How uHIT Works

Three Case Studies from the Minor Leagues

All used uHIT Training during the 2018 season.

 June 15, 2020

Evan Mendoza (Player A), Andy Young (Player B) and Irving Lopez (Player C) used uHIT in 2018.

Below, we look at each of their triple-slash and/or plate-discipline numbers on-field to see the impact.

Player A (Evan Mendoza)

  • 2017 Season – Before using uHIT at Class-A Peoria.

Triple-Slash Line: .270/.286/.419
  • 2018 Season – While using uHIT at High-A Palm Beach

Triple-Slash Line: .349/.394/.456
  • A Triple-Slash Line increase of +.079/+.108/+.037 while using the uHIT Training program.
  • For correlation this increase came with a continuously improving uHIT score and a 20% increase in Accuracy %.
  • This improvement led to a mid season call-up to AA Springfield.
  • Even though AA did not offer the uHIT Training program, Evan Mendoza continued using uHIT on his own before games in the locker room as game prep.
  • He reached the high minors (AA) for the first time and adjusted well:
Triple-Slash Line: .254/.315/.399
  • The 2018 season led to Evan Mendoza becoming an organizational Top-30 prospect for the first time.
  • This is an impressive feat for a former 11th round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft.

What Was Evan Mendoza’s uHIT Training On?

Zone Enhancement (part of “Zone Recognition Training”)

Items We Notice in Evan Mendoza’s Hitting During uHIT

  • Specifically notice the changes from Class A Peoria in 2017 to High-A (A+) Palm Beach in 2018.
  • Nearly tripled his BB/K ratio at a more advanced level while using uHIT.
  • Had a 145 point increase in OPS while using uHIT.

uHIT improves a player’s ability to recognize pitches inside and outside of the strike zone.

While also improving reaction time that allows for better quality of contact.

Player B (Andy Young)

  • 2017 Season – Before using uHIT at Class-A Peoria.

Triple-Slash Line: .284/.379/.545
  • 2018 Season – While using uHIT at High-A Palm Beach

Triple-Slash Line: .276/.372/.444
  • Andy Young was promoted to AA Springfield later in the 2018 season, an affiliate that did not have the uHIT Training program.  However he continued on with many of the reaction time, strike recognition and pitch recognition improvements he made at High-A and adjust well to AA:
AA Triple-Slash Line: .319/.395/.556
  • All together Andy Young had a breakout 2018 season while using the uHIT Training program.
  • He spent a significant amount of time in the high minors (AA) and reached 20+ HR’s in a pro season for the first time in his career.
  • He then went on to the Arizona Fall League where he had a .936 OPS playing against some of the top prospects in all of baseball.
  • That year, he became one of three (3) players traded for All-Star 1B Paul Goldschmidt (at the time a $14.7M annual contract value)

What Was Andy Young’s uHIT Training On?

Pitch Recognition
Zone Recognition
Time Enhancement

Items We Notice in Andy Young’s Hitting During uHIT

  • There were changes at High-A (A+) Palm Beach from 2017 to 2018.
  • He more than doubled his BB/K ratio at the level.
  • He increased his OPS by over 100 points at the level.
  • He earned a mid-season call-up to AA.
  • He did all of this while using uHIT pitch recognition.

uHIT improves a player’s ability to recognize pitches inside and outside of the strike zone.

While also improving reaction time that allows for better quality of contact.

Player C (Irving Lopez)

  • 2018 Season: Measured in uHIT Results

Ranked in the 97th percentile in uHIT score amongst teammates at High-A.
Ranked in the 85th percentile in uHIT Accuracy amongst teammates.
Ranked in the 78th percentile in Reaction Time amongst teammates.
  • From 2017 (without uHIT Training) to 2018 (with uHIT Training).  From Rookie/Short-Season A in 2017 to Class A/High-A in 2018.

6% increase to 71% in Out of Zone Take Rate.
An OBP over .360 for the entire 2018 season.
  • The 2018 season led to Irving Lopez being promoted to the high minors (AA/AAA) for all of the 2019 season.  He reached double-digit HR’s in 2019 for the first time in his pro career.

What Was Irving Lopez’s uHIT Training On?

Zone Recognition

 

Items We Notice in Irving Lopez’s Hitting During uHIT

  • Showed increase in out of zone takes despite facing advanced pitching compared to 2017.
  • Out of zone takes are a good indicator of a player developing at the plate often leading to mid-season promotions.

uHIT improves a player’s ability to recognize pitches inside and outside of the strike zone.

While also improving reaction time that allows for better quality of contact.