The MVP Machine

1. The "Betterball" Revolution: From Acquiring Talent to Creating It

"I think the idea that analytics is leveling the field is completely backwards,” Fast says. “Analytics is tilting the field far beyond how it has ever been tilted before.”

Beyond Moneyball. Baseball is undergoing a profound transformation, moving beyond the "Moneyball" era of identifying undervalued talent to a new phase focused on actively developing and enhancing players. This "Betterball" revolution is driven by a growth mindset, rejecting the old belief that talent is fixed and instead asserting that every aspect of a player's performance can be improved. Players like Max Muncy, Nathan Eovaldi, and Rich Hill, once considered marginal, have achieved astonishing turnarounds by embracing new methods.

Technology's role. The advent of advanced tracking technologies like Statcast, PITCHf/x, and TrackMan has made this revolution possible. These systems capture unprecedented data on pitch velocity, spin rate, batted ball trajectory, and player movement, allowing progressive players and teams to dissect performance with incredible depth. This objective data provides insights into mechanics and strategies that were previously unknowable, enabling systematic improvements.

Limitless potential. This shift in philosophy and technology is overturning long-held beliefs about the "ceilings" of athletic potential. More and more players are demonstrating that they can evolve from "non-guys" to "guy-guys," suggesting that the limits of human performance in baseball are far higher than previously imagined. This drive to reconceptualize talent is changing coaching staffs, scouting departments, and front offices, and ultimately determining who wins championships.

2. Trevor Bauer: The Blueprint for Data-Driven Player Transformation

“I wasn’t a natural-born athlete,” Bauer told a Sports Illustrated reporter in August 2011. “I’m not that strong. I’m not fast. I’m not explosive. I can’t jump.” So how was he selected third overall in the major-league draft? “I was made.”

Grit over talent. Trevor Bauer embodies the "growth mindset" and "grit" that defines the new era of player development. Despite claiming a lack of natural athleticism, Bauer has meticulously engineered himself into an elite pitcher through relentless, unconventional training and a "first principles" approach to understanding pitching. His journey challenges the notion that innate talent is the sole determinant of success.

Unorthodox methods. Bauer's training regimen, often developed with his father, includes:

• Throwing weighted balls
• Extensive long toss and pulldowns
• Using a distinctive "shoulder tube" for warm-ups
• Questioning traditional coaching advice and seeking scientific explanations

These methods, initially met with ridicule and resistance from traditional baseball circles, were crucial to his early velocity gains and skill acquisition.

Challenging authority. Bauer's stubbornness and refusal to blindly accept conventional wisdom have often created friction with coaches and teammates. However, this same independent spirit has allowed him to experiment, fail, and learn at an accelerated pace, ultimately leading to breakthroughs in pitch design and mechanics. His belief that "good information can come from any environment, any look" underscores his commitment to objective truth over tradition.

3. The Rise of Independent Labs and "First Principles" Training

“There are a whole host of things that can be done that just haven’t been done,” he says. “That’s something I’m really passionate about that will be remembered forever… if we make those changes."

Driveline's genesis. Kyle Boddy, a former college dropout and self-taught biomechanist, founded Driveline Baseball with a revolutionary vision: to systematically improve pitchers by applying scientific principles and data. Frustrated by the lack of objective methodology in traditional player development, Boddy built his own biomechanics lab on a budget, teaching himself linear algebra to understand 3D analysis.

Questioning everything. Boddy's "first principles" approach involved boiling down velocity creation and pitch movement to fundamental physics, rather than copying existing methods. He challenged conventional wisdom, such as the dangers of weighted balls or the ineffectiveness of low-intent catch. His early experiments with weighted balls and high-speed video yielded remarkable velocity gains in amateur pitchers, proving his theories.

Bauer's new home. Driveline became Trevor Bauer's off-season headquarters, where he found a like-minded partner in Boddy. Their collaboration led to Bauer's mechanical overhaul in 2013, which dramatically increased his fastball velocity and improved his body's efficiency. This partnership demonstrated the power of combining a player's obsessive drive with cutting-edge, data-driven training from outside the traditional professional baseball system.

4. The Fly-Ball Revolution: Reimagining Hitting for Power

“I was thinking, I’m just going to try and catch the ball as far out as I can in batting practice,” Turner says.

A new hitting paradigm. The "fly-ball revolution" fundamentally changed how hitters approach the plate, shifting from the traditional "swing down" mentality to an "uppercut" swing designed to elevate the ball. This movement was spearheaded by independent hitting instructors like Doug Latta, who taught hitters to:

• Take a large stride towards the pitcher
• Make contact out in front of the plate
• Finish with a high follow-through

These adjustments optimize bat path to match the downward plane of pitches, increasing the likelihood of powerful, elevated contact.

Justin Turner's transformation. Justin Turner, a utility infielder with limited power, became a poster child for this revolution. After being non-tendered by the Mets, he trained with Latta, taking thousands of swings to rewire his muscle memory. His ground-ball rate plummeted, and his home run totals soared, transforming him into an MVP-caliber hitter. This success inspired other players, including Daniel Murphy and Marlon Byrd, to adopt similar approaches.

Data validation. Statcast, introduced in 2015, provided objective data on launch angle and exit velocity, validating the fly-ball philosophy. The data clearly showed that balls hit in the air with optimal launch angles (10-30 degrees) yielded significantly higher batting averages and slugging percentages. This evidence, combined with the success of players like Turner and Mookie Betts, rapidly spread the "elevate and celebrate" mantra throughout baseball, even influencing MLB hitting coaches.

5. Conduits: Bridging the Gap Between Data and the Dugout

“Unless that message gets translated where a guy speaks both languages, it usually ends up falling on deaf ears. It can be the perfect game plan laid out by the front office, but if it doesn’t run through one of those conduits, it tends to, one, not be understood, or two, not be implemented at all or maybe even spurned altogether.”

The missing link. The early analytics movement struggled to translate complex data into actionable advice for players and coaches, creating a divide between "numbers nerds" and "baseball men." The solution emerged in "conduits"—individuals, often former players with analytical acumen, who could speak both languages and bridge this gap. Brian Bannister, a former MLB pitcher who immersed himself in sabermetrics, became a pioneering conduit for the Red Sox.

Rich Hill's resurrection. Bannister's most dramatic success was the reinvention of Rich Hill. Recognizing Hill's high-spin curveball through TrackMan data, Bannister convinced the veteran pitcher to drastically increase its usage and vary its shape, speed, and location. This data-driven intervention, combined with Hill's willingness to adapt, transformed him from an independent league castoff into an elite MLB starter, proving the power of the conduit role.

Spreading the message. Conduits like Bannister use technology (Edgertronic, KinaTrax, Rapsodo) to provide personalized, data-backed insights directly to players, often in informal "coffee-shop environments." They debunk outdated pitching concepts and promote strategies like elevated fastballs and increased breaking ball usage, which are now league-wide trends. This role is so critical that other teams are rapidly hiring their own conduits, often recently retired players who understand the game from both an on-field and analytical perspective.

6. The Astros' Machine: Quantifying and Optimizing Every Aspect of Performance

“Working for Jeff, there is always a culture of innovation and searching for the next thing that could perhaps improve us,” Mejdal says. “There’s no problem with bad ideas and false alarms. And so that culture probably led us to focus on player development.”

Extreme rebuild, extreme development. The Houston Astros, under GM Jeff Luhnow, underwent an unprecedented rebuild, intentionally losing to stockpile draft picks and resources. This "growth mindset" extended to player development, where they built a self-sustaining machine for creating talent. Their philosophy shifted from "out of quantity comes quality" to "out of quantification comes quality," leveraging data to optimize every facet of performance.

Early successes and lessons. The Astros' early developmental triumphs included:

• Jason Castro: improved pitch-framing through video review.
• Jose Altuve: swing overhaul to elevate the ball, leading to an MVP season.
• Collin McHugh: ditching his sinker for a high-spin curveball.
  However, failures like releasing J.D. Martinez and the Mark Appel bust highlighted the need for better information transfer and a more holistic approach to player support.

Technological dominance and cultural shift. The Astros invested heavily in staff and technology, pioneering roles like "development coach" and deploying a suite of tools including Catapult, K-Vest, 4D Motion, and Edgertronic cameras across their entire system. This created a culture of continuous learning and data integration, where coaches and analysts collaborated closely. Their success in transforming pitchers like Ryan Pressly, Charlie Morton, and Gerrit Cole, by optimizing pitch mixes and leveraging spin, solidified their reputation as the league's developmental leader.

7. SpinGate and the Ethics of Performance Enhancement

“pine tar is more of a competitive advantage in a given game than steroids.”

The spin rate mystery. The dramatic increase in spin rates among certain pitchers, particularly those on the Houston Astros, sparked "SpinGate"—a controversy largely played out on Twitter. Trevor Bauer and Kyle Boddy publicly accused pitchers like Gerrit Cole of using sticky substances to enhance their grip, thereby increasing spin and pitch movement. This debate highlighted the significant impact of spin on pitch effectiveness and the competitive advantage it confers.

Bauer's experiment. Bauer himself conducted an in-game experiment, showing a temporary, dramatic spike in his fastball spin rate for one inning, which he refused to comment on, implicitly confirming the efficacy of sticky substances. Driveline's own tests with Firm Grip and Pelican Grip Dip demonstrated immediate and substantial increases in spin rate, even causing baseball leather to adhere to pitchers' fingers.

MLB's dilemma. While MLB Rule 6.02(c) prohibits applying foreign substances to the ball, the rule is rarely enforced due to its difficulty and the widespread belief that many pitchers use such aids. This "mutually assured sticky destruction" creates an ethical gray area, where players who choose not to use sticky substances feel they are at a competitive disadvantage. The controversy underscores how performance-enhancing data can reveal both legitimate developmental gains and potentially illicit advantages.

8. Amateur Ball's Awakening: Technology Democratizes Development

“My goal every game was to get in the green,” Harris says. “And then once I started noticing that I was in the green, I started noticing I was getting more hits.”

College as a lab. The player development revolution is extending beyond professional baseball into amateur ranks, particularly at the collegiate level. Schools like the University of Missouri, facing disadvantages in recruiting, have embraced technology like TrackMan to become developmental laboratories. This allows them to:

• Quantify and improve plate discipline (e.g., Trey Harris's "green" zones).
• Optimize launch angles and exit velocities.
• Provide data-rich feedback to players.

This approach helps amateur athletes improve and prepares them for the data-intensive environment of professional baseball.

Personalized feedback. TrackMan and other tools provide objective, immediate feedback that was previously unavailable, allowing players to understand and correct their flaws more effectively than traditional coaching cues. Trey Harris, once a struggling hitter, transformed his career by using TrackMan to diagnose his swing issues and gamify his plate discipline, leading to significant increases in OBP and home runs.

Brain drain and expansion. The success of these college programs has led to a "brain drain," with MLB teams poaching analytically savvy college coaches and analysts. This trend is further democratizing advanced development, as more high schools and even youth leagues begin to adopt similar technologies. While concerns about "pay-to-play" and early specialization exist, objective measurements are fueling competitiveness and providing new ways to engage young athletes in the game.

9. Beyond Physical: The "Soft Factors" of Mental and Holistic Growth

“People are much more open to the softer side of things,” he says. “They understand better that it’s not necessarily about mental toughness or confidence as much as it is about self-compassion and mindfulness and being in the present moment so that you can execute the techniques that you’ve practiced.”

Holistic development. As technology optimizes physical performance, teams are increasingly focusing on "soft factors"—mental, emotional, and cultural aspects—to unlock a player's full potential. Sports psychologists, once viewed with skepticism, are now commonplace, teaching mindfulness, relaxation, and confidence-building techniques. The Cubs' Mental Skills Program, for example, encourages players to openly discuss their struggles, fostering a culture of vulnerability and self-compassion.

Addressing off-field challenges. For international players, the journey through the minors involves significant cultural and linguistic hurdles. Programs like the Astros' player education, led by Doris Gonzalez, provide:

• ESL instruction
• Cultural acclimation
• Financial literacy
• Mentorship and emotional support

By alleviating these off-field stressors, teams enable players to focus more effectively on their on-field development, proving that holistic support is as crucial as high-tech training.

Ethical considerations. The rise of wearable technology and off-field monitoring (e.g., sleep trackers) raises privacy concerns. While these tools can aid in recovery and injury prevention, they also collect sensitive data that could potentially be used against players in contract negotiations or roster decisions. The tension between optimizing performance and protecting player privacy is a growing challenge that requires careful navigation and robust collective bargaining.

10. The Paradox of Progress: Unprecedented Skill Meets New Challenges

“The game’s gotten harder.… The next generation’s here, and they’re really good.”

Rising tide of talent. MLB players are improving at one of the most rapid rates in history, driven by advanced player development. This has led to a significant youth movement, with younger players contributing more WAR than ever before. The "quality of competition" is continuously rising, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in baseball.

Financial instability. This unprecedented skill growth is destabilizing baseball's compensation structure. Teams can now develop elite, cost-controlled talent internally, reducing their reliance on expensive free agents. This has contributed to a stagnant free-agent market and growing labor tensions, as players seek to be compensated earlier in their careers for their enhanced value.

Aesthetic concerns. The analytical focus on "three true outcomes" (strikeouts, walks, home runs) has led to a dramatic increase in strikeouts, which now outnumber hits. While competitively optimal, this trend raises aesthetic concerns for fans who prefer more balls in play. MLB is grappling with this "Paradox of Progress," exploring rule changes to balance competitive efficiency with fan entertainment.

The limitless frontier. Despite these challenges, the future of player development remains boundless. New technologies like virtual reality and neuroimaging promise even earlier and more precise interventions, potentially identifying and nurturing talent from childhood. The "island of knowledge" in baseball is expanding rapidly, but the "ocean of ignorance" still holds vast potential for human improvement, both on and off the field.

Last updated: January 23, 2026