Orioles arm strength by Statcast

[Tony-OH]

So statcast finally put out arm strength data and there are some noteworthy achievements by Orioles. 

This is how Statcast comes up with their data: Statcast position player arm strength metrics are available beginning with the 2020 season. Given that there is no rulebook definition of "a throw where the player is trying hard," and many non-competitive lobs are captured, we have elected to take the average of the top portion of a player's throws. Since the demands of each position grouping are different, the averages and qualifiers are different as well.
1B -- average of top 1% of throws -- minimum 100 throws to qualify
2B/SS/3B -- average of top 5% of throws -- minimum 75 throws to qualify
OF -- average of top 10% of throws -- minimum 50 throws to qualify

1. Austin Hays was one of 13 position players (all Outfielders) to throw 100 MPH of more. He had the 11th hardest throw at 100.6 MPH. His 91.8 MPH average was 28th in the league.

2. Ryan Mckenna had the next hardest throw at 96.3 MPH, good for 47th.

3. Surprisingly, Jorge Mateo's fastest throw was only 91.9 MPH, good for 14th best throw among SS. His 86.9 MPH avg was god for 10th place.

4. At 2B, Rougned Odor's top 88.4 MPH throw was only good for 25th place but his 85 MPH average was good for 10th best among 2B.

5. Despite his great OAA numbers and dWAr, Ramon Urias' 87.3 MPH was only 30th among 3B, and his 82 MPH avg but him 29th, making his arm a bit below average. BTW, his 2021 numbers at SS (max 82.2 MPH was 56th of 58 that qualified and his average of 79.9 was 47th) explaining why the Orioles did not want him at SS any longer.

6. In things that surprise no one, Mountcastle max 77.3 MPH throw is 43rd of 54 who qualified and his 73.4 avg is 40th among 54 giving him a well below average arm for a 1B.

7. Mullins 95.2 MPH was just 33rd in the league but his 86 average was 40th among 54 who qualified in CF. 

8.  Santander's 91.7 mph best was just 40th best out of 43 that qualified. His 86.8 MPH avg with just 30th best.

Here are the numbers for the qualified Orioles (100 throws is the lowest is goes) in 2022:

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/arm-strength?year=2022&minThrows=100&pos=&team=110

2021:

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/arm-strength?year=2021&minThrows=100&pos=&team=110

2020: (Take these with a grain of salt)

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/arm-strength?year=2020&minThrows=100&pos=&team=110

[Moose Milligan]

Does Hays wanna convert to pitching?  Maybe then we wouldn't have to watch him flail away at sliders all summer.

The one surprise here for me is Urias, I would have thought he would be closer to the top rather than closer to the bottom.  I don't think he has a hose but I always figured his arm was really good.  

[ChuckS]

I can see lots of problems with deriving much from the averages. Multiple factors dictate how much steam a guy might put on each throw and the outfielders get running starts.  If an infielder is throwing an upper 80's fastball to first base on a regular basis, I'd say that's pretty good. 

Urias may not have the best arm but from what I've seen he rarely short hops the first baseman.  He's accurate and I think his other fielding metrics support that he has plenty of arm for the position. 

This stuff is interesting to see, nonetheless. 

[jdwilde1]

1 hour ago, ChuckS said:

Urias may not have the best arm but from what I've seen he rarely short hops the first baseman.  He's accurate and I think his other fielding metrics support that he has plenty of arm for the in addition to your points above

In addition to your points above, Urias appears to have a quick release on his throws from third.  Kind of like JJ Hardy - just seems to be really quick getting the throw off. I know that pop-time is measured for catchers, but is the release time for other fielders measured? And I have no clue what the delta would be for a fast/average/slow release time; maybe .2 seconds?  

[Frobby]

As I mentioned in another thread, I’m not sure I trust any measure of arm strength that says there are 132 players in MLB with an arm stronger than Manny Machado’s.   

[eddie83]

3 minutes ago, Frobby said:

As I mentioned in another thread, I’m not sure I trust any measure of arm strength that says there are 132 players in MLB with an arm stronger than Manny Machado’s.   

What is the breakdown by position? Common sense says 2nd would be lower than SS. How does SS and 3rd rank? 

[Frobby]

1 hour ago, ChuckS said:

I can see lots of problems with deriving much from the averages. Multiple factors dictate how much steam a guy might put on each throw and the outfielders get running starts.  If an infielder is throwing an upper 80's fastball to first base on a regular basis, I'd say that's pretty good. 

Urias may not have the best arm but from what I've seen he rarely short hops the first baseman.  He's accurate and I think his other fielding metrics support that he has plenty of arm for the position. 

This stuff is interesting to see, nonetheless. 

I definitely agree that outfielders vs. infielders are in different positions when they make throws, their release points are different, etc.   The position by position comparisons are probably a lot more valid than comparing an outfielder to an infielder.   Even so, I’m a little dubious about this being a good measure of arm strength.  It’s better than nothing, I guess.  

[Frobby]

9 minutes ago, eddie83 said:

What is the breakdown by position? Common sense says 2nd would be lower than SS. How does SS and 3rd rank? 

Well, you can look for yourself, but Manny supposedly has the 11th strongest arm among 3B, at 86.4 mph compared to league average 85.7.   His max velocity throw off 92.4 is below such luminaries as Tyler Nevin at 93.3.  
 

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/arm-strength?year=2022&minThrows=100&pos=arm_3b&team=&sortColumn=max_arm_strength&sortDirection=desc.  Now, maybe Manny has lost some arm strength since he played fir us, but I have a hard time believing that Manny’s arm is in the middle tier of 3B.

 

Edited October 4, 2022 by Frobby

[eddie83]

So SS is only 0.2 mph harder than 3rd. About the same. 
 

In general I would think a SS has more opportunities to “let it go” than 3rd. 

[eddie83]

1 minute ago, Frobby said:

Well, you can look for yourself, but Manny supposedly has the 11th strongest arm among 3B, at 86.4 mph compared to league average 85.7.   His max velocity throw off 92.4 is below such luminaries as Tyler Nevin at 93.3.  
 

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/arm-strength?year=2022&minThrows=100&pos=arm_3b&team=&sortColumn=max_arm_strength&sortDirection=desc.  Now, maybe Manny has lost some arm strength since he played fir us, but I have a hard time believing that Manny’s arm is in the middle tier of 3B.

 

Thanks.

 

I was doing something while I typed. I should had just looked. 

[ChuckS]

1 hour ago, eddie83 said:

So SS is only 0.2 mph harder than 3rd. About the same. 
 

In general I would think a SS has more opportunities to “let it go” than 3rd. 

I'm not sure about that.  Third basemen have more opportunity to plant their feet, not needing to get rid of the ball as quickly. 

[eddie83]

4 minutes ago, ChuckS said:

I'm not sure about that.  Third basemen have more opportunity to plant their feet, not needing to get rid of the ball as quickly. 

Yeah but you can look at that both ways with what you said in the second part. There is more urgency at SS, turning two and the throw from hole. 
 

That said they can take their time on a smash and fire. 
 

Interesting topic. 

[MarCakes21]

Anyone have this for Vavra?  Looks like he didn't make the minimum 50 throw cutoff.  Is there minor league data available?  Really wondering if his arm is good enough to fill in at 3B or RF for an off day or thats a non starter.  He did play SS in College.

[PHRESH]

I could have sworn there was a game in which Mateo threw to 1B at almost 96-100mph. I thought I had heard about it because Oneill Cruz had set the season record or something sometime after that. Perhaps my memory is fading as I get older.... 

[Aristotelian]

Nice to see that improvement by Mullins confirmed.