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Passed Ball & Wild Pitch Metrics

TruMedia has added several new passed ball & wild pitch metrics to the MLB product as part of the Advanced Analytics package. These metrics are based on a TruMedia model that tags each pitch with a probability of being a passed ball or wild pitch (PBWP) based on pitch results from 2016 to 2022, using the following factors:

  • Pitch location

  • Pitch velocity

  • Pitch type

  • Count

  • Batter hand

  • Pitcher hand

  • Men on or bases empty

  • Swing or take by the batter 

New Stats​

For catchers, these PBWP model-derived metrics are now on the native Catcher Defense report and available to be added to any custom report:

Label Name Description PBWPAA Passed Balls + Wild Pitches Prevented Above Average How many PBWP a catcher prevented, compared to what our model expected the average catcher to allow; positive numbers indicate good defense PBWP+ Passed Balls + Wild Pitches Plus Converts the PBWPAA number to a rate stat, to account for the number of pitches; a player with a PBWP+ of 186% saved 86% more PBWP over expectation PBWPRAA Runs Above Average Converts the PBWPAA number into runs, factoring in the situations of the PBWP saved or allowed CatBlock Catcher Blocks Blocked pitches that crossed the plate at 6 inches or lower with a 5%+ chance of PBWP; particularly useful for finding video

Two related filters are also available, to find pitches with a certain chance of being a PBWP, for either catchers or pitchers.

Filter Name Description Prob of PB/WP Input the desired PBWP likelihood on a 0-to-1 scale (5% = .05, etc.). PB or WP possible Yes = pitches with at least a 5% PBWP chance; No = all other pitches

This example uses the Prob of PB/WP filter on a leaderboard page to show the catcher with the most blocks on pitches with a PBWP of 10% in the 2023 season.

catblock.png

This example uses the PB or WP possible filter on a leaderboard page to show the pitchers with the most curveballs with 5%+ PBWP in the 2023 season.

PBWP possible.png