Preseason Testing Correlates With In-season Performance Metrics In National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Baseball Players

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess a battery of preseason baseball tests and identify associations with in-season performance outcomes. METHODS: Preseason testing results of nine National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I baseball players (body mass = 95.3 ± 8.5 kg) were analyzed. Following a dynamic warmup, athletes performed vertical jump (VJ), broad jump (BJ), grip strength, t-spine rotation, sit & reach, and 10-, 30-, & 60-yard (y) sprint tests. VJ was assessed via contact mat. Grip strength was assessed by a hand dynamometer. T-spine rotation was scored on a scale of 1 - 3 (with 1 showing the greatest rotation ability). Sprint times were tested using a laser-based timing system. Performance outcomes from player statistics included regular season and tournament play. Variables included batting average (AVG), runs (R), hits (H), doubles (2B), triples (3B), homeruns (HR), runs batted in (RBI), total bases (TB), slugging percentage (SLB%), base on balls or walks (BB), strikeouts (SO), on-base percentage (OB%), sacrifice flies (SF), and stolen base success (SBRATE). Players with <100 at-bats were not included in analysis. Pearson product-moment correlations were used to determine relationships. RESULTS: VJ correlated to 2B (r = 0.58) and SBRATE (r = 0.79). BJ correlated to R, 2B, SO, and SBRATE (r range 0.51 - 0.83). Right hand grip strength correlated with R, 2B, HR, RBI, TB, SLG%, BB, and OB% (r range 0.50 - 0.66). Left hand grip strength correlated with R, 2B, HR, TB, SLG%, BB, and SO (r range 0.53 - 0.63). Right side t-spine rotation correlated with 3B, and SF (r range 0.56 - 0.63). Left side t-spine rotation correlated to R, 3B, HR, RBI, TB, SLG%, BB, and SO (r range 0.50 - 0.72). 10-y correlated with HR, RBI, TB, SLG%, BB, SO, and OB% (r range 0.50 - 0.82). 60-y correlated to BB (r = 0.52). 10-y negatively correlated to 2B (r = -0.51) and SBRATE (r = -0.83). 60 and 30-y negatively correlated with 2B (r = -0.84; r = -0.81). No large correlations were found with the sit & reach (r ≤ -0.49). CONCLUSIONS: Tests of power, strength, flexibility, and speed are applicable to on-field performance in baseball and should be included in a preseason test battery for collegiate players. These tests may help inform coaches and trainers on the strengths and deficiencies of their athletes in order to optimize in-season performance.