MIT Libraries logoDSpace@MIT

MIT
View Item 
  • DSpace@MIT Home
  • MIT Libraries
  • MIT Theses
  • Undergraduate Theses
  • View Item
  • DSpace@MIT Home
  • MIT Libraries
  • MIT Theses
  • Undergraduate Theses
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Investigating if MLB pitchers are self-selecting for high or low drag balls

Author(s)
Sonner, Jessica
Thumbnail
DownloadThesis PDF (2.816Mb)
Advisor
Hosoi, Anette (Peko)
Terms of use
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted Copyright MIT http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/
Metadata
Show full item record
Abstract
The drag coefficient of 4928 batted balls in the MLB in 2019 were measured and matched with 121 pitchers who threw the ball to examine if they are statistically more or less likely to select a high or low drag ball to throw. It was hypothesized that (1) pitchers are routinely selecting for either high or low drag balls, and (2) the regular selection of high drag balls are associated with "better performing" pitchers, or pitchers who have less home runs scored against them, as high drag balls travel less far through the air than low drag balls. However, it was found that pitchers in this data set do not appear to be selecting for higher or lower drag balls, and the average drag coefficient of the balls they select is not correlated with that of higher or lower performing pitching statistics.
Date issued
2022-05
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/144584
Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Collections
  • Undergraduate Theses

Browse

All of DSpaceCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

My Account

Login

Statistics

OA StatisticsStatistics by CountryStatistics by Department
MIT Libraries
PrivacyPermissionsAccessibilityContact us
MIT
Content created by the MIT Libraries, CC BY-NC unless otherwise noted. Notify us about copyright concerns.