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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.

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑16 Aug 2025 09:34 am

CCard wrote: ↑15 Aug 2025 16:56 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑15 Aug 2025 11:57 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑14 Aug 2025 03:24 am 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.

CCard wrote: ↑16 Aug 2025 09:58 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑16 Aug 2025 09:34 am

CCard wrote: ↑15 Aug 2025 16:56 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑15 Aug 2025 11:57 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑14 Aug 2025 03:24 am 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.

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).