Why is Attack Angle important?

Attack Angle is important for two reasons:

1. Matching the bat path to the pitch path increases the likelihood of contact. Because the pitch is thrown from an elevated mound, it is typically on a downward angle as it crosses the plate. Therefore, a positive Attack Angle provides more opportunity to execute against a variety of pitches, which can vary in height, speed, and angle.

2. A positive Attack Angle will typically get the ball in the air and maximize the ball flight distance. With the emphasis on launch angles in MLB, Attack Angle is the most direct metric for correlating to the batted ball launch angle.