Is switch-hitting a thing of the past?

[mattmitchl44]

So, some numbers from this season:

RH hitters (not including switch hitters):

vs. RHPs - wRC+ 96
vs. LHPs - wRC+ 100

LH hitters (not including switch hitters):

vs. RHPs - wRC+ 111
vs. LHPs - wRC+ 84

Switch hitters:

vs. RHPs - wRC+ 97
vs. LHPs - wRC+ 93

So (if we make an assumption that all populations are representative, which may not be completely true):

- If a switch hitter is naturally right-handed and switch hitting to bat LH vs. RHPs, it doesn't seem that the population gains much (RH hitters are wRC+ 96 vs. RHPs and switch hitters batting LH vs. RHPs are wRC+ 97). In fact they might be losing ground because that wRC+ 97 may include natural LH hitters hitting wRC+ 111 vs. RHPs.

- If a switch hitter is naturally left-handed and switch hitting to bat RH vs. LHPs, then the population shows a bump from wRC+ 84 for LH hitters LHPs to wRC+ 93 for switch hitters batting RH vs. LHPs. Again, it is probably somewhat less than that if the wRC+ 93 is buoyed by natural RH hitters hitting wRC+ 100 vs. LHPs anyway.

So as a switch hitter, tt seems like your average RH hitter doesn't gain much by hitting ~80% of the time from their non-dominant side while your average LH hitter might gain a little by hitting ~20% of the time from their non-dominant side.

[CCard]

Among qualified hitters, there are only three switch hitters to are at least league average (wRC+ 100 or more) against both LHPs and RHPs:

Cal Raleigh
Jose Ramirez
Geraldo Perdomo

Over 2023-2025, the list is:

Cal Raleigh
Jose Ramirez
Ketel Marte
Francisco Lindor
Anthony Santander
Josh Bell

J. Ramirez, the most underrated player in MLB (IMO).

And I wish some wouldn't have been switch-hitters...
(re: T. Edman -career hitting RH: .275 .316 .501 .818; hitting LH: 254 .312 .373 .685)

That's surprising. Only three? Where do you get this information? Could you post a link?

I was able to get it out of FanGraphs' database by searching. You can search on "switch hitters" and "vs. LHPs" and "vs. RHPs."

Thanks. But just because a switch hitter has a less dominant side doesn't necessarily mean they would hit better against those pitchers if they just used their dominant side. Say a lefty switches to the right side to face a tough lefty, if he hadn't switched it doesn't mean he would have fared better. In fact I would argue that he'd overall fare worse. I think the demand for power is the main reason why we see less switch hitting, plus little league players aren't encouraged to practice it.

[mattmitchl44]

Among qualified hitters, there are only three switch hitters to are at least league average (wRC+ 100 or more) against both LHPs and RHPs:

Cal Raleigh
Jose Ramirez
Geraldo Perdomo

Over 2023-2025, the list is:

Cal Raleigh
Jose Ramirez
Ketel Marte
Francisco Lindor
Anthony Santander
Josh Bell

J. Ramirez, the most underrated player in MLB (IMO).

And I wish some wouldn't have been switch-hitters...
(re: T. Edman -career hitting RH: .275 .316 .501 .818; hitting LH: 254 .312 .373 .685)

That's surprising. Only three? Where do you get this information? Could you post a link?

I was able to get it out of FanGraphs' database by searching. You can search on "switch hitters" and "vs. LHPs" and "vs. RHPs."

Thanks. But just because a switch hitter has a less dominant side doesn't necessarily mean they would hit better against those pitchers if they just used their dominant side. Say a lefty switches to the right side to face a tough lefty, if he hadn't switched it doesn't mean he would have fared better. In fact I would argue that he'd overall fare worse. I think the demand for power is the main reason why we see less switch hitting, plus little league players aren't encouraged to practice it.

Additional data added above.

[mattmitchl44]

I'll repeat the numbers above for 2002-2025 and cite the median values:

RH hitters (not including switch hitters):

vs. RHPs - wRC+ 91
vs. LHPs - wRC+ 105

LH hitters (not including switch hitters):

vs. RHPs - wRC+ 107
vs. LHPs - wRC+ 85

Switch hitters:

vs. RHPs - wRC+ 96
vs. LHPs - wRC+ 95

All the trends are similar, although maybe natural RH hitters gain just a tiny bit vs. RHPs for switch hitting (RH hitters vs. RHPs wRC+ 91 vs. switch hitters batting LH vs. RHPs wRC+ 96, although again probably overstated a bit).