26th Round - Gage Burland - RHP (East Valley HS, WA)

Wait, since when is money no object? It remains to be seen what the budget constraints are going to be with the new ownership, but if Santander is projected to put up 3.0 WAR for $20 million and his replacement (Kjerstad/Cowser/Stowers...) can put up 2.5 WAR for less than a million then that will be factored in.  The goal will never be about being better than the other 29 teams in a payroll vacuum.

I think you have a good understanding and I assume you’ve read Ted Williams Science of Hitting.  It’s all about lining up planes of pitch and bat.  Historically with sinkers and low strikes a higher attack angle played and was more in alignment with pitch plane.  In today’s game of spin and high zone fastball an uppercut swing gives you minimal chance and results in top spin grounders and swing & miss. 

I'll bow to your expertise even if it seems unlikely to my laymen understanding. 

Actually it will.  As you noted.  MLB pitch plane is like 2-3 degrees.  The more your attack angle increased the more you’re hitting a top spin tennis return.  

My point was an overly uppercut swing isn't going to result in that low a launch angle.  Not unless he is somehow consistently topping the pitches, which seems pretty unlikely.

It’s a known that teams don’t completely trust other teams systems.  There is no regulation.  

There are issue with readings, just like everything else in life. It’s not perfect.  I’ve seen thousands of balls put in play using tech and can tell you that flat out there are mistakes.    Maintenance, calibration, location of hardware all in play.