One of the established Major League players in my meeting the criteria of “pure hitter” would be Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds. The Canadian-born player has adjusted very well to “America’s Pastime”. Votto is currently the active career leader in On Base % at .419. Also, “VottoMatic” places third among active career leaders in OPS at a .960 clip, which only trails Miguel Cabrera (.967) and Albert Pujols (1.008).
So what makes this talented 1st Baseman a pure hitter? Well, he has a great understanding of the strike zone and is able to maintain tremendous balance throughout his swing. No matter where the ball is pitched, Votto can adjust his hands and bat plane to make consistent contact. The smooth transfer of weight from back leg and shoulder to the front side allows him to barrel up the ball on a regular basis.
In 2013, Votto led the majors in pitches seen with 3033. He abstained from 61.1 percent of them. This equated to 4.18 pitches per plate appearance. These statistics placed Votto in the top 10 of all players within these categories. Additionally, Votto was patient enough to wait for his preferred pitch: “the heater”. Joey Votto’s OPS against Fastballs in 2013 was 1.024 which only trailed Cabrera (1.084), Choo (1.066), and Goldschmidt (1.043).
Because of these advanced skills, Votto can be more selective at the plate and force the pitcher to work harder. This patient approach works to the advantage of the pure hitter by creating a defensive mind set in the pitcher.
Now, the pitcher is frustrated and rattled. What’s next? Well, here comes the big dog and he wants to eat.
My big dog power hitter is Adam Dunn of the Chicago White Sox. The “Big Donkey” in my estimation truly swings from the heels. For the most part, he either exploits the pitcher’s weaknesses by hitting a mammoth shot or spins himself into a corkscrew. In my opinion, this visually defines a quintessential power bat. Dunn consistently puts up strong power numbers and provides protection for other hitters in the line-up. Even though Adam Dunn’s production numbers are not consistent like a Votto, he provides an important function for a ball club.
Dunn stuck out 189 times in 2013, hit 34 home runs, and walked 76 times. Dunn’s swing/miss percentage might be 31.3%, but his home run ratio to at bats is 14.7 for his career which only trails Ryan Howard (14.0) among all active players.
Another interesting stat that speaks to power hitters is Secondary Average. This stat was first devised by Bill James and is documented in his annual handbook. The number reflects a player who hits for power, takes walks and steals bases. Granted, Dunn is not a speed demon, but he hits a lot of home runs and gets walked a great deal. Adam Dunn’s secondary average is .459 making him #1 for all active players in the Majors.
Over the course of his thirteen-year career, Adam Dunn has amassed 440 home runs, 2220 strikeouts, and 1246 walks placing him in the top five of active leaders within those categories. Like they say, “There are only two sure things in life: death and taxes”. Well, in Adam Dunn’s case, there are three: hit bombs, create tradewinds, or trot to first.
Both types of players are equally important when you’re trying to put together a strong offensive team. The different styles are necessary to be a well-balanced threat in today’s game. The combination of finesse and raw power can be lethal. The pure hitter will be more fluid in his approach at the plate, taking more pitches and hitting to all fields. The power hitter will be more aggressive and hit with reckless abandon by trying to hit the cover off the ball.
Even though both types of hitters are necessary, raw power is rare. This tool from a scouting perspective is highly sought after, but hard to find. Finding a player of this magnitude can change the outcome of a game with one swing of the bat. The fear factor alone can have a devastating effect on an opposing pitching staff. Like Earl Weaver would say, “The easiest way around the bases is with one swing of the bat”.
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