Here’s an update on my latest project! I made a Shiny app to visualize pitch grips using their approximate locations. I'm gathering more and will write an article detailing my process of collecting coordinates for the interactive 3D Visual and provide analysis with grip data.

🚨 New Blog Alert! 🚨 Head Manager Gabe Hester investigates whether diversity of skillsets within a lineup can help an offense score more runs. Check out his research at the link below! https://t.co/H1uzQXaza3

The @UIBaseball junior pitched a complete game in the Hawkeye’s run-rule victory over Northwestern 👏 #B1GBaseball x @CadeObermueller

Up next for our managers on the move, Data Analyst Connor Curtiss will be joining the Milwaukee Brewers as a Research & Development Analyst after graduating in May!

Time to work. #Hawkeyes

IMPACT OF CONSECUTIVE OFF DAYS ON CHRONIC WORKLOAD I took a deeper look into how taking 2 or more off days has an impact on a pitchers' chronic workload, along with how long it takes on average to work back up to the same workload after the off days. Thread below 👇👇

Welcome to the @Nationals, Sam! With the 230th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Nats select OF Sam Petersen from Iowa.

Sammy P to DC ‼️ 📝: https://t.co/GFX76mWFYk @Petersen11Sam x #Hawkeyes

What is the strike zone? @Kfsharp4 explores called strike probability to create a more accurate way to visualize the college strike zone. Check it out with the link below ⬇️ https://t.co/UKbiFNdo0L

Congratulations to these five Hawkeye Data Analysts for finishing in 2nd place in the Cincinnati @Reds Hackathon! @Kfsharp4, @MNewell_11, @BryerCashman, @cpierson029, @BrussoMax

I’d like to thank the coaching staff @UIBaseball, the @UIBASEManagers, and everyone in the analytics department for putting me in the best position to succeed. We're not done yet! I’m excited to learn from such a great organization in Washington! #MovingTheNeedle

"...we’re incorporating vision training, pitch recognition, movement screening, overload-underload training, cognitive testing and—most importantly—buying into a solid plan to dominate the zone." @insidepitchmag interview with @UIBaseball's @rheller21 📝 https://t.co/p8HlzB7XyP

Yes, bat speed is king. But what happens when hitters face better stuff? I built a series of models across various levels of Stuff+ and plotted the effects of bat speed, bat to ball, and swing decisions on run value. The results show that bat speed matters less as stuff improves

Bat to ball skills are the foundation of a well-rounded batter. Using Contact+, we can evaluate the best contact hitters in the MLB. Read about the design process and leaderboards with the link below ⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/EuGRTGwqaF

Takeaways: ⚾️ xDamage could be used to identify when hitters are slumping or pressing. ⚾️The best hitters capitalize on a pitcher's mistakes. ⚾️ We can now quantify how much damage a hitter should have done, regardless of the on-field outcome.

Drawbacks: xDamage does not account for a batter's capabilities. Over a full season, power hitters will likely outperform their xDamage, while contact hitters may underperform. On a per pitch basis it's a valuable tool, but may be misleading for low-slugging batters.

What about takes? A patient approach is usually positive, but passing up on hittable pitches can be very costly. It's unlikely these batters will see a better pitch in the AB.

Even though the outcome of the at-bat is not used to create xDamage, the metric is reliable in predicting a batted ball outcome. Most batters do damage against mistakes (high xDamage) and are rewarded on the field. xDamage on outs: .353 xDamage on XBH: .389

Best pieces of hitting: These were competitive pitches (low xDamage), but the batter still put the barrel on the ball.

Largest misses of 2023: These batters missed very "hittable" pitches. xDamage tells us these pitches should be hit much harder, but the batters did not barrel them, resulting in weak outs.