Alex Verdugo has become a prominent name in Major League Baseball, known for his dynamic play and consistent performance. As fans and analysts track his every move on the field, a common question arises: How Old Is Alex Verdugo? Understanding a player’s age provides context to their career trajectory, potential, and achievements. This article delves into Alex Verdugo’s age and provides a comprehensive overview of his career statistics, offering insights into his performance over the years.
Born on May 15, 1996, Alex Verdugo is currently 28 years old as of late 2024. This places him squarely in his prime years as a baseball player, a period where athletes often combine experience with peak physical condition. Let’s explore how his age aligns with his statistical performance and career progression in MLB.
To truly appreciate Verdugo’s journey, we need to look beyond just his age and dive into the numbers that define his career. The following sections will break down his Statcast batting statistics, pitch tracking data, batted ball profiles, and much more, painting a complete picture of this talented outfielder.
Alex Verdugo’s Performance Over the Years: A Statistical Deep Dive
The data below provides a year-by-year breakdown of Alex Verdugo’s batting performance, utilizing Statcast metrics to offer a detailed analysis of his offensive capabilities. These statistics are crucial for understanding his development and consistency as a hitter in Major League Baseball.
Statcast Batting Statistics
This table showcases Alex Verdugo’s Statcast batting statistics from 2017 to 2024. These metrics offer advanced insights into his hitting ability, including batted ball quality, expected outcomes, and plate discipline.
| Season | Age | Pitches | Batted Balls | Barrels | Barrel % | Barrel/PA | Exit Velocity | Max EV | Launch Angle | LA Sweet-Spot % | XBA | XSLG | WOBA | XWOBA | XWOBACON | HardHit% | K% | BB% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 21 | 101 | 19 | 1 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 81.1 | 104.5 | -2.0 | 36.8 | .287 | .426 | .240 | .337 | .377 | 18.8 | 16.0 | 8.0 |
| 2018 | 22 | 347 | 64 | 3 | 4.7 | 3.5 | 88.4 | 110.4 | 4.8 | 17.2 | .249 | .367 | .311 | .313 | .339 | 34.5 | 16.3 | 9.3 |
| 2019 | 23 | 1468 | 300 | 17 | 5.7 | 4.5 | 89.4 | 111.3 | 9.0 | 33.7 | .289 | .458 | .341 | .339 | .363 | 39.7 | 13.0 | 6.9 |
| 2020 | 24 | 923 | 157 | 10 | 6.4 | 4.5 | 87.0 | 109.5 | 5.9 | 31.2 | .238 | .369 | .362 | .299 | .338 | 34.4 | 20.4 | 7.7 |
| 2021 | 25 | 2346 | 453 | 33 | 7.3 | 5.5 | 90.0 | 110.8 | 7.7 | 34.9 | .285 | .446 | .334 | .342 | .376 | 43.3 | 15.9 | 8.4 |
| 2022 | 26 | 2490 | 513 | 31 | 6.0 | 4.8 | 89.1 | 111.0 | 8.4 | 37.8 | .278 | .428 | .319 | .329 | .353 | 38.2 | 13.4 | 6.5 |
| 2023 | 27 | 2364 | 458 | 23 | 5.0 | 3.8 | 89.2 | 112.4 | 8.8 | 35.4 | .278 | .417 | .322 | .331 | .358 | 37.6 | 15.4 | 7.5 |
| 2024 | 28 | 2342 | 478 | 27 | 5.6 | 4.3 | 88.3 | 110.7 | 9.9 | 31.6 | .250 | .373 | .283 | .302 | .320 | 34.9 | 15.0 | 7.9 |
| Player | 12381 | 2442 | 145 | 5.9 | 4.6 | 89.0 | 112.4 | 8.4 | 34.1 | .272 | .417 | .320 | .325 | .352 | 38.1 | 15.1 | 7.5 | |
| MLB | 82372 | 7.0 | 4.8 | 88.5 | 122.4 | 12.3 | 33.2 | .245 | .405 | .316 | .315 | .368 | 36.5 | 22.2 | 8.4 |
Note: All figures in this table cover the period 2015-present.
This table provides a comprehensive look at Alex Verdugo’s Statcast batting statistics across his MLB seasons, highlighting key metrics such as Exit Velocity, Launch Angle, and Barrel Percentage.
Key Observations from Statcast Data:
- Consistent Exit Velocity: Verdugo maintains a consistently high average exit velocity, hovering around 89 mph throughout his career. This indicates his ability to hit the ball hard, a crucial factor in offensive production.
- Launch Angle Development: His launch angle has shown an upward trend over the years, suggesting a deliberate adjustment in his swing to optimize for hitting line drives and fly balls, which generally lead to more hits and extra-base hits.
- Barrel Percentage Fluctuations: While his barrel percentage, a measure of hitting the ball with ideal exit velocity and launch angle, has fluctuated, it generally indicates a solid ability to generate hard-hit balls. His peak Barrel % was in 2021, coinciding with one of his most productive offensive seasons.
- Expected Stats vs. Actual Stats: Examining expected batting average (xBA) and expected slugging (xSLG) alongside his actual BA and SLG can reveal insights into his luck and true talent level. Generally, Verdugo’s expected stats align closely with his actual stats, suggesting his performance is sustainable and not overly reliant on luck.
Batted Ball Profile
The batted ball profile further dissects the types of batted balls Verdugo produces, offering clues into his hitting approach and tendencies.
| Season | GB % | FB % | LD % | PU % | Pull % | Straight % | Oppo % | Weak % | Topped % | Under % | Flare/Burner % | Solid % | Barrel % | Barrel/PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 57.9 | 10.5 | 31.6 | 0.0 | 42.1 | 10.5 | 47.4 | 10.5 | 31.6 | 5.3 | 31.6 | 0.0 | 5.3 | 4.0 |
| 2018 | 62.5 | 14.1 | 18.8 | 4.7 | 32.8 | 43.8 | 23.4 | 0.0 | 37.5 | 14.1 | 25.0 | 3.1 | 4.7 | 3.5 |
| 2019 | 49.3 | 18.0 | 26.3 | 6.3 | 37.0 | 39.3 | 23.7 | 2.7 | 36.3 | 20.3 | 27.3 | 6.0 | 5.7 | 4.5 |
| 2020 | 52.2 | 19.1 | 22.9 | 5.7 | 33.8 | 42.7 | 23.6 | 3.8 | 42.0 | 19.1 | 23.6 | 5.1 | 6.4 | 4.5 |
| 2021 | 50.3 | 21.0 | 24.3 | 4.4 | 33.1 | 40.4 | 26.5 | 4.0 | 36.0 | 19.9 | 27.6 | 5.3 | 7.3 | 5.5 |
| 2022 | 46.2 | 23.0 | 26.5 | 4.3 | 30.4 | 41.5 | 28.1 | 2.3 | 33.9 | 22.8 | 27.3 | 7.6 | 6.0 | 4.8 |
| 2023 | 44.8 | 23.1 | 27.1 | 5.0 | 34.9 | 39.5 | 25.5 | 2.6 | 33.6 | 23.6 | 28.4 | 6.3 | 5.0 | 3.8 |
| 2024 | 49.6 | 23.0 | 22.4 | 5.0 | 34.9 | 35.6 | 29.5 | 3.6 | 38.1 | 23.8 | 22.4 | 6.1 | 5.6 | 4.3 |
| Player | 48.6 | 21.5 | 25.0 | 4.9 | 33.8 | 39.4 | 26.8 | 3.1 | 36.0 | 21.7 | 26.3 | 6.1 | 5.9 | 4.6 |
| MLB | 44.4 | 23.8 | 24.7 | 7.1 | 37.2 | 37.5 | 25.2 | 3.9 | 32.6 | 24.8 | 24.4 | 5.9 | 7.0 | 4.8 |
Note: All figures in this table cover the period 2015-present.
This table details Alex Verdugo’s batted ball profile, showing the percentage of ground balls, fly balls, line drives, and pop-ups he hits, along with directional hitting tendencies.
Insights from Batted Ball Data:
- Ground Ball Tendency: Verdugo has historically hit a significant percentage of ground balls. However, there’s a noticeable trend of decreasing ground ball percentage (GB%) and increasing fly ball percentage (FB%) over recent seasons. This shift suggests an intentional effort to lift the ball more, which aligns with the observed increase in launch angle.
- Line Drive Consistency: His line drive percentage (LD%) remains relatively consistent, indicating a steady ability to hit the ball squarely. Line drives are highly valuable as they often result in hits.
- Pull vs. Opposite Field Hitting: The data shows a fairly balanced approach between pulling the ball and hitting to the opposite field. This versatility makes him a harder hitter to defend against as he can adjust his approach based on pitching and defensive positioning.
Run Values by Pitch Type
Understanding how a hitter performs against different pitch types is crucial. This section analyzes Verdugo’s run values against various pitches, revealing his strengths and weaknesses against different types of pitching.
| Year | Pitch Type | Team | RV/100 | Run Value | Pitches | % | PA | BA | SLG | wOBA | Whiff% | K% | PutAway % | xBA | xSLG | xwOBA | Hard Hit % |
|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|
| 2024 | 4-Seam Fastball | | -1.0 | -8 | 762 | 32.5 | 190 | .201 | .325 | .308 | 14.6 | 16.3 | 14.6 | .232 | .370 | .331 | 34.4 |
| 2024 | Sinker | | -1.0 | -4 | 400 | 17.1 | 112 | .317 | .462 | .364 | 7.1 | 8.0 | 11.5 | .285 | .417 | .328 | 39.6 |
| 2024 | Slider | | 0.8 | 3 | 317 | 13.5 | 82 | .320 | .453 | .344 | 17.0 | 12.2 | 11.1 | .312 | .446 | .333 | 43.5 |
| 2024 | Changeup | | 1.5 | 3 | 229 | 9.8 | 72 | .194 | .313 | .263 | 15.0 | 16.7 | 13.0 | .285 | .390 | .320 | 34.5 |
| 2024 | Cutter | | -3.9 | -9 | 218 | 9.3 | 60 | .155 | .172 | .164 | 23.2 | 15.0 | 20.0 | .197 | .283 | .225 | 28.6 |
| 2024 | Curveball | | -1.4 | -2 | 158 | 6.7 | 36 | .222 | .417 | .271 | 19.1 | 16.7 | 11.3 | .192 | .317 | .220 | 30.0 |
| 2024 | Split-Finger | | 0.5 | 1 | 121 | 5.2 | 38 | .189 | .324 | .232 | 19.6 | 18.4 | 15.2 | .242 | .348 | .266 | 23.3 |
| 2024 | Sweeper | | -0.8 | -1 | 113 | 4.8 | 22 | .182 | .364 | .230 | 22.0 | 31.8 | 18.4 | .167 | .329 | .210 | 40.0 |
| 2024 | Slurve | | 1.7 | 0 | 8 | 0.3 | 4 | .500 | .500 | .533 | 33.3 | 25.0 | 33.3 | .280 | .305 | .402 | 0.0 |
| 2023 | 4-Seam Fastball | | -0.3 | -3 | 876 | 37.1 | 203 | .288 | .508 | .383 | 8.8 | 10.8 | 12.3 | .307 | .512 | .387 | 46.2 |
| 2023 | Sinker | | -2.6 | -9 | 354 | 15.0 | 90 | .220 | .293 | .266 | 14.1 | 18.9 | 22.4 | .273 | .340 | .305 | 30.8 |
| 2023 | Changeup | | 2.0 | 6 | 297 | 12.6 | 93 | .292 | .393 | .327 | 11.3 | 6.5 | 7.0 | .268 | .376 | .293 | 28.6 |
| 2023 | Slider | | -1.1 | -3 | 276 | 11.7 | 75 | .200 | .343 | .267 | 30.2 | 29.3 | 23.4 | .200 | .306 | .249 | 27.1 |
| 2023 | Curveball | | 0.0 | 0 | 195 | 8.2 | 44 | .238 | .310 | .260 | 24.7 | 18.2 | 13.3 | .285 | .360 | .298 | 23.5 |
| 2023 | Cutter | | 0.5 | 1 | 160 | 6.8 | 40 | .263 | .526 | .350 | 21.8 | 17.5 | 17.5 | .302 | .540 | .373 | 54.8 |
| 2023 | Sweeper | | 2.3 | 3 | 123 | 5.2 | 37 | .367 | .500 | .432 | 14.3 | 16.2 | 12.0 | .305 | .421 | .373 | 40.0 |
| 2023 | Split-Finger | | -1.2 | -1 | 63 | 2.7 | 13 | .167 | .333 | .246 | 20.8 | 15.4 | 9.5 | .280 | .351 | .303 | 50.0 |
| 2023 | Slurve | | 1.8 | 0 | 16 | 0.7 | 5 | .200 | .800 | .400 | 44.4 | 60.0 | 42.9 | .063 | .134 | .079 | 50.0 |
| 2023 | Screwball | | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | — | 0.0 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | 4-Seam Fastball | | 1.9 | 17 | 889 | 35.7 | 199 | .352 | .534 | .424 | 10.7 | 10.1 | 9.6 | .315 | .508 | .390 | 50.3 |
| 2022 | Sinker | | 1.2 | 5 | 393 | 15.8 | 101 | .333 | .444 | .397 | 8.1 | 7.9 | 8.2 | .279 | .384 | .332 | 30.5 |
| 2022 | Changeup | | 0.5 | 2 | 366 | 14.7 | 102 | .240 | .344 | .265 | 21.5 | 18.6 | 20.4 | .242 | .360 | .281 | 27.8 |
| 2022 | Slider | | -0.8 | -3 | 332 | 13.3 | 95 | .202 | .292 | .249 | 21.4 | 15.8 | 12.3 | .259 | .378 | .289 | 28.9 |
| 2022 | Curveball | | -1.7 | -4 | 224 | 9.0 | 58 | .246 | .351 | .270 | 21.1 | 20.7 | 19.7 | .278 | .514 | .332 | 43.5 |
| 2022 | Cutter | | 2.3 | 3 | 148 | 5.9 | 43 | .381 | .571 | .417 | 15.1 | 4.7 | 5.9 | .369 | .574 | .412 | 50.0 |
| 2022 | Split-Finger | | -8.1 | -5 | 61 | 2.4 | 22 | .048 | .048 | .073 | 31.6 | 18.2 | 14.8 | .115 | .155 | .145 | 11.8 |
| 2022 | Sweeper | | -5.0 | -3 | 60 | 2.4 | 17 | .118 | .118 | .106 | 15.6 | 29.4 | 20.0 | .211 | .248 | .201 | 33.3 |
| 2022 | Slurve | | -5.1 | -1 | 11 | 0.4 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 16.7 | 50.0 | 33.3 | .092 | .102 | .086 | 100.0 |
| 2021 | 4-Seam Fastball | | 0.6 | 5 | 901 | 38.4 | 203 | .354 | .509 | .417 | 13.8 | 13.8 | 13.8 | .294 | .448 | .363 | 46.3 |
| 2021 | Changeup | | 0.5 | 2 | 379 | 16.2 | 115 | .211 | .358 | .268 | 17.3 | 11.3 | 12.7 | .305 | .471 | .347 | 38.1 |
| 2021 | Sinker | | -1.0 | -3 | 321 | 13.7 | 75 | .257 | .343 | .291 | 14.5 | 20.0 | 19.5 | .232 | .324 | .272 | 40.0 |
| 2021 | Slider | | -1.3 | -3 | 270 | 11.5 | 77 | .254 | .282 | .274 | 23.1 | 18.2 | 14.4 | .272 | .387 | .317 | 36.8 |
| 2021 | Curveball | | 1.1 | 2 | 195 | 8.3 | 43 | .231 | .487 | .321 | 28.6 | 25.6 | 18.0 | .242 | .492 | .328 | 51.7 |
| 2021 | Cutter | | 1.9 | 3 | 181 | 7.7 | 54 | .400 | .480 | .398 | 22.6 | 18.5 | 22.2 | .331 | .464 | .356 | 53.7 |
| 2021 | Split-Finger | | -5.4 | -3 | 48 | 2.0 | 21 | .143 | .286 | .181 | 23.3 | 19.0 | 28.6 | .269 | .559 | .351 | 35.3 |
| 2021 | Sweeper | | 6.5 | 2 | 38 | 1.6 | 6 | .400 | 1.200 | .658 | 12.5 | 16.7 | 6.7 | .383 | 1.043 | .599 | 75.0 |
| 2021 | Slurve | | 15.8 | 1 | 6 | 0.3 | 1 | 1.000 | 4.000 | 2.000 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .637 | 2.439 | 1.247 | 100.0 |
| 2020 | 4-Seam Fastball | | 0.8 | 3 | 369 | 40.0 | 75 | .381 | .571 | .469 | 21.3 | 16.0 | 13.2 | .250 | .386 | .341 | 37.3 |
| 2020 | Sinker | | -0.1 | 0 | 156 | 16.9 | 36 | .324 | .471 | .389 | 10.2 | 19.4 | 17.9 | .242 | .353 | .280 | 37.0 |
| 2020 | Slider | | -0.3 | 0 | 113 | 12.2 | 30 | .207 | .379 | .263 | 20.4 | 33.3 | 16.9 | .208 | .344 | .251 | 31.6 |
| 2020 | Changeup | | 0.1 | 0 | 106 | 11.5 | 29 | .148 | .259 | .217 | 21.2 | 27.6 | 20.5 | .145 | .219 | .194 | 15.0 |
| 2020 | Curveball | | 4.4 | 4 | 94 | 10.2 | 22 | .545 | .909 | .623 | 11.4 | 9.1 | 7.4 | .361 | .529 | .384 | 30.0 |
| 2020 | Cutter | | -6.6 | -3 | 45 | 4.9 | 13 | .083 | .083 | .123 | 22.7 | 38.5 | 35.7 | .136 | .225 | .197 | 28.6 |
| 2020 | Split-Finger | | 3.0 | 1 | 40 | 4.3 | 15 | .286 | .357 | .370 | 21.7 | 6.7 | 7.1 | .304 | .548 | .386 | 61.5 |
| 2019 | 4-Seam Fastball | | 0.9 | 5 | 591 | 40.3 | 126 | .342 | .541 | .412 | 11.5 | 11.9 | 10.3 | .316 | .544 | .396 | 49.5 |
| 2019 | Sinker | | 2.5 | 5 | 217 | 14.8 | 55 | .438 | .729 | .525 | 7.3 | 5.5 | 8.3 | .333 | .518 | .403 | 40.0 |
| 2019 | Slider | | -1.0 | -2 | 208 | 14.2 | 56 | .204 | .463 | .279 | 25.2 | 17.9 | 14.7 | .220 | .384 | .256 | 31.1 |
| 2019 | Curveball | | -2.8 | -4 | 160 | 10.9 | 44 | .250 | .275 | .244 | 20.8 | 18.2 | 18.6 | .287 | .364 | .293 | 41.2 |
| 2019 | Changeup | | -0.9 | -1 | 155 | 10.6 | 53 | .235 | .392 | .285 | 23.0 | 15.1 | 20.5 | .285 | .456 | .327 | 37.2 |
| 2019 | Cutter | | -0.9 | -1 | 75 | 5.1 | 25 | .292 | .375 | .308 | 10.3 | 12.0 | 10.0 | .297 | .363 | .301 | 28.6 |
| 2019 | Split-Finger | | -6.5 | -2 | 35 | 2.4 | 8 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 27.8 | 12.5 | 11.1 | .165 | .229 | .149 | 14.3 |
| 2019 | Sweeper | | -8.1 | 0 | 4 | 0.3 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 50.0 | 50.0 | 50.0 | .067 | .080 | .060 | 0.0 |
| 2018 | 4-Seam Fastball | | 1.8 | 2 | 115 | 33.1 | 23 | .300 | .550 | .443 | 13.7 | 17.4 | 11.4 | .259 | .492 | .370 | 43.8 |
| 2018 | Slider | | -3.0 | -1 | 49 | 14.1 | 15 | .267 | .400 | .287 | 23.3 | 20.0 | 14.3 | .259 | .409 | .291 | 16.7 |
| 2018 | Sinker | | 0.5 | 0 | 42 | 12.1 | 12 | .333 | .556 | .500 | 7.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .375 | .461 | .460 | 33.3 |
| 2018 | Changeup | | 0.7 | 0 | 42 | 12.1 | 12 | .300 | .300 | .342 | 18.2 | 8.3 | 10.0 | .161 | .177 | .247 | 22.2 |
| 2018 | Curveball | | -0.7 | 0 | 26 | 7.5 | 5 | .200 | .200 | .180 | 25.0 | 40.0 | 25.0 | .218 | .247 | .205 | 33.3 |
| 2018 | Cutter | | -10.1 | -2 | 15 | 4.3 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 28.6 | 33.3 | 50.0 | .292 | .302 | .265 | 50.0 |
| 2018 | Split-Finger | | -9.3 | -1 | 8 | 2.3 | 4 | .250 | .250 | .225 | 28.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .313 | .356 | .298 | 75.0 |
| 2017 | 4-Seam Fastball | | -2.2 | -1 | 35 | 34.7 | 10 | .200 | .500 | .290 | 20.0 | 30.0 | 50.0 | .273 | .492 | .319 | 28.6 |
| 2017 | Sinker | | -0.6 | 0 | 18 | 17.8 | 5 | .500 | .500 | .500 | 16.7 | 20.0 | 25.0 | .253 | .272 | .325 | 0.0 |
| 2017 | Slider | | -3.4 | 0 | 14 | 13.9 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .156 | .252 | .165 | 33.3 |
| 2017 | Changeup | | -1.6 | 0 | 8 | 7.9 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 25.0 | 0.0 | — | .547 | .628 | .519 | 0.0 |
| 2017 | Curveball | | -2.1 | 0 | 5 | 5.0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .880 | 1.013 | .818 | 0.0 |
| 2017 | Sweeper | | -12.0 | 0 | 3 | 3.0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | .095 | .122 | .090 | 0.0 |
| 2017 | Split-Finger | | 4.0 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Note: Years are in reverse order.
This table breaks down Alex Verdugo’s hitting performance against different pitch types each season, showing Run Value per 100 pitches (RV/100) and overall Run Value.
Pitch Type Performance Analysis:
- Strengths Against Specific Pitches: Verdugo has shown strengths against certain pitch types like Sliders and Changeups in some years, indicated by positive Run Values. In 2024, he notably performed well against Sliders.
- Struggles Against Fastballs and Cutters: In recent years, particularly 2024, Verdugo’s Run Value against 4-Seam Fastballs and Cutters has been negative, suggesting these pitch types present challenges for him. This could be an area of focus for improvement as these are common pitches in MLB.
- Adaptability Over Time: Analyzing the data across years reveals fluctuations in his performance against different pitch types. This could be due to adjustments he makes, changes in pitching trends, or natural variance in performance. For example, his performance against 4-seam fastballs was significantly better in 2022 than in 2024.
Plate Discipline
Plate discipline is a critical aspect of hitting, reflecting a batter’s ability to recognize pitches and make sound decisions at the plate.
| Season | Pitches | Zone % | Zone Swing % | Zone Contact % | Chase % | Chase Contact % | Edge % | 1st Pitch Swing % | Swing % | Whiff % | Meatball % | Meatball Swing % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 101 | 50.0 | 61.9 | 80.8 | 16.7 | 100.0 | 48.8 | 12.0 | 36.6 | 13.5 | 9.5 | 87.5 |
| 2018 | 347 | 49.3 | 65.3 | 85.4 | 28.5 | 74.4 | 42.6 | 24.4 | 48.7 | 18.9 | 8.4 | 80.0 |
| 2019 | 1,468 | 48.7 | 61.3 | 91.2 | 28.9 | 68.8 | 43.4 | 19.7 | 44.6 | 16.0 | 7.1 | 71.8 |
| 2020 | 923 | 50.1 | 57.8 | 87.3 | 27.8 | 68.0 | 42.3 | 12.3 | 42.8 | 18.7 | 6.7 | 71.0 |
| 2021 | 2,346 | 51.0 | 62.3 | 88.7 | 26.4 | 66.4 | 44.0 | 19.4 | 44.7 | 17.7 | 7.3 | 76.2 |
| 2022 | 2,490 | 52.0 | 64.0 | 90.4 | 24.9 | 68.0 | 44.2 | 21.7 | 45.3 | 15.5 | 7.7 | 75.5 |
| 2023 | 2,364 | 53.0 | 57.5 | 91.7 | 22.2 | 61.8 | 44.7 | 16.3 | 40.9 | 15.6 | 8.5 | 69.3 |
| 2024 | 2,342 | 53.4 | 61.3 | 90.5 | 25.5 | 66.3 | 44.7 | 24.2 | 44.7 | 15.5 | 8.7 | 71.6 |
| Player | 12,381 | 51.7 | 61.1 | 90.0 | 25.6 | 66.8 | 44.1 | 19.8 | 44.0 | 16.3 | 7.9 | 73.0 |
| MLB | 48.7 | 67.0 | 82.0 | 28.5 | 57.8 | 42.6 | 29.9 | 47.2 | 25.0 | 7.3 | 76.3 |
Note: All figures in this table cover the period 2015-present.
This table presents Alex Verdugo’s plate discipline metrics, including his swing decisions on pitches inside and outside the strike zone, and his contact rates.
Insights on Plate Discipline:
- High Zone Contact Rate: Verdugo consistently demonstrates a high zone contact rate (Zone Contact %), typically above 85% and reaching over 90% in some seasons. This is a hallmark of a good hitter, indicating his ability to make contact with pitches inside the strike zone.
- Moderate Chase Rate: His chase rate (Chase %), or the frequency of swinging at pitches outside the strike zone, is moderate and generally below the league average. This suggests a disciplined approach and an understanding of the strike zone.
- Improving Zone Percentage: The Zone % he sees has slightly increased over time, indicating pitchers are challenging him more in the strike zone. Despite this, his Zone Swing % has remained relatively stable, showing he isn’t becoming overly aggressive even when seeing more pitches in the zone.
- Whiff Percentage Consistency: His whiff percentage (Whiff %) has been consistently around 15-18%, which is a reasonable rate in today’s MLB, indicating a balance between aggressiveness and contact ability.
Percentile Rankings
Percentile rankings provide a league-wide context to a player’s performance in various Statcast metrics, showing how Verdugo stacks up against his peers.
| Year | xwOBA | xBA | xSLG | xISO | xOBP | Brl | Brl% | EV | Max EV | Hard Hit% | K% | BB% | Whiff% | Chase Rate | Speed | OAA | Arm Strength | Bat Speed | Squared-up Rate | Swing Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 40 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 76 | 57 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 57 | 92 | 57 | 33 | 67 | 22 | 29 | 55 | 79 | 52 | 93 | 29 | 90 | 47 | 61 | 80 | ||||
| 2020 | 22 | 34 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 51 | 38 | 20 | 65 | 27 | 62 | 33 | 86 | 47 | 70 | 81 | 99 | |||
| 2021 | 65 | 90 | 61 | 40 | 74 | 59 | 38 | 66 | 76 | 67 | 81 | 42 | 88 | 56 | 52 | 11 | 93 | |||
| 2022 | 67 | 92 | 70 | 50 | 61 | 60 | 31 | 51 | 73 | 39 | 92 | 27 | 93 | 73 | 37 | 13 | 75 | |||
| 2023 | 56 | 86 | 43 | 26 | 71 | 32 | 18 | 49 | 80 | 29 | 88 | 38 | 94 | 85 | 49 | 68 | 95 | 6 | 97 | 100 |
| 2024 | 31 | 53 | 29 | 22 | 38 | 48 | 25 | 32 | 67 | 21 | 88 | 49 | 93 | 70 | 31 | 77 | 94 | 11 | 96 | 99 |
This table shows Alex Verdugo’s percentile rankings in various Statcast metrics compared to all MLB players, providing context for how his skills measure up league-wide.
Percentile Ranking Highlights:
- Consistently High Expected Batting Average (xBA): Verdugo consistently ranks high in xBA, often in the 80th-90th percentile or above. This reinforces the earlier observation that his expected and actual batting averages are closely aligned and strong, indicating a true hitting talent.
- Good xwOBA Percentiles: His xwOBA (expected Weighted On-Base Average) percentiles are generally solid, often in the 50th-70th percentile range, indicating he is a consistently above-average offensive contributor.
- Elite Whiff Percentage Ranking: Verdugo consistently ranks in the top percentiles (90s) for Whiff Percentage, highlighting his exceptional ability to avoid strikeouts and make contact. This is a standout skill.
- Sprint Speed and Outs Above Average (OAA): While his offensive metrics are generally strong, his percentile rankings for sprint speed and Outs Above Average (a defensive metric) are more varied, suggesting that his primary value is his offensive contribution rather than elite speed or defense. However, his OAA has shown improvement in recent years.
Expected Home Runs
Expected Home Runs (xHR) provides a more context-aware measure of home run hitting ability, considering park dimensions and environmental factors.
Adjusted Expected Home Runs
| Year | Team | Avg HR Trot | Actual HR | xHR | HR-xHR | Doubters | Mostly Gone | No Doubters | No Doubter % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 20.5 | 1 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| 2018 | 20.2 | 1 | 0.4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| 2019 | 22.4 | 12 | 9.1 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 16.7 | |
| 2020 | 23.0 | 6 | 5.0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 66.7 | |
| 2021 | 26.7 | 14 | 16.3 | -2 | 9 | 15 | 6 | 42.9 | |
| 2022 | 28.1 | 11 | 15.5 | -5 | 13 | 16 | 3 | 27.3 | |
| 2023 | 27.8 | 13 | 10.8 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 38.5 | |
| 2024 | 28.2 | 14 | 13.8 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 28.6 | |
| Player | 26.2 | 72 | 71.6 | 0 | 49 | 61 | 24 | 33.3 |
This table shows Alex Verdugo’s adjusted Expected Home Runs (xHR), accounting for park dimensions and environmental effects, alongside his actual home runs.
Standard Expected Home Runs
| Year | Team | Avg HR Trot | Actual HR | xHR | HR-xHR | Doubters | Mostly Gone | No Doubters | No Doubter % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 20.5 | 1 | 0.4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| 2018 | 20.2 | 1 | 1.4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| 2019 | 22.4 | 12 | 11.2 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 25.0 | |
| 2020 | 23.0 | 6 | 5.2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| 2021 | 26.7 | 14 | 15.1 | -1 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 35.7 | |
| 2022 | 28.1 | 11 | 14.0 | -3 | 11 | 17 | 2 | 18.2 | |
| 2023 | 27.8 | 13 | 11.3 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 46.2 | |
| 2024 | 28.2 | 14 | 13.5 | 1 | 8 | 13 | 4 | 28.6 | |
| Player | 26.2 | 72 | 72.3 | 0 | 51 | 65 | 20 | 27.8 |
This table presents Alex Verdugo’s standard Expected Home Runs (xHR), accounting for park dimensions but excluding environmental effects, compared to his actual home runs.
Expected Home Run Analysis:
- Consistent Home Run Production: Verdugo’s actual home run totals closely align with his expected home runs (xHR) over his career, in both adjusted and standard models. This suggests his home run output is consistent with his batted ball quality and isn’t significantly inflated or deflated by external factors.
- “No Doubter” Percentage: The “No Doubter %,” which indicates the percentage of home runs that were clearly home runs off the bat, varies by year. It provides an interesting, albeit less statistically rigorous, view of his home run quality.
Year to Year Changes
Examining year-over-year changes in key metrics can highlight trends in a player’s development or decline.
| Metric | 2017 | 2018 | +/- | 2019 | +/- | 2020 | +/- | 2021 | +/- | 2022 | +/- | 2023 | +/- | 2024 | +/- | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exit Velocity | 81.1 | 88.4 | 7.3 | ↑ | 89.4 | 1.0 | ↑ | 87.0 | -2.4 | ↓ | 90.0 | 3.0 | ↑ | 89.1 | -0.9 | ↓ | 89.2 | 0.1 | ↑ | 88.3 | -0.9 | ↓ |
| Launch Angle | -2.0 | 4.8 | 6.8 | ↑ | 9.0 | 4.2 | ↑ | 5.9 | -3.1 | ↓ | 7.7 | 1.8 | ↑ | 8.4 | 0.7 | ↑ | 8.8 | 0.4 | ↑ | 9.9 | 1.1 | ↑ |
| Barrel % | 5.3 | 4.7 | -0.6 | ↓ | 5.7 | 1.0 | ↑ | 6.4 | 0.7 | ↑ | 7.3 | 0.9 | ↑ | 6.0 | -1.3 | ↓ | 5.0 | -1.0 | ↓ | 5.6 | 0.6 | ↑ |
| Hard Hit % | 18.8 | 34.5 | 15.7 | ↑ | 39.7 | 5.2 | ↑ | 34.4 | -5.3 | ↓ | 43.3 | 8.9 | ↑ | 38.2 | -5.1 | ↓ | 37.6 | -0.6 | ↓ | 34.9 | -2.7 | ↓ |
| LA Sweet-Spot % | 36.8 | 17.2 | -19.6 | ↓ | 33.7 | 16.5 | ↑ | 31.2 | -2.5 | ↓ | 34.9 | 3.7 | ↑ | 37.8 | 2.9 | ↑ | 35.4 | -2.4 | ↓ | 31.6 | -3.8 | ↓ |
| xBA | .287 | .249 | -0.038 | ↓ | .289 | 0.040 | ↑ | .238 | -0.051 | ↓ | .285 | 0.047 | ↑ | .278 | -0.007 | ↓ | .278 | 0.000 | .250 | -0.028 | ↓ | |
| BA | .174 | .260 | 0.086 | ↑ | .294 | 0.034 | ↑ | .308 | 0.014 | ↑ | .289 | -0.019 | ↓ | .280 | -0.009 | ↓ | .264 | -0.016 | ↓ | .233 | -0.031 | ↓ |
| xwOBA | .337 | .313 | -0.024 | ↓ | .339 | 0.026 | ↑ | .299 | -0.040 | ↓ | .342 | 0.043 | ↑ | .329 | -0.013 | ↓ | .331 | 0.002 | ↑ | .302 | -0.029 | ↓ |
| wOBA | .240 | .311 | 0.071 | ↑ | .341 | 0.030 | ↑ | .362 | 0.021 | ↑ | .334 | -0.028 | ↓ | .319 | -0.015 | ↓ | .322 | 0.003 | ↑ | .283 | -0.039 | ↓ |
| xSLG | .426 | .367 | -0.059 | ↓ | .458 | 0.091 | ↑ | .369 | -0.089 | ↓ | .446 | 0.077 | ↑ | .428 | -0.018 | ↓ | .417 | -0.011 | ↓ | .373 | -0.044 | ↓ |
| SLG | .304 | .377 | 0.073 | ↑ | .475 | 0.098 | ↑ | .478 | 0.003 | ↑ | .426 | -0.052 | ↓ | .405 | -0.021 | ↓ | .421 | 0.016 | ↑ | .356 | -0.065 | ↓ |
| K% | 16.0 | 16.3 | 0.3 | ↑ | 13.0 | -3.3 | ↓ | 20.4 | 7.4 | ↑ | 15.9 | -4.5 | ↓ | 13.4 | -2.5 | ↓ | 15.4 | 2.0 | ↑ | 15.0 | -0.4 | ↓ |
| BB% | 8.0 | 9.3 | 1.3 | ↑ | 6.9 | -2.4 | ↓ | 7.7 | 0.8 | ↑ | 8.4 | 0.7 | ↑ | 6.5 | -1.9 | ↓ | 7.5 | 1.0 | ↑ | 7.9 | 0.4 | ↑ |
| Swing % | 36.6 | 48.7 | 12.1 | ↑ | 44.6 | -4.1 | ↓ | 42.8 | -1.8 | ↓ | 44.7 | 1.9 | ↑ | 45.3 | 0.6 | ↑ | 40.9 | -4.4 | ↓ | 44.7 | 3.8 | ↑ |
| Whiff% | 13.5 | 18.9 | 5.4 | ↑ | 16.0 | -2.9 | ↓ | 18.7 | 2.7 | ↑ | 17.7 | -1.0 | ↓ | 15.5 | -2.2 | ↓ | 15.6 | 0.1 | ↑ | 15.5 | -0.1 | ↓ |
| In Zone % | 50.0 | 49.3 | -0.7 | ↓ | 48.7 | -0.6 | ↓ | 50.1 | 1.4 | ↑ | 51.0 | 0.9 | ↑ | 52.0 | 1.0 | ↑ | 53.0 | 1.0 | ↑ | 53.4 | 0.4 | ↑ |
| Out of Zone % | 50.0 | 50.7 | 0.7 | ↑ | 51.3 | 0.6 | ↑ | 49.9 | -1.4 | ↓ | 49.0 | -0.9 | ↓ | 48.0 | -1.0 | ↓ | 47.0 | -1.0 | ↓ | 46.6 | -0.4 | ↓ |
| Out of Zone Swing % | 16.7 | 28.5 | 11.8 | ↑ | 28.9 | 0.4 | ↑ | 27.8 | -1.1 | ↓ | 26.4 | -1.4 | ↓ | 24.9 | -1.5 | ↓ | 22.2 | -2.7 | ↓ | 25.5 | 3.3 | ↑ |
| First Pitch Swing % | 12.0 | 24.4 | 12.4 | ↑ | 19.7 | -4.7 | ↓ | 12.3 | -7.4 | ↓ | 19.4 | 7.1 | ↑ | 21.7 | 2.3 | ↑ | 16.3 | -5.4 | ↓ | 24.2 | 7.9 | ↑ |
| First Pitch Strike % | 52.0 | 61.6 | 9.6 | ↑ | 59.3 | -2.3 | ↓ | 53.2 | -6.1 | ↓ | 57.1 | 3.9 | ↑ | 59.8 | 2.7 | ↑ | 58.4 | -1.4 | ↓ | 62.0 | 3.6 | ↑ |
This table tracks Alex Verdugo’s year-over-year changes in various Statcast metrics, highlighting improvements, declines, and trends in his performance.
Year-over-Year Trends:
- Exit Velocity Consistency: While there are minor fluctuations, his exit velocity has remained relatively stable in recent years, suggesting a consistent level of hard-hit ability.
- Launch Angle Progression: As noted earlier, his launch angle has generally increased, indicative of an evolving approach at the plate.
- Plate Discipline Adjustments: His swing percentage and whiff percentage show some year-to-year variability, but generally, he maintains a disciplined approach with a good contact rate.
- Expected Stat Fluctuation: Expected stats like xBA and xwOBA show year-to-year variations, reflecting the natural ebbs and flows of baseball performance. His peak expected offensive performance appears to have been in 2019 and 2021-2022.
Statcast Rankings
Statcast rankings place Alex Verdugo in the context of the entire league for specific skills, offering a quick snapshot of where he excels and where he stands relative to other MLB players.
Average Exit Velocity
| Year | MPH | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 89.4 | 117th in MLB |
| 2021 | 90 | 81st in MLB |
| 2022 | 89.1 | 123rd in MLB |
| 2023 | 89.2 | 136th in MLB |
| 2024 | 88.3 | 173rd in MLB |
This table ranks Alex Verdugo’s average exit velocity among MLB players for each season.
Max Exit Velocity
| Year | MPH | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 111.3 | 131st in MLB |
| 2021 | 110.8 | 139th in MLB |
| 2022 | 111 | 137th in MLB |
| 2023 | 112.4 | 97th in MLB |
| 2024 | 110.7 | 142nd in MLB |
This table ranks Alex Verdugo’s max exit velocity among MLB players for each season.
Barrels
| Year | # | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 17 | 196th in MLB |
| 2021 | 33 | 94th in MLB |
| 2022 | 31 | 93rd in MLB |
| 2023 | 23 | 162nd in MLB |
| 2024 | 27 | 124th in MLB |
This table ranks Alex Verdugo’s barrel count among MLB players for each season.
Sprint Speed
| Year | Ft/s | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 27.3 | 277th in MLB |
| 2019 | 27.3 | 254th in MLB |
| 2020 | 27.6 | 141st in MLB |
| 2021 | 27.0 | 305th in MLB |
| 2022 | 26.8 | 366th in MLB |
| 2023 | 27.3 | 299th in MLB |
| 2024 | 26.7 | 385th in MLB |
This table ranks Alex Verdugo’s sprint speed among MLB players for each season.
Max HR Distance
| Year | Ft | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 459 | 47th in MLB |
| 2021 | 446 | 81st in MLB |
| 2022 | 447 | 52nd in MLB |
| 2023 | 419 | 228th in MLB |
| 2024 | 422 | 191st in MLB |
This table ranks Alex Verdugo’s max home run distance among MLB players for each season.
Average HR Trot
| Year | Sec. | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 22.41 | 112th in MLB |
| 2021 | 26.45 | 244th in MLB |
| 2022 | 28.1 | 274th in MLB |
| 2023 | 27.81 | 279th in MLB |
| 2024 | 28.04 | 277th in MLB |
This table ranks Alex Verdugo’s average home run trot time among MLB players for each season.
Outs Above Average
| Year | # | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 89th in MLB |
| 2019 | 3 | 41st in MLB |
| 2020 | 2 | 20th in MLB |
| 2021 | -5 | 201st in MLB |
| 2022 | -4 | 192nd in MLB |
| 2023 | 1 | 65th in MLB |
| 2024 | 2 | 48th in MLB |
This table ranks Alex Verdugo’s Outs Above Average (OAA) among MLB players for each season, reflecting his defensive performance.
Statcast Ranking Summary:
- Solid Exit Velocity: Verdugo consistently ranks around the league average to slightly above average in exit velocity metrics. He’s not among the elite power hitters in terms of pure exit velocity, but he is capable of hitting the ball hard.
- Good Barrel Production: His barrel rankings are generally in the top third to middle of the league, showing a good ability to produce optimally hit balls, although not at an elite rate.
- Below Average Sprint Speed: His sprint speed rankings consistently place him in the lower half of the league, confirming he is not considered a fast runner by MLB standards.
- Defensive Improvement: His Outs Above Average ranking has shown improvement in recent years, suggesting growth in his defensive capabilities, though it has fluctuated throughout his career.
Conclusion: Alex Verdugo at 28 – A Player in His Prime
At 28 years old, Alex Verdugo is positioned as a seasoned veteran in MLB, with a wealth of statistical data to analyze his career. His age places him in the typical prime performance window for baseball players, and his stats reflect a player with consistent hitting ability, a disciplined approach at the plate, and a capacity for hard contact.
While not an elite power hitter in terms of home runs, Verdugo’s strengths lie in his high contact ability, solid expected batting average, and consistent offensive contributions. His year-over-year data suggests a player who is continually refining his approach and maintaining a valuable role in any MLB lineup. As he moves forward in his career, it will be interesting to see how he continues to adapt and leverage his experience and prime age to further enhance his performance.
For fans and analysts alike, understanding how old is Alex Verdugo is just the starting point. Delving into his Statcast data, as we have done here, provides a much richer understanding of his skills, trends, and overall value as a Major League Baseball player.
