Baseball Average Exit Velocity (EV)
Exit Velocity (EV) is one of many statistics used to judge the speed of a ball in baseball, but specifically as it relates to the speed of a hit. To learn where exit velocity is useful, how to calculate it, and an example of its usage, read on below.
Average Exit Velocity (EV)
Average exit velocity (EV) is a statistic used to measure the average speed at which a batter hits the ball. Exit velocity has become a major part of how scouts and fans assess a player’s hitting ability, as players who hit the ball at higher speeds are more likely to get hits than those who don’t.
Average exit velocity can be determined by adding up the sum of all a batter’s exit velocities and then dividing that number by the number of batted ball events a batter earned. Batted ball events are any batted balls that produce a result, such as an out, hit, or error. In the MLB, a typical EV is 87 mph, and the best hitters have an EV over 90 mph. Today’s strongest sluggers have an EV in excess of 95 mph.
EV Formula
The formula for EV is:
Sum of all Exit Velocities / Total number of batted ball events = EV
Example
For example, if a hitter gets five hits during the first week of the season with exit velocities of 89, 93, 90, 92, and 87 mph, their EV for the season so far is 90.2 mph. If a batter has a lower batting average than is typical but their EV remains high, a wise manager can typically assume that their production will eventually return to normal.
FAQ
What is EV in baseball?
In baseball, EV is a statistic that expresses the average exit velocity of a batter’s hits. This stat is a good indicator of a hitter’s power and bat speed, and most sluggers strive to have a high EV.
How is EV calculated in baseball?
In baseball, EV is calculated by dividing the sum of all exit velocities by the number of batted ball events. Batted ball events are all batted balls that produce a result, such as a hit, out, or error.
Why is EV useful in baseball?
EV is useful in many ways, but it is a particularly good predictor of future performance, and is thus useful for fantasy baseball players. This is because players who are struggling statistically, but who have a solid EV, often see an improvement in statistics, while those who have poor stats and a poor EV are likely to continue performing poorly. In this way, a fantasy manager can easily judge a player’s future performance through his EV.