Creating a Hitting Approach for Hitters Who Chase Sliders Out of the Zone
Every slider seen by a RH hitter during the 2023 NCAA D2 baseball season.
By Sam Morris
Hitting Approach Intern and OF for Millersville University
Recognizing a slider early that starts on the plate and finishes off is no easy task. It requires a combination of discipline, keen observation, and lightning-fast adjustments. I want to explain effective hitting plans specifically designed for players who struggle with chasing sliders off the plate. By adopting these strategies and implementing a systematic approach, batters can improve their ability to take these pitches, and hit the ones they want.
Recognition, vision, and swing path all play a major role in having success against well-placed sliders. If you have to commit early, because of a swing-path issue, it doesn’t matter how well you see it or where you sit in the zone. Likewise, when you are pushy, lose the barrel in your swing, or you don’t accelerate well, early decisions have to be made and chasing is inevitable. Guys with those issues really need to sit on pitches and zones because there is very little chance that they have the adjustability to hit both fastball and spin. This is when you need a plan you can trust when you are in the on-deck circle.
Imagine yourself walking up to the batter’s box. The pitcher you are facing has the same handiness as you do so his slider is going to break away from you. The first concept that is required to have success against this pitch is to sit on a zone within the strike zone and adjust accordingly. For sliders that start on the plate and finish off, I am proposing that adopting a "sit middle-middle" approach can provide an advantage to you as a hitter. By looking for pitches in the heart of the strike zone, batters put themselves in a better position to react to the slider's break whether it be a ball or strike.
As recently mentioned, to effectively adjust to sliders starting on the plate, batters must develop an ability to read the spin and tilt of the pitch. The hitter’s data above is an example of what we are trying to avoid. It clearly demonstrates the hitter’s struggle to recognize the breaking ball that particular year. If a pitcher is repeatedly spinning breaking balls and you a keep chasing them; then look middle-middle of the zone. If he throws a fastball just off, you take it anyway. But if he throws a mistake down the middle, hopefully you crush it or at worst, foul it off. But really, the only pitch that beats you in that situation is the fastball on the outside corner because you have to give somewhere. Especially when he has been throwing you a steady diet of two strike spin. You are not going to hit everything against good pitchers. Simply reading and reacting is not the solution. You need to think in the batter’s box and to think about the right things.
Moving on, one of the primary challenges with pitchers who throw tight sliders is their ability to entice batters to chase outside the strike zone. Developing plate discipline is crucial in combating this temptation. My approach is meant to cover this problem. Looking in the middle of the plate minimizes chases on sliders that start on edge of the zone. Hitters should learn how to train themselves to lay off sliders that start on the edge of the zone and break out of reach, forcing the pitcher to bring the ball back into the zone or risk issuing a walk. Focus on controlled adjustments. Rather than trying to cover the entire width of the plate, hitters should narrow their focus. By zeroing in on that smaller target area in the middle of the zone, batters can react more effectively to the slider's movement and make solid contact.
All sliders seen by a RH NCAA D2 hitter in 2023.
As a hitter, your eyes are a “part of your swing.” If your eyes do not recognize a pitch for your body to pull the trigger on, you don’t swing. This is the problem we are tackling when talking about a pitcher with a tight slider. On a sidenote, if you struggle against a pitcher’s arsenal that you’re about to face, you need to start preparing for your at-bat when you’re in the hole. By studying the pitcher's release point, arm angle, and spin rate, you are subconsciously preparing. Identifying the telltale signs of a slider early allows batters to react quicker and make necessary adjustments. After you have watched the pitcher with an intention to pick up his tendencies before your at-bat, you should feel prepared to step in the box. You have done everything in order to give yourself the best possible chance to hit, so BE CONFIDENT in your ability to execute.
All hard hit sliders by the same NCAA D2 RH pictured above.
Conquering sliders that start on the plate and finish off requires a combination of disciplined hitting plans and quick adjustments. My argument for this scenario is that by adopting a "sit middle-middle" approach, recognizing spin and tilt early and improving plate discipline, hitters can increase their chances of success against these challenging pitches. Remember, practice and repetition are key to honing these skills, so be patient and stay dedicated to the process. With time and effort, you'll become a more proficient hitter capable of handling any slider that comes your way. The greatest hitters are in love with the process and preparation of hitting, not the results of their at bats.
