Morning Rundown: Mitch Keller pitch movement, Ke'Bryan hard hit, Gary Sanchez profile
A look at some of the news around the baseball world
With only a few days left in the year, many sites are doing the ‘best of 2023’ type of articles, two of which include Pirates’ major leaguers.
The first was a statcast article by David Adler on MLB.com, which featured Mitch Keller. In it, Adler went over the hardest hit ball, which home run went the further, among other statcast-related metrics.
One was the most movement (glove side) on a strikeout pitch, with the honor going to Keller for his sweeper that picked up 26 inches of horizontal run on it during his start on June 11.
The next was another MLB.com article that looked at one ‘incredible’ stat for every team in the majors this past year, which Sarah Langs wrote.
It mentions Ke’Bryan Hayes’ 17 Outs Above Average - the most by a third baseman - but also that he was in elite company when it comes to swinging the bat and making hard contact.
21.6% of Hayes’ swings last year resulted in contact of 95 mph or better, which trailed only Ronald Acuna Jr. (24.1%), Juan Soto (23.7%), Yandy Diaz (23.3%), and Mookie Betts (22.7%).
With Endy Rodriguez out for the season, things are set up for Henry Davis to be the starting catcher this season.
Ben Cherington did mention that he will ‘keep an open mind’ when it comes to adding another catcher this off-season.
It probably won’t be a player on a major league deal, as they already have four (including Endy) on their 40-man, but if they do one option could be free agent Gary Sanchez.
He’s coming off a season where he hit 19 home runs in just 75 games. It might not come cheap, but it’s an option, and MLB Trade Rumors did a player profile on him.
Sarah Langs is a wealth of info. Knew the defensive stats of Ke'Bryan Hayes, and I knew he had a solid season with the bat, but I did not know how good of an offensive season he had in 2023. Being 5th in the company of Ronald Acuna, Jr, Juan Soto, Yandy Diaz, and Mookie Betts in percentage of balls hit at 95 mph or higher is very special.
Going into his age 27 season as a possible middle of the order hitter and perennial contender for a Gold Glove at 3B. His first 3 seasons he had 5 (2020), 6, and 7 HR compared to 15 HR last year and 3rd on the team in both HR's and RBI's (61).
I keep hoping to read that Keller took Priester under his wings and they both are training at the facility that Mitch does his off season training (is it Driveline?)