Which MLB hitters had the highest and lowest Hard Hit% in 2022?

Thanks to the expansion of analytics in recent years, MLB teams and its fans now have easier access to see figures like pitch spin and exit velocities. Exit velocities have become an important stat in the baseball world, due to what can affectionally known as the “launch angle revolution.” Hard Hit%, in particularly, is one key figure that measures how often MLB players square up and drive balls. Let’s take a look at which MLB hitters had the highest and lowest Hard Hit% rates in 2022.

Related: Which MLB hitters had the most and least line drives in 2022?

Highest Hard Hit%

First, let’s take a look at the top ten qualified hitters in MLB, in terms of Hard Hit%:

1. Aaron Judge (Yankees): 61.8%
2. Yordan Alvarez (Astros): 59.8%
3. Kyle Schwarber (Phillies): 54.4%
4. Teoscar Hernandez (Blue Jays): 53.3%
5. Jose Abreu (White Sox): 51.8%
6. Matt Chapman (Blue Jays): 51.2%
7. Rafael Devers (Red Sox): 50.9%
8. Matt Olson (Braves): 50.9%
9. Austin Riley (Braves): 50.8%
10. Julio Rodriguez (Mariners): 50.7%

There are very few surprises on this set of players. AL MVP Aaron Judge tops the list, finishing his record-breaking 2022 season with a Hard Hit% of 61.8%. Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez was not too far behind of Judge, as the slugger had a Hard Hit% of 59.8%

Other notable names include new Astros first baseman Jose Abreu, two Braves in Matt Olson and Austin Riley, and 2022 AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez.

Lowest Hard Hit%

Now, let’s take a look at the worst ten from 2022%:

1. Tony Kemp (Athletics): 14.9%
2. Steven Kwan (Guardians): 20.8%
3. Adam Frazier (Mariners): 24.5%
4. Myles Straw (Guardians): 26.5%
5. Miguel Rojas (Marlins): 27.1%
6. Jose Altuve (Astros): 29.7%
7. Cesar Hernandez (Nationals): 29.7%
8. J.P. Crawford (Mariners): 29.7%
9. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (Yankees): 30.1%
10. Jeff McNeil (Mets): 30.2%

Athletics infielder Tony Kemp, among qualified hitters, had the lowest Hard Hit% in MLB last season. Kemp’s 14.9% Hard Hit% was nearly six percentage points lower than Steven Kwan. One of the AL Rookie of the Year finalists, Kwan had a 20.8% Hard Hit%.