![]() ![]() That kind of out-of-zone contact isn’t ideal getting Harper to swing and make contact with those pitches would likely wind up being a win for the Astros.Īre there particular areas of the zone Harper isn’t as effective at covering? You can bet the Astros will be keyed in on attacking those zones, too. But it’s worth noting that his contact rate on pitches off the plate increased by more than eight points this year. That said, his eye at the plate hasn’t deteriorated - prior to this year, his career walk rate sat over 15% - so if Houston decides to try to avoid giving him anything to hit over the plate, it’s possible he’ll just start spitting on those pitches out of the zone. All these adjustments paint a picture of a man on the hunt for pitches out over the plate and who’s confident in his ability to put the ball in play with authority.Ī steady diet of pitches just off the plate seems like the likeliest way to counter Harper’s new swing-happy ways. His aggression is controlled, ensuring he’s able to do damage on the swings he makes without hurting him too much if he misses. And despite chasing pitches out of the zone much more often, his strikeout rate didn’t suffer any ill effects. Luckily, Harper has managed to put all those additional swings to good use, raising his contact rate by four points, the highest it’s been since 2017. He’s incredibly aggressive when he’s on the verge of striking out, as if he’s doing everything he can to avoid a backwards K. What’s even more surprising is his swing rate with two strikes. He’s swinging often no matter what the count is, though he’s better about avoiding pitches out of the zone earlier in the at-bat and when he’s ahead. The reason behind the drop in free passes is fairly straightforward: Harper swung more often and increased his contact rate, leading to more plate appearances ending with balls in play. His strikeout rate fell by a couple of ticks as well, though not nearly to the same drastic degree. The surface-level stats reveal part of the problem his walk rate dove by nearly six points to 10.8%, close to a career-low for him. It’s unclear whether or not they were brought on by his ailing elbow, but he was more aggressive at the plate this year, to mixed results. ![]() Harper’s approach at the plate also underwent some significant changes. He wasn’t his normal self after returning from that stint on the sidelines: In 151 plate appearances from August 26 through the end of the season, he posted a meager. An errant fastball from Blake Snell fractured his thumb in late June, costing him two months on the injured list. An elbow injury suffered in early April relegated him to designated hitting duty for nearly the entire season. That we’re seeing Harper at the height of his powers comes as somewhat of a surprise this season hasn’t been easy for him. ![]()
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