The first pitch of an at-bat is often a pivotal moment that can define the encounter.
Certain players, such as José Altuve, are lauded for their “first-pitch aggressiveness.” In fact, in January 2018, MLB.com’s Matt Kelly published an article attributing part of Altuve’s 2017 AL MVP season to his aggressive approach at the plate. That year, he swung a league-high 279 times at the first pitch while sporting a healthy .449 batting average when those balls were put in play.
However, for less talented/polished players, that plate approach backfires.
I’d love to tell you the Miami Marlins recently acquired a player who embodies Altuve’s aggressiveness with his success.