Thanks to Statcast data tracking, we now have a number of new ways to analyze and critique Major League Baseball players. One stat that MLB fans might be interested in is chase rate, which indicates how much a hitter tends to swing at a pitch out of the zone. For those who are interested in just that, here’s a look at the MLB hitters with the highest and lowest chase rates from the 2023 season.
Related: When will the 2024 MLB season begin?
The highest MLB chase rates in 2023
Let’s start off with the ten highest chase rates in MLB in 2023 among qualified hitters:
| Name | Team | Chase% |
|---|---|---|
| Salvador Perez | Royals | 47.0% |
| Javier Baez | Tigers | 44.0% |
| Eddie Rosario | Braves | 43.5% |
| Ezequiel Tovar | Rockies | 42.0% |
| Nick Castellanos | Phillies | 41.0% |
| Luis Robert Jr. | White Sox | 40.5% |
| Andres Gimenez | Guardians | 40.0% |
| Amed Rosario | Guardians/Dodgers | 39.4% |
| Jake Burger | White Sox/Marlins | 38.5% |
| Michael Harris II | Braves | 38.1% |
Some of the names that fans would expect to be here are in fact on this list. Well-known chaser Javier Baez posted the second-highest Chase% rate in 2023, behind Royals catcher Salvador Perez. Outfielder Eddie Rosario, who recorded a nice bounce-back season with the Braves in 2023, rounded out the top three.
Out of the ten players with the highest MLB chase rates in 2023, five — Perez, Rosario, Nick Castellanos, Luis Robert Jr., and Jake Burger — had at least 20 home runs on the season.
The lowest MLB chase rates in 2023
Now, here’s a look at the ten players with the lowest Chase% rates in 2023:
| Name | Team | Chase% |
|---|---|---|
| Juan Soto | Padres | 16.6% |
| Mookie Betts | Dodgers | 16.6% |
| Lars Nootbaar | Cardinals | 17.1% |
| LaMonte Wade Jr. | Giants | 17.9% |
| Jack Suwinski | Pirates | 18.2% |
| Alex Bregman | Astros | 18.6% |
| J.P. Crawford | Mariners | 18.6% |
| Matt Chapman | Blue Jays | 18.9% |
| Jonathan India | Reds | 19.6% |
| Yandy Diaz | Rays | 19.7% |
Out of all the players that qualified for this list, Juan Soto and Mookie Betts own the lowest chase rates in MLB this season at 16.6%. Given Soto’s penchant for walks — he had a league-high 132 base on balls on the year — and Betts’ dominance at the plate, it’s not a shock to see both on this list.
There are a few other notable names among the players with the lowest MLB chase rates in 2023. Yandy Diaz, who’s in the top ten in the Majors in on-base percentage alongside Soto and Betts, also made the cut. J.P. Crawford and Alex Bregman, two of the top ten in the Majors this season in total walks, are also here.
All stats as of October 2, 2023. Only regular season stats have been taken into account.