Pull rates in Major League Baseball have come under the microscope over the past few seasons, thanks to the large and looming presence of the shift. The shift rules have been changed for the 2023 season, a change that could mean more hits for hitters who have a high tendency to pull the ball. With all of that considered, let’s take a look at the hitters from 2022 who had the highest and lowest pull rates.
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Highest Pull% in 2022
Here are the ten qualified hitters in MLB that had the highest pull rates in 2022:
- Daulton Varsho (Diamondbacks): 50.9%
- Patrick Wisdom (Cubs): 48.1%
- Max Muncy (Dodgers): 48%
- Aaron Judge (Yankees): 47.3%
- Carlos Santana (Royals/Mariners): 47%
- Jose Altuve (Astros): 46.9%
- Wilmer Flores (Giants): 46.6%
- Luke Voit (Padres/Nationals): 46.2%
- Anthony Rizzo (Yankees): 45.9%
- Cody Bellinger (Dodgers): 45.8%
A number of these players, like Daulton Varsho, Max Muncy, and returning Yankee Anthony Rizzo, all could benefit from the removal of the shift in 2023.
Varsho had the highest rate in 2022, pulling the ball more than half the time. Cubs infielder Patrick Wisdom, an uber-aggressive hitter for Chicago, finished with the second-highest rate among qualified players. Max Muncy, AL MVP Aaron Judge, and new Pirate Carlos Santana round out the top five.
Lowest Pull% in 2022
Now, let’s look at the hitters with the lowest pull rates:
- Myles Straw (Guardians): 24%
- D.J. LeMahieu (Yankees): 24.8%
- Ke’Bryan Hayes (Pirates): 26%
- Brendan Rodgers (Rockies): 27.4%
- Rafael Devers (Red Sox): 28.2%
- Steven Kwan (Guardians): 28.3%
- Luis Arraez (Twins): 28.4%
- Andrew Benintendi (Royals/Yankees): 29%
- Yandy Diaz (Rays): 29%
- Bo Bichette (Blue Jays): 29.3%
The list includes a collection of talented contact hitters who have a knack for putting the ball in play often. That includes former Yankee Andrew Benintendi, Steven Kwan, D.J. LeMahieu, and 2022 AL batting champion Luis Arraez.
It also includes Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers. Devers remained one of the game’s elite power-hitters in 2022, as the Red Sox third baseman recorded a .521 SLG this past season. And, almost 45%, 44.8% to be exact, of Devers’ batted balls went straight. That figure was well-above the league average of 37.7%.
