This function allows you to read leaderboard data from BaseballSavant directly into R as data frame.
Usage
statcast_leaderboards(
leaderboard = "exit_velocity_barrels",
year = 2020,
abs = 50,
min_pa = "q",
min_pitches = 100,
min_throws = 100,
min_field = "q",
min_run = 0,
player_type = "batter",
fielding_type = "player",
oaa_position = "",
oaa_roles = "",
team = "",
arsenal_type = "n_",
run_type = "raw",
min2b = 5,
min3b = 0,
position = "",
bats = "",
hand = ""
)Arguments
- leaderboard
The type of leaderboard to retrieve, input as a string. Current options include exit_velocity_barrels, expected_statistics, pitch_arsenal, outs_above_average, directional_oaa, catch_probability, pop_time, sprint_speed, and running_splits_90_ft, arm_strength.
- year
The season for which you want data.
- abs
The minimum number of batted balls. Applies only to exit_velocity_barrels leaderboards.
- min_pa
Minimum number of plate appearances. Can be a number or 'q' for qualified batters.
- min_pitches
Minimum number of pitches thrown.
- min_throws
Minimum number of throwing opportunities.
- min_field
Minimum number of fieding opportunities.
- min_run
Minimum number of running opportunities.
- player_type
One of either 'batter' or pitcher. For the expected_statistics leaderboard, 'batter-team' and 'pitcher-team' are also available.
- fielding_type
One of either 'player' or 'team'.
- oaa_position
Can be either the number position of a player or 'if' or 'of' for position categories.
- oaa_roles
Can be either the number position of a player or 'if' or 'of' for position categories.
- team
An abbreviation for a team. Can be left blank.
- arsenal_type
One of either 'n_', 'avg_spin', or 'avg_speed'.
- run_type
One of either 'percent' or 'raw'.
- min2b
The minimum number of throwing attempts to second base.
- min3b
The minimum number of throwing attempts to third base.
- position
The numeric position of the player. For DH use 10. Can be left blank.
- bats
The handedness of the batter. One of 'R' or 'L'. Can be left blank.
- hand
The handedness of the pitcher. One of 'R' or 'L'. Can be left blank.
Value
Returns a tibble of Statcast leaderboard data with the following columns (for leaderboard: 'exit_velocity_barrels'):
| col_name | types | description |
| year | numeric | Leaderboard season. |
| last_name, first_name | character | Player name as "Last, First". |
| player_id | integer | MLBAM player ID. |
| attempts | integer | Number of batted-ball events (attempts). |
| avg_hit_angle | numeric | Average launch angle on batted balls (degrees). |
| anglesweetspotpercent | numeric | Share of batted balls hit in the 8-32 degree sweet-spot range (percent). |
| max_hit_speed | numeric | Maximum exit velocity recorded (mph). |
| avg_hit_speed | numeric | Average exit velocity on batted balls (mph). |
| ev50 | numeric | Average of the top 50% of hardest-hit batted balls by exit velocity (mph). |
| fbld | numeric | Average exit velocity on fly balls and line drives (mph). |
| gb | numeric | Average exit velocity on ground balls (mph). |
| max_distance | integer | Maximum batted-ball distance (feet). |
| avg_distance | integer | Average batted-ball distance (feet). |
| avg_hr_distance | integer | Average home-run distance (feet). |
| ev95plus | integer | Number of batted balls hit at 95+ mph. |
| ev95percent | numeric | Share of batted balls hit at 95+ mph (percent). |
| barrels | integer | Number of barreled batted balls. |
| brl_percent | numeric | Barrels per batted-ball event (percent). |
| brl_pa | numeric | Barrels per plate appearance (percent). |
Details
oaa_roles argument: 30 = 1B - Straight Up 31 = 1B - Towards 1B/2B Hole 32 = 1B - Close to Line 40 = 2B - Straight Up 41 = 2B - Shaded Towards 2B Bag 42 = 2B - Towards 1B/2B Hole 43 = 2B - Behind First Basemen 46 = 2B - Up the Middle 60 = SS - Straight Up 61 = SS - Towards 3B/SS Hole 62 = SS - Shaded Towards 2B Bag 64 = SS - Up the Middle 50 = 3B - Straight Up 51 = 3B - Close to Line 52 = 3B - Towards 3B/SS Hole 77 = LF - Close to Line 71 = LF - Leaning Left 70 = LF - Straight Up 72 = LF - Leaning Right 78 = LF - LF Gap 87 = CF - LF Gap 81 = CF - Leaning Left 82 = CF - Leaning Right 89 = CF - RF Gap 98 = RF - RF Gap 91 = RF - Leaning Left 90 = RF - Straight Up 92 = RF - Leaning Right 99 = RF - Close to Line
Examples
# \donttest{
try(statcast_leaderboards(leaderboard = "expected_statistics", year = 2018))
#> ── MLB Baseball Savant Statcast Leaderboards data from baseballsavant.ml
#> ℹ Data updated: 2026-06-24 02:06:46 UTC
#> # A tibble: 249 × 14
#> year `last_name, first_name` player_id pa bip ba est_ba
#> <int> <chr> <int> <int> <int> <dbl> <dbl>
#> 1 2018 Lindor, Francisco 596019 745 560 0.277 0.289
#> 2 2018 Turner, Trea 607208 740 534 0.271 0.273
#> 3 2018 Machado, Manny 592518 709 533 0.297 0.284
#> 4 2018 Hernández, César 514917 708 454 0.253 0.242
#> 5 2018 Merrifield, Whit 593160 707 526 0.304 0.281
#> 6 2018 Freeman, Freddie 518692 707 492 0.309 0.295
#> 7 2018 Bregman, Alex 608324 705 512 0.286 0.267
#> 8 2018 Stanton, Giancarlo 519317 705 416 0.266 0.237
#> 9 2018 Markakis, Nick 455976 705 552 0.297 0.293
#> 10 2018 Semien, Marcus 543760 703 510 0.255 0.245
#> # ℹ 239 more rows
#> # ℹ 7 more variables: est_ba_minus_ba_diff <dbl>, slg <dbl>,
#> # est_slg <dbl>, est_slg_minus_slg_diff <dbl>, woba <dbl>,
#> # est_woba <dbl>, est_woba_minus_woba_diff <dbl>
try(statcast_leaderboards(leaderboard = "arm_strength", year = 2020))
#> ── MLB Baseball Savant Statcast Leaderboards data from baseballsavant.ml
#> ℹ Data updated: 2026-06-24 02:06:46 UTC
#> # A tibble: 183 × 27
#> year fielder_name player_id team_name primary_position
#> <dbl> <chr> <int> <lgl> <int>
#> 1 2020 Santana, Carlos 467793 NA 3
#> 2 2020 Freeman, Freddie 518692 NA 3
#> 3 2020 Muncy, Max 571970 NA 3
#> 4 2020 Olson, Matt 621566 NA 3
#> 5 2020 Dozier, Hunter 641531 NA 3
#> 6 2020 Canó, Robinson 429664 NA 4
#> 7 2020 Solano, Donovan 456781 NA 4
#> 8 2020 Altuve, Jose 514888 NA 4
#> 9 2020 Hernández, César 514917 NA 4
#> 10 2020 Segura, Jean 516416 NA 4
#> # ℹ 173 more rows
#> # ℹ 22 more variables: primary_position_name <chr>, total_throws <int>,
#> # total_throws_1b <int>, total_throws_2b <int>,
#> # total_throws_3b <int>, total_throws_ss <int>,
#> # total_throws_lf <int>, total_throws_cf <int>,
#> # total_throws_rf <int>, total_throws_inf <int>,
#> # total_throws_of <int>, max_arm_strength <dbl>, arm_1b <dbl>, …
# }