Blast (Bat Tracking)
Also known as: blast in statcast, statcast blast, blasts, blast rate, blast swing, blasts per swing, what counts as a blast
A blast is a Statcast bat-tracking term for a swing that is both fast and squared up. A swing counts as a blast when its squared-up percentage times 100, plus its bat speed in mph, is at least 164. It rewards hitters who combine bat speed with solid contact.
Statcast bat-tracking data on Baseball Savant goes back to the second half of the 2023 season. A swing is squared up when its exit velocity is at least 80 percent of the most it could have been, given the bat speed and pitch speed. A blast adds a speed test on top of that.
The formula balances the two parts. A simple shortcut is that squared-up percentage and bat speed must average at least 82. At 84 percent squared up, a hitter needs at least 80 mph of bat speed. A very squared-up ball can count at a lower bat speed, and a very fast swing needs a little less squaring.
Statcast reports blasts per swing and per contact. The data come from stadium tracking of pro games. Amateur hitters can apply the same idea with a bat sensor and a ball tracker. Train bat speed and contact quality together rather than one at the cost of the other.
Tips by skill level
Think of a blast as a hard swing that also hits the ball flush. Work on both parts, not just one.
Track squared-up rate and bat speed together on a sensor and ball tracker. Check whether gains in one are costing you the other.
Example
A big-league hitter squares up a fastball at 93 percent of its possible exit velocity with an 83 mph swing. That adds up to more than 164, so Statcast logs it as a blast. A 92 percent squared-up swing at 71 mph falls short.
Why it matters
Speed without contact misses, and contact without speed lacks damage. Blasts show how often a hitter brings both to the same swing.
Common mistakes
- Treating a blast as the same thing as a barrel
- Chasing bat speed while contact quality falls
- Comparing youth sensor numbers directly with Statcast
- Reading blast rate from too few swings
Frequently asked questions
What is a blast in Statcast?
A blast is a swing that is both fast and squared up. Statcast counts it when squared-up percentage times 100, plus bat speed in mph, reaches at least 164.
How is a blast calculated?
Add the swing's squared-up percentage, times 100, to its bat speed in mph. If the total is 164 or more, it is a blast. At 84 percent squared up, that takes at least 80 mph.
What is blast rate in baseball?
It is the share of a hitter's swings, or of his contact, that counts as a blast. Statcast reports both versions on Baseball Savant.
Sources
Related terms
- Bat SpeedBat speed is how fast the barrel is moving at contact, in mph. It contributes to exit velocity alongside bat path and where on the barrel you make contact.
- Squared-Up RateSquared-up rate measures how close exit velocity comes to the theoretical max for that swing and pitch. It tracks contact precision, not raw bat speed.
- Fast-Swing RateFast-swing rate is the share of a hitter's swings with a bat speed of 75 mph or more. Statcast picked 75 mph because that is about where production per swing reaches league average. It shows how often a hitter swings hard, not just how hard their fastest swing is.
- Exit Velocity (EV)Exit velocity is how fast the ball comes off the bat, in mph. It is a ceiling metric — the harder you hit it, the farther it can go.
- BarrelA barrel is a batted ball with both high exit velocity and an optimal launch angle. That combination is the one most likely to produce extra-base hits.
Related guides & benchmarks
Work on the cause
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