Visual and oculomotor abilities predict professional baseball batting performance

Abstract

© 2020, © 2020 Cardiff Metropolitan University. Scientists and practitioners have long debated about the specific visual skills needed to excel at hitting a pitched baseball. To advance this debate, we evaluated the relationship between pre-season visual and oculomotor evaluations and pitch-by-pitch season performance data from professional baseball batters. Eye tracking, visual-motor, and optometric evaluations collected during spring training 2018 were obtained from 71 professional baseball players. Pitch-level data from Trackman 3D Doppler radar were obtained from these players during the subsequent season and used to generate batting propensity scores for swinging at pitches out of the strike zone (O-Swing), swinging at pitches in the strike zone (Z-Swing), and swinging at, but missing pitches in the strike zone (Z-Miss). Nested regression models to tested which evaluation(s) best predicted standardised plate discipline scores as well as batters’ highest attained league levels during the season. Results indicated that visual evaluations relying on eye tracking (smooth pursuit accuracy and oculomotor processing speed) significantly predicted the highest attained league level andpropensity scores associated with O-Swing and Z-Swing, but not Z-Miss. These exploratory findings indicate that batters with superior visual and oculomotor abilities are more discerning at the plate. These results provide new information about the role of vision in baseball batting.