Two-Year Minor League Park Factors And Team Run Contexts For 2021-22
Image credit: Las Vegas Ballpark (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Ballpark effects loom large in the evaluation of minor league players.
Whereas big leaguers play in a more standardized array of MLB venues and run environments with a stable competition level, the same is not true for minor leaguers.
In the minors, playing conditions vary widely from league to league. The classic example can be found at Low-A, where last season the average Florida State League team scored 4.62 runs per nine innings and the average California League team scored 6.07, making them the lowest- and highest-scoring leagues in affiliated baseball.
But you wouldn’t necessarily know that from examining park factors. Fort Myers in the FSL and San Jose in the Cal League had neutral park factors last season—meaning that those teams scored runs as often at home as they did on the road. It’s just that neutral means something entirely different in each league.
Fort Myers games in the FSL averaged about nine runs scored plus allowed. San Jose games in the Cal League saw nearly 10.25. Over a 130-game season that equates to a difference of more than 162 runs.
So park factors are great for placing players’ performance in a league context, but they’re terrible at placing leagues in context. To get a handle on that, I use something called team run context (TRC).
Team run context is simply the league rate for runs scored per nine innings adjusted by the team park factor for runs scored. This represents the average R/9 rate of a team’s games, counting home and road results. All 120 parks can then be ranked and assigned percentile scores (TRC %tile).
Because baseball has had stability in the minor leagues the past two seasons in terms of affiliations, levels, leagues and parks, I combined both 2021 and 2022 data to smooth out the volatility of smaller samples. Please note that the 2021 season started a month late and does not include April data.
The end result is that the Athletics’ Triple-A Las Vegas affiliate has a 6.66 TRC in its games, the highest rate in the minor leagues and a higher factor than Coors Field—by more than a run. The Braves’ Double-A Mississippi affiliate is at the other end of the spectrum with a 4.55 TRC.
Note that the R Mult column is the two-year park factor multiplier that can be applied at the league level. This value is a comparison of home and road data in a given league. It does not represent an overall minor league context.
Minor League Team Run Context • 2021-22 Combined
Rk | Team | Org | Lvl | Lge | R Mult | TRC | TRC %tile |
1 | Las Vegas | OAK | AAA | PCL | 1.123 | 6.66 | 100% |
2 | El Paso | SD | AAA | PCL | 1.117 | 6.62 | 99% |
3 | Albuquerque | COL | AAA | PCL | 1.081 | 6.41 | 98% |
4 | Amarillo | ARI | AA | TL | 1.174 | 6.38 | 97% |
5 | Salt Lake | LAA | AAA | PCL | 1.045 | 6.19 | 97% |
6 | Stockton | OAK | LoA | CAL | 1.026 | 6.10 | 96% |
7 | Reno | ARI | AAA | PCL | 1.029 | 6.09 | 95% |
8 | Rancho Cucamonga | LAD | LoA | CAL | 1.019 | 6.05 | 94% |
9 | Inland Empire | LAA | LoA | CAL | 1.017 | 6.04 | 93% |
10 | Fresno | COL | LoA | CAL | 1.015 | 6.03 | 92% |
11 | Asheville | HOU | HiA | SAL | 1.155 | 6.01 | 92% |
12 | Lake Elsinore | SD | LoA | CAL | 0.999 | 5.93 | 91% |
13 | San Jose | SF | LoA | CAL | 0.996 | 5.91 | 90% |
14 | Visalia | ARI | LoA | CAL | 0.981 | 5.82 | 89% |
15 | Spokane | COL | HiA | NWL | 1.129 | 5.81 | 88% |
16 | Carolina | MIL | LoA | CAR | 1.086 | 5.78 | 87% |
17 | Springfield | STL | AA | TL | 1.063 | 5.77 | 87% |
18 | Columbia | KC | LoA | CAR | 1.081 | 5.75 | 86% |
19 | Everett | SEA | HiA | NWL | 1.115 | 5.73 | 85% |
20 | Modesto | SEA | LoA | CAL | 0.964 | 5.73 | 84% |
21 | Kannapolis | CWS | LoA | CAR | 1.073 | 5.70 | 83% |
22 | Round Rock | TEX | AAA | PCL | 0.961 | 5.69 | 82% |
23 | Wichita | MIN | AA | TL | 1.048 | 5.69 | 82% |
24 | Greensboro | PIT | HiA | SAL | 1.093 | 5.69 | 81% |
25 | Lansing | OAK | HiA | MWL | 1.129 | 5.61 | 80% |
26 | Oklahoma City | LAD | AAA | PCL | 0.947 | 5.61 | 79% |
27 | Tacoma | SEA | AAA | PCL | 0.934 | 5.54 | 78% |
28 | Charlotte | CWS | AAA | IL | 1.084 | 5.52 | 77% |
29 | Frisco | TEX | AA | TL | 1.003 | 5.43 | 76% |
30 | Salem | BOS | LoA | CAR | 1.019 | 5.42 | 76% |
31 | Durham | TB | AAA | IL | 1.065 | 5.42 | 75% |
32 | Bowie | BAL | AA | EL | 1.105 | 5.41 | 74% |
33 | NW Arkansas | KC | AA | TL | 0.992 | 5.40 | 73% |
34 | Sacramento | SF | AAA | PCL | 0.906 | 5.37 | 72% |
35 | Fredericksburg | WSH | LoA | CAR | 1.009 | 5.37 | 71% |
36 | Lynchburg | CLE | LoA | CAR | 1.008 | 5.37 | 71% |
37 | St. Lucie | NYM | LoA | FSL | 1.077 | 5.37 | 70% |
38 | Iowa | CHC | AAA | IL | 1.050 | 5.35 | 69% |
39 | Chattanooga | CIN | AA | SL | 1.077 | 5.34 | 68% |
40 | Corpus Christi | HOU | AA | TL | 0.980 | 5.33 | 67% |
41 | Jersey Shore | PHI | HiA | SAL | 1.017 | 5.29 | 66% |
42 | Midland | OAK | AA | TL | 0.974 | 5.29 | 66% |
43 | Sugar Land | HOU | AAA | PCL | 0.893 | 5.29 | 65% |
44 | Tulsa | LAD | AA | TL | 0.976 | 5.29 | 64% |
45 | Charleston | TB | LoA | CAR | 0.987 | 5.25 | 63% |
46 | Hudson Valley | NYY | HiA | SAL | 1.000 | 5.21 | 62% |
47 | Omaha | KC | AAA | IL | 1.022 | 5.21 | 61% |
48 | Memphis | STL | AAA | IL | 1.022 | 5.21 | 61% |
49 | Louisville | CIN | AAA | IL | 1.021 | 5.20 | 60% |
50 | Greenville | BOS | HiA | SAL | 0.997 | 5.19 | 59% |
51 | Hickory | TEX | HiA | SAL | 0.995 | 5.18 | 58% |
52 | Augusta | ATL | LoA | CAR | 0.973 | 5.17 | 57% |
53 | Lehigh Valley | PHI | AAA | IL | 1.013 | 5.16 | 56% |
54 | Syracuse | NYM | AAA | IL | 1.013 | 5.16 | 55% |
55 | Rochester | WSH | AAA | IL | 1.011 | 5.16 | 55% |
56 | Worcester | BOS | AAA | IL | 1.011 | 5.15 | 54% |
57 | Biloxi | MIL | AA | SL | 1.034 | 5.14 | 53% |
58 | Delmarva | BAL | LoA | CAR | 0.962 | 5.12 | 52% |
59 | St. Paul | MIN | AAA | IL | 1.004 | 5.11 | 51% |
60 | Clearwater | PHI | LoA | FSL | 1.022 | 5.10 | 50% |
61 | Columbus | CLE | AAA | IL | 1.002 | 5.10 | 50% |
62 | Bradenton | PIT | LoA | FSL | 1.021 | 5.09 | 49% |
63 | Down East | TEX | LoA | CAR | 0.956 | 5.09 | 48% |
64 | Lake County | CLE | HiA | MWL | 1.023 | 5.09 | 47% |
65 | Bowling Green | TB | HiA | SAL | 0.977 | 5.09 | 46% |
66 | Wilmington | WSH | HiA | SAL | 0.977 | 5.09 | 45% |
67 | Dayton | CIN | HiA | MWL | 1.023 | 5.08 | 45% |
68 | Fayetteville | HOU | LoA | CAR | 0.953 | 5.07 | 44% |
69 | Wisconsin | MIL | HiA | MWL | 1.018 | 5.06 | 43% |
70 | Tennessee | CHC | AA | SL | 1.018 | 5.06 | 42% |
71 | Winston-Salem | CWS | HiA | SAL | 0.973 | 5.06 | 41% |
72 | South Bend | CHC | HiA | MWL | 1.016 | 5.05 | 40% |
73 | Reading | PHI | AA | EL | 1.030 | 5.05 | 39% |
74 | Montgomery | TB | AA | SL | 1.016 | 5.04 | 39% |
75 | Aberdeen | BAL | HiA | SAL | 0.967 | 5.03 | 38% |
76 | Eugene | SF | HiA | NWL | 0.975 | 5.02 | 37% |
77 | Altoona | PIT | AA | EL | 1.025 | 5.02 | 36% |
78 | Daytona | CIN | LoA | FSL | 1.010 | 5.01 | 35% |
79 | Tampa | NYY | LoA | FSL | 1.003 | 5.00 | 34% |
80 | Buffalo | TOR | AAA | IL | 0.982 | 4.99 | 34% |
81 | Quad Cities | KC | HiA | MWL | 1.003 | 4.98 | 33% |
82 | Beloit | MIA | HiA | MWL | 0.998 | 4.98 | 32% |
83 | Portland | BOS | AA | EL | 1.018 | 4.98 | 31% |
84 | Norfolk | BAL | AAA | IL | 0.975 | 4.97 | 30% |
85 | Dunedin | TOR | LoA | FSL | 1.001 | 4.96 | 29% |
86 | Myrtle Beach | CHC | LoA | CAR | 0.931 | 4.96 | 29% |
87 | Rocket City | LAA | AA | SL | 0.991 | 4.94 | 28% |
88 | Gwinnett | ATL | AAA | IL | 0.969 | 4.93 | 27% |
89 | San Antonio | SD | AA | TL | 0.911 | 4.93 | 26% |
90 | Fort Myers | MIN | LoA | FSL | 0.993 | 4.93 | 25% |
91 | Indianapolis | PIT | AAA | IL | 0.966 | 4.92 | 24% |
92 | Hillsboro | ARI | HiA | NWL | 0.956 | 4.91 | 24% |
93 | Cedar Rapids | MIN | HiA | MWL | 0.984 | 4.89 | 23% |
94 | Pensacola | MIA | AA | SL | 0.982 | 4.89 | 22% |
95 | Akron | CLE | AA | EL | 0.996 | 4.87 | 21% |
96 | Birmingham | CWS | AA | SL | 0.980 | 4.87 | 20% |
97 | Toledo | DET | AAA | IL | 0.957 | 4.87 | 19% |
98 | Arkansas | SEA | AA | TL | 0.897 | 4.87 | 18% |
99 | Scranton/W-B | NYY | AAA | IL | 0.953 | 4.86 | 18% |
100 | Lakeland | DET | LoA | FSL | 0.977 | 4.86 | 17% |
101 | Jacksonville | MIA | AAA | IL | 0.952 | 4.85 | 16% |
102 | Great Lakes | LAD | HiA | MWL | 0.974 | 4.84 | 15% |
103 | Peoria | STL | HiA | MWL | 0.974 | 4.84 | 14% |
104 | Somerset | NYY | AA | EL | 0.988 | 4.84 | 13% |
105 | Hartford | COL | AA | EL | 0.987 | 4.83 | 13% |
106 | Erie | DET | AA | EL | 0.987 | 4.83 | 12% |
107 | New Hampshire | TOR | AA | EL | 0.987 | 4.83 | 11% |
108 | Jupiter | MIA | LoA | FSL | 0.970 | 4.83 | 10% |
109 | Nashville | MIL | AAA | IL | 0.947 | 4.82 | 9% |
110 | Vancouver | TOR | HiA | NWL | 0.937 | 4.81 | 8% |
111 | Rome | ATL | HiA | SAL | 0.917 | 4.80 | 8% |
112 | Fort Wayne | SD | HiA | MWL | 0.960 | 4.78 | 7% |
113 | Binghamton | NYM | AA | EL | 0.974 | 4.77 | 6% |
114 | Brooklyn | NYM | HiA | SAL | 0.916 | 4.76 | 5% |
115 | Richmond | SF | AA | EL | 0.971 | 4.75 | 4% |
116 | Palm Beach | STL | LoA | FSL | 0.943 | 4.69 | 3% |
117 | Tri-City | LAA | HiA | NWL | 0.909 | 4.67 | 3% |
118 | Harrisburg | WSH | AA | EL | 0.948 | 4.64 | 2% |
119 | West Michigan | DET | HiA | MWL | 0.926 | 4.61 | 1% |
120 | Mississippi | ATL | AA | SL | 0.914 | 4.55 | 0% |
The same concept that applies to team run context can be applied to home runs.
The following chart contains two-year team home run context (THRC) data along with a percentile score. As with the above, the HR Mult column is a two-year park factor for home runs.
Las Vegas takes the top spot for home run rate—1.64 THRC—as it did for runs. The D-backs’ Double-A Amarillo affiliate is a renowned hitter’s park, in large part for its home run frequency. Sod Poodles players play in games with the second-highest rate of homers in the minors.
The Pirates’ High-A Greensboro affiliate is one of the rare Class A clubs to play in a high home run environment. Older, more mature and more experienced teams at Double-A and Triple-A tend to hit more home runs than lower-level players, regardless of park factors.
Just eight teams below Double-A rank in the top 50 for THRC: No. 5 Greensboro (Pirates), No. 14 High-A Asheville (Astros), No. 17 High-A Spokane (Rockies), No. 27 High-A Lake County (Guardians), No. 28 High-A Everett (Mariners), No. 45 Low-A Stockton (Athletics), No. 45 High-A Greenville (Red Sox) and No. 49 High-A Hickory (Rangers).
Thirty-five of the final 36 places are occupied by Low-A and High-A teams. No. 93 Double-A Mississippi is the lone exception.
Minor League Team Home Run Context • 2021-22 Combined
Rk | Team | Org | Lvl | Lge | HR Mult |
THRC | THRC %tile |
1 | Las Vegas | OAK | AAA | PCL | 1.175 | 1.64 | 100% |
2 | Amarillo | ARI | AA | TL | 1.333 | 1.60 | 99% |
3 | El Paso | SD | AAA | PCL | 1.124 | 1.56 | 98% |
4 | Albuquerque | COL | AAA | PCL | 1.093 | 1.52 | 97% |
5 | Greensboro | PIT | HiA | SAL | 1.372 | 1.51 | 97% |
6 | Charlotte | CWS | AAA | IL | 1.266 | 1.49 | 96% |
7 | Springfield | STL | AA | TL | 1.193 | 1.43 | 95% |
8 | Round Rock | TEX | AAA | PCL | 1.005 | 1.40 | 94% |
9 | Salt Lake | LAA | AAA | PCL | 1.001 | 1.39 | 93% |
10 | Reno | ARI | AAA | PCL | 0.984 | 1.37 | 92% |
11 | Bowie | BAL | AA | EL | 1.208 | 1.36 | 92% |
12 | Tacoma | SEA | AAA | PCL | 0.956 | 1.33 | 91% |
13 | Durham | TB | AAA | IL | 1.129 | 1.32 | 90% |
14 | Asheville | HOU | HiA | SAL | 1.216 | 1.32 | 89% |
15 | Sacramento | SF | AAA | PCL | 0.947 | 1.32 | 88% |
16 | Rocket City | LAA | AA | SL | 1.174 | 1.31 | 87% |
17 | Spokane | COL | HiA | NWL | 1.342 | 1.30 | 87% |
18 | St. Paul | MIN | AAA | IL | 1.076 | 1.27 | 86% |
19 | Oklahoma City | LAD | AAA | PCL | 0.910 | 1.27 | 85% |
20 | Louisville | CIN | AAA | IL | 1.076 | 1.27 | 84% |
21 | Columbus | CLE | AAA | IL | 1.078 | 1.26 | 83% |
22 | Iowa | CHC | AAA | IL | 1.077 | 1.26 | 82% |
23 | Syracuse | NYM | AAA | IL | 1.070 | 1.26 | 82% |
24 | Reading | PHI | AA | EL | 1.113 | 1.25 | 81% |
25 | Wichita | MIN | AA | TL | 1.039 | 1.25 | 80% |
26 | Corpus Christi | HOU | AA | TL | 1.026 | 1.24 | 79% |
27 | Lake County | CLE | HiA | MWL | 1.258 | 1.23 | 78% |
28 | Everett | SEA | HiA | NWL | 1.266 | 1.23 | 77% |
29 | Worcester | BOS | AAA | IL | 1.032 | 1.22 | 76% |
30 | Omaha | KC | AAA | IL | 1.036 | 1.22 | 76% |
31 | NW Arkansas | KC | AA | TL | 1.012 | 1.21 | 75% |
32 | Scranton/W-B | NYY | AAA | IL | 1.021 | 1.20 | 74% |
33 | Sugar Land | HOU | AAA | PCL | 0.861 | 1.20 | 73% |
34 | Biloxi | MIL | AA | SL | 1.068 | 1.20 | 72% |
35 | Frisco | TEX | AA | TL | 0.995 | 1.19 | 71% |
36 | Montgomery | TB | AA | SL | 1.066 | 1.19 | 71% |
37 | Tennessee | CHC | AA | SL | 1.066 | 1.19 | 70% |
38 | Buffalo | TOR | AAA | IL | 1.010 | 1.18 | 69% |
39 | Somerset | NYY | AA | EL | 1.049 | 1.18 | 68% |
40 | Memphis | STL | AAA | IL | 0.992 | 1.17 | 67% |
41 | Tulsa | LAD | AA | TL | 0.973 | 1.17 | 66% |
42 | Rochester | WSH | AAA | IL | 0.995 | 1.17 | 66% |
43 | Stockton | OAK | LoA | CAL | 1.259 | 1.16 | 65% |
44 | Harrisburg | WSH | AA | EL | 1.007 | 1.13 | 64% |
45 | Greenville | BOS | HiA | SAL | 1.040 | 1.13 | 63% |
46 | New Hampshire | TOR | AA | EL | 0.998 | 1.13 | 62% |
47 | Hartford | COL | AA | EL | 0.996 | 1.12 | 61% |
48 | Norfolk | BAL | AAA | IL | 0.957 | 1.12 | 61% |
49 | Hickory | TEX | HiA | SAL | 1.025 | 1.12 | 60% |
50 | Pensacola | MIA | AA | SL | 1.001 | 1.12 | 59% |
51 | Jersey Shore | PHI | HiA | SAL | 1.005 | 1.10 | 58% |
52 | Binghamton | NYM | AA | EL | 0.975 | 1.10 | 57% |
53 | Bowling Green | TB | HiA | SAL | 1.005 | 1.10 | 56% |
54 | Richmond | SF | AA | EL | 0.970 | 1.10 | 55% |
55 | Hudson Valley | NYY | HiA | SAL | 0.999 | 1.09 | 55% |
56 | Portland | BOS | AA | EL | 0.960 | 1.08 | 54% |
57 | Chattanooga | CIN | AA | SL | 0.967 | 1.08 | 53% |
58 | Indianapolis | PIT | AAA | IL | 0.918 | 1.08 | 52% |
59 | Jacksonville | MIA | AAA | IL | 0.906 | 1.07 | 51% |
60 | Rancho Cucamonga | LAD | LoA | CAL | 1.144 | 1.06 | 50% |
61 | Altoona | PIT | AA | EL | 0.932 | 1.05 | 50% |
62 | Lansing | OAK | HiA | MWL | 1.076 | 1.05 | 49% |
63 | Erie | DET | AA | EL | 0.935 | 1.05 | 48% |
64 | Birmingham | CWS | AA | SL | 0.939 | 1.05 | 47% |
65 | Lehigh Valley | PHI | AAA | IL | 0.886 | 1.04 | 46% |
66 | Wisconsin | MIL | HiA | MWL | 1.055 | 1.04 | 45% |
67 | Gwinnett | ATL | AAA | IL | 0.875 | 1.03 | 45% |
68 | Toledo | DET | AAA | IL | 0.877 | 1.03 | 44% |
69 | Wilmington | WSH | HiA | SAL | 0.940 | 1.03 | 43% |
70 | Akron | CLE | AA | EL | 0.912 | 1.03 | 42% |
71 | Dayton | CIN | HiA | MWL | 1.053 | 1.02 | 41% |
72 | Eugene | SF | HiA | NWL | 1.041 | 1.01 | 40% |
73 | Peoria | STL | HiA | MWL | 1.030 | 1.00 | 39% |
74 | Visalia | ARI | LoA | CAL | 1.083 | 1.00 | 39% |
75 | Nashville | MIL | AAA | IL | 0.854 | 1.00 | 38% |
76 | South Bend | CHC | HiA | MWL | 1.019 | 0.99 | 37% |
77 | Fresno | COL | LoA | CAL | 1.072 | 0.99 | 36% |
78 | Arkansas | SEA | AA | TL | 0.820 | 0.99 | 35% |
79 | Midland | OAK | AA | TL | 0.820 | 0.99 | 34% |
80 | Great Lakes | LAD | HiA | MWL | 1.003 | 0.98 | 34% |
81 | Aberdeen | BAL | HiA | SAL | 0.895 | 0.98 | 33% |
82 | Winston-Salem | CWS | HiA | SAL | 0.883 | 0.97 | 32% |
83 | Bradenton | PIT | LoA | FSL | 1.230 | 0.97 | 31% |
84 | San Antonio | SD | AA | TL | 0.798 | 0.96 | 30% |
85 | Quad Cities | KC | HiA | MWL | 0.980 | 0.95 | 29% |
86 | Cedar Rapids | MIN | HiA | MWL | 0.960 | 0.93 | 29% |
87 | San Jose | SF | LoA | CAL | 0.996 | 0.93 | 28% |
88 | Brooklyn | NYM | HiA | SAL | 0.851 | 0.92 | 27% |
89 | Fort Wayne | SD | HiA | MWL | 0.943 | 0.92 | 26% |
90 | Beloit | MIA | HiA | MWL | 0.932 | 0.91 | 25% |
91 | Columbia | KC | LoA | CAR | 1.146 | 0.89 | 24% |
92 | Mississippi | ATL | AA | SL | 0.791 | 0.88 | 24% |
93 | Vancouver | TOR | HiA | NWL | 0.906 | 0.87 | 23% |
94 | Augusta | ATL | LoA | CAR | 1.116 | 0.87 | 22% |
95 | St. Lucie | NYM | LoA | FSL | 1.097 | 0.86 | 21% |
96 | Lynchburg | CLE | LoA | CAR | 1.099 | 0.86 | 20% |
97 | Kannapolis | CWS | LoA | CAR | 1.093 | 0.85 | 19% |
98 | Inland Empire | LAA | LoA | CAL | 0.902 | 0.83 | 18% |
99 | Clearwater | PHI | LoA | FSL | 1.061 | 0.83 | 18% |
100 | Dunedin | TOR | LoA | FSL | 1.058 | 0.83 | 17% |
101 | Carolina | MIL | LoA | CAR | 1.052 | 0.82 | 16% |
102 | Fort Myers | MIN | LoA | FSL | 1.026 | 0.80 | 15% |
103 | Tampa | NYY | LoA | FSL | 1.023 | 0.80 | 14% |
104 | Fredericksburg | WSH | LoA | CAR | 1.029 | 0.80 | 13% |
105 | Daytona | CIN | LoA | FSL | 1.025 | 0.80 | 13% |
106 | Lake Elsinore | SD | LoA | CAL | 0.862 | 0.80 | 12% |
107 | Hillsboro | ARI | HiA | NWL | 0.813 | 0.79 | 11% |
108 | Rome | ATL | HiA | SAL | 0.781 | 0.78 | 10% |
109 | Fayetteville | HOU | LoA | CAR | 0.994 | 0.78 | 9% |
110 | West Michigan | DET | HiA | MWL | 0.784 | 0.76 | 8% |
111 | Down East | TEX | LoA | CAR | 0.980 | 0.76 | 8% |
112 | Delmarva | BAL | LoA | CAR | 0.955 | 0.74 | 7% |
113 | Modesto | SEA | LoA | CAL | 0.800 | 0.74 | 6% |
114 | Lakeland | DET | LoA | FSL | 0.940 | 0.74 | 5% |
115 | Tri-City | LAA | HiA | NWL | 0.754 | 0.73 | 4% |
116 | Charleston | TB | LoA | CAR | 0.909 | 0.71 | 3% |
117 | Myrtle Beach | CHC | LoA | CAR | 0.885 | 0.69 | 3% |
118 | Jupiter | MIA | LoA | FSL | 0.865 | 0.68 | 2% |
119 | Salem | BOS | LoA | CAR | 0.845 | 0.66 | 1% |
120 | Palm Beach | STL | LoA | FSL | 0.762 | 0.60 | 0% |
Finally, we have team batting average on balls in play context (tBABIPc) data for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
What’s notable here is the volume of California League teams crowding the top of the list. Central to this phenomenon is the BABIP boost the league has experienced since 2019, the last minor league season before MLB restructured the entire player development system.
Cal League BABIP
2019: .324
2021: .337
2022: .330
Most of this is attributable to the drop in classification from High-A in 2019 to Low-A in 2021. Take a league that naturally favors hitters and introduce less-refined pitchers and fielders and it’s a recipe for a BABIP spike, which we saw in 2021.
The Cal League also was the only league to adopt the pitch timer in 2021, which could be another contributing factor to the BABIP boost. The theory is that pitchers had less time to gain composure and game-plan in between deliveries while also being slightly more fatigued.
Minor League Team BABIP Context • 2021-22 Combined
Rk | Team | Org | Lvl | Lge | BABIP Mult |
tBABIPc | tBABIPc %tile |
1 | Inland Empire | LAA | LoA | CAL | 1.037 | .345 | 100% |
2 | Modesto | SEA | LoA | CAL | 1.022 | .341 | 99% |
3 | El Paso | SD | AAA | PCL | 1.046 | .338 | 98% |
4 | Las Vegas | OAK | AAA | PCL | 1.047 | .337 | 97% |
5 | Salt Lake | LAA | AAA | PCL | 1.043 | .337 | 97% |
6 | Visalia | ARI | LoA | CAL | 1.007 | .336 | 96% |
7 | Midland | OAK | AA | TL | 1.063 | .335 | 95% |
8 | Albuquerque | COL | AAA | PCL | 1.035 | .334 | 94% |
9 | Everett | SEA | HiA | NWL | 1.054 | .332 | 93% |
10 | Asheville | HOU | HiA | SAL | 1.063 | .332 | 92% |
11 | Amarillo | ARI | AA | TL | 1.050 | .331 | 92% |
12 | San Jose | SF | LoA | CAL | 0.993 | .331 | 91% |
13 | Lake Elsinore | SD | LoA | CAL | 0.992 | .331 | 90% |
14 | Stockton | OAK | LoA | CAL | 0.989 | .329 | 89% |
15 | Fresno | COL | LoA | CAL | 0.984 | .328 | 88% |
16 | Salem | BOS | LoA | CAR | 1.037 | .328 | 87% |
17 | Rancho Cucamonga | LAD | LoA | CAL | 0.984 | .328 | 87% |
18 | Carolina | MIL | LoA | CAR | 1.031 | .326 | 86% |
19 | Reno | ARI | AAA | PCL | 1.008 | .325 | 85% |
20 | Chattanooga | CIN | AA | SL | 1.047 | .325 | 84% |
21 | Kannapolis | CWS | LoA | CAR | 1.027 | .325 | 83% |
22 | Daytona | CIN | LoA | FSL | 1.028 | .322 | 82% |
23 | Springfield | STL | AA | TL | 1.022 | .322 | 82% |
24 | Wichita | MIN | AA | TL | 1.020 | .322 | 81% |
25 | Lansing | OAK | HiA | MWL | 1.049 | .322 | 80% |
26 | Spokane | COL | HiA | NWL | 1.017 | .321 | 79% |
27 | Columbia | KC | LoA | CAR | 1.013 | .321 | 78% |
28 | Eugene | SF | HiA | NWL | 1.016 | .320 | 77% |
29 | Greenville | BOS | HiA | SAL | 1.023 | .319 | 76% |
30 | Tampa | NYY | LoA | FSL | 1.020 | .319 | 76% |
31 | Fredericksburg | WSH | LoA | CAR | 1.005 | .318 | 75% |
32 | Jersey Shore | PHI | HiA | SAL | 1.018 | .318 | 74% |
33 | St. Lucie | NYM | LoA | FSL | 1.014 | .318 | 73% |
34 | Myrtle Beach | CHC | LoA | CAR | 1.001 | .317 | 72% |
35 | Hickory | TEX | HiA | SAL | 1.015 | .317 | 71% |
36 | Oklahoma City | LAD | AAA | PCL | 0.983 | .317 | 71% |
37 | Montgomery | TB | AA | SL | 1.020 | .316 | 70% |
38 | Quad Cities | KC | HiA | MWL | 1.030 | .316 | 69% |
39 | Hudson Valley | NYY | HiA | SAL | 1.011 | .316 | 68% |
40 | Lynchburg | CLE | LoA | CAR | 0.998 | .316 | 67% |
41 | Round Rock | TEX | AAA | PCL | 0.976 | .315 | 66% |
42 | Durham | TB | AAA | IL | 1.033 | .315 | 66% |
43 | Fayetteville | HOU | LoA | CAR | 0.991 | .314 | 65% |
44 | Lakeland | DET | LoA | FSL | 1.001 | .314 | 64% |
45 | NW Arkansas | KC | AA | TL | 0.995 | .313 | 63% |
46 | Birmingham | CWS | AA | SL | 1.008 | .313 | 62% |
47 | Dayton | CIN | HiA | MWL | 1.021 | .313 | 61% |
48 | Rome | ATL | HiA | SAL | 0.988 | .313 | 61% |
49 | Erie | DET | AA | EL | 1.031 | .313 | 60% |
50 | Palm Beach | STL | LoA | FSL | 0.996 | .312 | 59% |
51 | Charlotte | CWS | AAA | IL | 1.023 | .312 | 58% |
52 | Aberdeen | BAL | HiA | SAL | 0.999 | .311 | 57% |
53 | Tri-City | LAA | HiA | NWL | 0.989 | .311 | 56% |
54 | Pensacola | MIA | AA | SL | 1.003 | .311 | 55% |
55 | Clearwater | PHI | LoA | FSL | 0.994 | .311 | 55% |
56 | Portland | BOS | AA | EL | 1.024 | .311 | 54% |
57 | Fort Myers | MIN | LoA | FSL | 0.993 | .311 | 53% |
58 | Brooklyn | NYM | HiA | SAL | 0.993 | .310 | 52% |
59 | Down East | TEX | LoA | CAR | 0.978 | .309 | 51% |
60 | Wisconsin | MIL | HiA | MWL | 1.010 | .309 | 50% |
61 | Augusta | ATL | LoA | CAR | 0.978 | .309 | 50% |
62 | Dunedin | TOR | LoA | FSL | 0.989 | .309 | 49% |
63 | Hartford | COL | AA | EL | 1.018 | .309 | 48% |
64 | Worcester | BOS | AAA | IL | 1.012 | .309 | 47% |
65 | Rochester | WSH | AAA | IL | 1.012 | .309 | 46% |
66 | Bradenton | PIT | LoA | FSL | 0.985 | .309 | 45% |
67 | Hillsboro | ARI | HiA | NWL | 0.979 | .309 | 45% |
68 | Altoona | PIT | AA | EL | 1.017 | .309 | 44% |
69 | Memphis | STL | AAA | IL | 1.012 | .308 | 43% |
70 | Jupiter | MIA | LoA | FSL | 0.986 | .308 | 42% |
71 | Omaha | KC | AAA | IL | 1.011 | .308 | 41% |
72 | Frisco | TEX | AA | TL | 0.978 | .308 | 40% |
73 | Fort Wayne | SD | HiA | MWL | 1.006 | .308 | 39% |
74 | Tacoma | SEA | AAA | PCL | 0.955 | .308 | 39% |
75 | Sacramento | SF | AAA | PCL | 0.954 | .308 | 38% |
76 | Gwinnett | ATL | AAA | IL | 1.008 | .307 | 37% |
77 | Charleston | TB | LoA | CAR | 0.972 | .307 | 36% |
78 | Delmarva | BAL | LoA | CAR | 0.970 | .307 | 35% |
79 | Mississippi | ATL | AA | SL | 0.988 | .307 | 34% |
80 | Winston-Salem | CWS | HiA | SAL | 0.984 | .307 | 34% |
81 | Tennessee | CHC | AA | SL | 0.987 | .307 | 33% |
82 | South Bend | CHC | HiA | MWL | 1.000 | .307 | 32% |
83 | Toledo | DET | AAA | IL | 1.005 | .306 | 31% |
84 | Sugar Land | HOU | AAA | PCL | 0.950 | .306 | 30% |
85 | Indianapolis | PIT | AAA | IL | 1.003 | .306 | 29% |
86 | Lehigh Valley | PHI | AAA | IL | 1.003 | .306 | 29% |
87 | Tulsa | LAD | AA | TL | 0.972 | .306 | 28% |
88 | Nashville | MIL | AAA | IL | 1.004 | .306 | 27% |
89 | San Antonio | SD | AA | TL | 0.970 | .306 | 26% |
90 | Iowa | CHC | AAA | IL | 1.000 | .305 | 25% |
91 | Bowling Green | TB | HiA | SAL | 0.976 | .305 | 24% |
92 | Reading | PHI | AA | EL | 1.005 | .305 | 24% |
93 | Peoria | STL | HiA | MWL | 0.993 | .304 | 23% |
94 | Arkansas | SEA | AA | TL | 0.965 | .304 | 22% |
95 | New Hampshire | TOR | AA | EL | 1.002 | .304 | 21% |
96 | Bowie | BAL | AA | EL | 1.001 | .304 | 20% |
97 | Corpus Christi | HOU | AA | TL | 0.963 | .304 | 19% |
98 | Syracuse | NYM | AAA | IL | 0.997 | .304 | 18% |
99 | Rocket City | LAA | AA | SL | 0.978 | .303 | 18% |
100 | Louisville | CIN | AAA | IL | 0.993 | .303 | 17% |
101 | Beloit | MIA | HiA | MWL | 0.988 | .303 | 16% |
102 | Biloxi | MIL | AA | SL | 0.974 | .303 | 15% |
103 | St. Paul | MIN | AAA | IL | 0.992 | .302 | 14% |
104 | Columbus | CLE | AAA | IL | 0.990 | .302 | 13% |
105 | Great Lakes | LAD | HiA | MWL | 0.983 | .302 | 13% |
106 | Greensboro | PIT | HiA | SAL | 0.967 | .302 | 12% |
107 | Cedar Rapids | MIN | HiA | MWL | 0.983 | .301 | 11% |
108 | Binghamton | NYM | AA | EL | 0.994 | .301 | 10% |
109 | Wilmington | WSH | HiA | SAL | 0.964 | .301 | 9% |
110 | Vancouver | TOR | HiA | NWL | 0.952 | .301 | 8% |
111 | Akron | CLE | AA | EL | 0.991 | .301 | 8% |
112 | Harrisburg | WSH | AA | EL | 0.987 | .300 | 7% |
113 | Lake County | CLE | HiA | MWL | 0.977 | .299 | 6% |
114 | Buffalo | TOR | AAA | IL | 0.981 | .299 | 5% |
115 | Scranton/W-B | NYY | AAA | IL | 0.980 | .298 | 4% |
116 | Jacksonville | MIA | AAA | IL | 0.976 | .297 | 3% |
117 | Richmond | SF | AA | EL | 0.978 | .297 | 3% |
118 | Norfolk | BAL | AAA | IL | 0.968 | .295 | 2% |
119 | West Michigan | DET | HiA | MWL | 0.961 | .294 | 1% |
120 | Somerset | NYY | AA | EL | 0.956 | .290 | 0% |
Comments are closed.