaning the position a player normally plays directly affects how well they hit. While specific player positions were not broken down and compared, through statistical and literature review it would be the same as (Gassko, 2007) statistical analysis.


Discussion
By comparing data and examining various studies and statistics already collected we can see a player’s position can determine how well of a batter they will be and why that is. This matters because baseball is a strategic game. You want your best players playing offensively and defensively but statistics show these two do not always line up. Coaches have to understand each player's individual strengths and weaknesses among player career statistics to determine the best time to have this player in the game, what position, and if this player is still valuable to the team.
Conclusion
The life of a baseball player and their career are primarily based on the career statistics the player builds each season. If a player wants to stay on a team, especially in the major leagues a player must either be great at hitting or great at the position they play on the field. It shows time and time again that while a player will receive praise and recognition for doing both it is not necessary for a player to still be played and remain on the team. However, if a player stops doing both then their career is probably in trouble.
References:
Gassko, D. (2007, August 9). Historical Hitting by Position. Retrieved from https://tht.fangraphs.com/author/david-gassko/.
Sean Müller & Peter J. Fadde (2016) The Relationship Between Visual
Anticipation and Baseball Batting Game Statistics, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 28:1,
49–61, DOI: 10.1080/10413200.2015.1058867
https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2015.1058867
Spaniol, Frank & Cruz, J & Alves, M & Cochran, S & Hicks, B & Lawson, B. (2015). THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONVERGENCE, DIVERGENCE, RECOGNITION AND TRACKING SKILLS AND BATTING PERFORMANCE OF PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYERS.
Yeager, Joshua, “Height, Weight, and Durability in Major League Baseball” (2017). CMC Senior Theses. 1684.