BABIP leaders and trailers so far

We know that BABIP for hitters is a combination of a whole bunch of things, but I just wanted to take a quick look at the polar ends of the category thus far in 2010:

Leaders:

1) Austin Jackson (.491)
2) Scott Podsednik (.422)
3) Michael Bourn (.420)
4) Franklin Gutierrez (.415)
5) Shin-Soo Choo (.415)
6) David Freese (.409)
7) Martin Prado (.408)
8) Evan Longoria (.407)
9) Carlos Gonzalez (.407)
10) Chase Headley (.403)

Trailers:

1) Travis Snider (.133)
2) Mark Teixeira (.145)
3) Carlos Quentin (.164)
4) Aramis Ramirez (.167)
5) A.J. Pierzynski (.182)
6) Nick Johnson (.200)
7) Paul Konerko (.204)
8) Garrett Jones (.207)
9) Lyle Overbay (.212)
10) Carlos Lee (.213)

Surprising? Not really. The leaders are mostly speedy outfielders and the trailers are mostly slow firstbaseman (if Austin Jackson finishes the year with a BABIP > .490, I will eat a Curtis Granderson jersey live online). However, for context, here are the top and bottom five from 2009:

Leaders:

1) David Wright (.394)
2) Ichiro Suzuki (.384)
3) Hanley Ramirez (.379)
4) Joe Mauer (.373)
5) Joey Votto (.372)

Trailers:

1) Ian Kinsler (.241)
2) Carlos Pena (.250)
3) Jimmy Rollins (.251)
4) Yuniesky Betancourt (.256)
5) Aubrey Huff (.260)

A little difference here, as some of the relatively quicker guys (Rollins, Betancourt) are sprinkled in at the bottom, whereas some of the relatively slower guys (Votto, Mauer) are at the top. Speed is definitely not the key component of a hitter’s BABIP, but in the small sample size thus far in 2010, it sure has been.


Pat Andriola is an Analyst at Bloomberg Sports who formerly worked in Major League Baseball's Labor Relations Department. You can contact him at Patrick.Andriola@tufts.edu or follow him on Twitter @tuftspat
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Brian K
13 years ago

I think you mixed up you list of the BABIP trailers with the White Sox starting lineup.

Paul
13 years ago

@ Brian: You can put it on booooooooooooooooooooard. Yes! Yes!

Adrian
13 years ago

It seems amazing that Konerko has an AVG of .275 with a BABIP of .204…I guess that’s what happens when almost half your hits are home runs.

ecp
13 years ago

MERCY!

Josh
13 years ago

HE GONE!

ROFL
13 years ago

I’m cracking up on the White Sox references. Year in and year out the White Sox hit .200 across the lineup. Who is the genius behind the batting coach position?