The value of Switch hitting

[D-train]

Interesting discussion here. So thought Cal should have got bonus points for being a Switch hitter. What are you thoughts. It is incredible impressive especially to a guy like me who can't even brush his teeth left handed but does it add value beyond hitting production?

[Donn Beach]

But not for a pitcher

[D-train]

Here is how I see it. Obviously being a switch hitter is very impressive and if you take a player he is almost always going to be more productive as a switch hitter than if he wasn't one but Cal shouldn't get any bonus points when comparing him to Judge. If Judge can put up more production hitting RH only than Cal can switch hitting, he is the better hitter regardless.

[Donn Beach]

Yeah, it's a tool that Cal utilizes effectively but I don't see why he would get bonus points for having it

[Sibelius Hindemith]

It's just surprising to me that all baseball players aren't brought up to hit from both sides.

[D-train]

It's just surprising to me that all baseball players aren't brought up to hit from both sides.

I don't think there was a single one in my entire Pacific Little League. I don't think I would have ever done it. I am truly inept with my left arm. Oddly I am left footed. lol

If I had a male two legged kid I think I would have had him be a punter or a kicker. Easiest way to make it in Pro sports for a normal sized white kid.

[D-train]

It's just surprising to me that all baseball players aren't brought up to hit from both sides.

Also when I was in LL at 12 yo there was on one pitcher in the league that threw breaking balls so there really wasn't a need to do it. Almost no Lefty pitchers either.

[Seattle or Bust]

It's just surprising to me that all baseball players aren't brought up to hit from both sides.

Probably because if I tried to do anything left handed I'd have never made team doing anything ever.

Meanwhile from the right side, I can hit a golf ball 330 yards and could hit the occasional homer when I played.

Reverse handedness never would have worked for me.

[gil]

Cal had a couple of years beginning his career where his numbers hitting left handed were MUCH better than his numbers hitting right handed. Does anyone recall suggestions that maybe he should stick to batting lefty full time?

[gil]

It's just surprising to me that all baseball players aren't brought up to hit from both sides.

Probably because if I tried to do anything left handed I'd have never made team doing anything ever.

Meanwhile from the right side, I can hit a golf ball 330 yards and could hit the occasional homer when I played.

Reverse handedness never would have worked for me.

It seems to me that mechanically hitting a baseball from both sides is just more "natural" that trying to throw with "the wrong hand". Maybe it's because my Dad, who idolized Michael Mantle, encouraged me to switch hit.