There are 15 qualified batters in 2024 who rate above average in the three key components of an at-bat. But only two are at least 10% better than the league-average hitter. They’re the most complete hitters in baseball.
In baseball, it can be difficult to attain balance – when it actually is sought after.
But it’s more often cast aside in an effort to excel in one single area of offensive performance, usually power hitting. Being the quickest way to score runs, slugging is something that’s at a premium in the current MLB landscape.
Home run hitters are generally considered to be the stars of the game, which leads to higher salary demands. That in itself has players believing it’s worth chasing pitches at all costs.
However, it’s a risky proposition. When a certain line is crossed, it can threaten a player’s career.
Cody Bellinger, a former NL Rookie of the Year and MVP, struggled between the 2020 and ’22 seasons with a .203 average, not enough home runs and too many strikeouts. His low batting average couldn’t be forgiven without the big home run totals (like Kyle Schwarber, for example), so Bellinger made an adjustment and has hit .292 with 35 homers over 811 at-bats in the past two seasons.
Could Bellinger be hitting more long balls? Yes, but instead he’s made a choice to shorten up his swing and simply put the ball in play with two strikes to boost his average and lower his strikeouts. He has MLB’s third-best batting average with two strikes (.259) over the last two seasons.
Back in 2007, Ichiro Suzuki, who batted .350 or better in four seasons and hit a career-high 15 homers in 2005, told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale: “If I’m allowed to hit .220, I could probably hit 40 (home runs). But nobody wants that.”
Do people want that in 2024? Bellinger was criticized for his less-than-elite home run total and low hard-hit rate (as a result of just trying to get the bat on the ball with two strikes). It’s been cited as a main reason why the Chicago Cubs outfielder/first baseman was unable to lock up a big, multiyear deal as a free agent this past offseason.
How has Bellinger, who has been sidelined the last two weeks with a broken finger, been faring this season in his continued search for more balance? Those who claim he’s given up too much power might be on to something.
While his contact+ (how good a player is at making contact) is above the league average at 103, Bellinger’s BIP+ (measures the damage inflicted upon contact) is only 58 – more than 40% worse than the MLB average. And it certainly hasn’t helped that his discipline+ (how good a batter is at swinging at strikes and laying off balls) sits at a well below-average 79.
“Obviously, I’m well aware,” he told MLB.com just before landing on the injured list. “But for me, and probably most players, if you start chasing the slug, then it can go downhill pretty quick. That’s one thing you focus on. Something that I always strive to do is continue to stay within myself, obviously working towards the end goal. I’ll just continue sticking to my approach.”
So which players are succeeding where Bellinger has failed? There are 15 qualified batters in 2024 who rate above average in discipline, contact and slugging – the three key components of an at-bat.
But which players are both elite and balanced in each of the three key hitting categories? We took a closer look and found those who are at least 10% better than the league-average hitter in discipline+, contact+ and BIP+.
And what we found is only two players meet this criteria heading into Wednesday’s action:
MLB’s Most Complete Hitters
Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Discipline+: 123
- Contact+: 110
- BIP+: 113
Probably not a huge surprise here. Betts, who remains a qualified batter despite being out since June 17 with a broken hand, leads the National League in on-base percentage, ranks second in plate appearances per strikeout (9.74), fifth in batting average (.304) and fifth in OPS (.892).
The versatile superstar is seventh overall (154) in raw value+ (RV+), which is a combination of discipline+, contact+ and BIP+ measured in one metric. He’s behind only Juan Soto (209), Shohei Ohtani (204), Aaron Judge (192), Marcell Ozuna (188), Bobby Witt Jr. (169) and Yordan Alvarez (162).
When you break it down, Betts ranks in the top five in both discipline+ (fourth) and contact+ (fifth), and there just isn’t much you can throw at him that he can’t handle.
Mookie Betts: Percentile in RV vs. Pitch Type
Yandy Diaz, Tampa Bay Rays
- Discipline+: 117
- Contact+: 111
- BIP+: 114
Diaz flies under the radar down in Tampa, but make no mistake, he’s one of the best hitters in baseball. He’s one of only five players who have hit .300 since 2022 (Luis Arraez .328, Freddie Freeman .319, Jose Altuve .304, Diaz .302 and Alvarez .301).
After a slow start this season, the 2023 American League batting champion has found his stroke and batted .328 – seventh in the AL since June 8 – with four homers, nine doubles and 17 RBIs over that span.
The 2023 All-Star ranks fourth in MLB contact+ and 10th in discipline+.
Coming Close
Jonathan India, Cincinnati Reds
- Discipline+: 120
- Contact+: 104
- BIP+: 110
India’s mention as close to such an elite list is probably a bit surprising, but he’s made the Reds glad they never traded him. The infielder has been on a tear since mid-June, batting .359 with four homers, 15 doubles and 12 RBIs in 28 games.
That’s easily the most doubles in baseball and the third-highest batting average in that stretch (since June 18). He also has the sixth-best OPS (1.059) over that span, behind Brent Rooker (1.166), Shohei Ohtani (1.148), Yordan Alvarez (1.141), Aaron Judge (1.121) and Bobby Witt Jr. (1.106).
After 13.9 plate appearances per walk in 2022 and 10.2 last season, India has become one of the most disciplined batters in the league. The 2021 NL Rookie of the Year has a career-best 7.86 plate appearances per walk in 2024 (tied for ninth in MLB) and ranks 10th overall in discipline+.
Lane Thomas, Washington Nationals
- Discipline+: 113
- Contact+: 104
- BIP+: 117
There’s a reason why Thomas has been a popular name around the trade rumor mill.
While his overall numbers aren’t particularly eye-catching, he has hit .274 with six homers, 13 doubles and 15 stolen bases since a knee injury sidelined him for about a month in April/May.
Thomas, who batted .268 with 28 homers and 20 steals in 2023, doesn’t rank in the top 25 in any of the three categories, but he’s solid in all three at at 4% or more above the MLB average.
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