Hitting Approach: When to “Sit on” or “ambush” a pitch

There are two “methods” to unpack when it comes to sitting on or ambushing pitches.

1. Hit what you can hit hard—sit on pitches in zones that you hit best.

2. Sit on pitch and zone based on pitcher’s arsenal/likelihood of getting a certain pitch/zone.

#1—Hit what you can hit hard—sit on pitches in zones that you hit best.

One MLB reliever told me the avg FB miss in their org last year was 8”. Eventually you’ll get a mistake. You’re job is to be on time and not miss “it” when you get it.

• What IS your pitch/zone? How do you know?

• Are you disciplined/committed enough to fail/hit with 2K when you don’t get “it.”

• How big is the zone that you’re sitting on? Too big=outside your “success zone.” Too small=too passive.

• Sometimes by sitting on FB outer 1/2 it can put you on time with a breaking ball mistake. Shape of breaking ball is a big deal here. If it tunnels well, can’t adjust, sit on one or the other.

It’s pretty easy to see what zone this hitter is successful hitting hard. As a hitter, are you aware of your strengths? In order to sit on “your pitch,” you must first know what your pitch is.

#2—Sit on pitch and zone based on pitcher’s arsenal/likelihood of getting a certain pitch/zone.

Hitters should sit on a pitch and a zone in the following circumstances.

• If a pitcher is dialed in, and you’re looking for him to miss and he just isn’t missing that day, ambush that zone and pitch.

• A pitcher’s arsenal can make it hard to sit on a pitch in your zone. Riding FB, cutters/sinkers/sliders with late movement don’t end up where they started. You have to sit in a zone that isn’t your zone because it’s going to end up in your zone.

• Pitch shape doesn’t play with your bat path. If you miss under the fastball a lot (hint—track vertical accuracy), sitting on a riding fastball is not optimal. If you miss over more, sitting on two seam/sinker is not optimal. Know your path.

• The pitcher has exposed you. You’ll still get your pitch because pitchers miss, but it will be a lower % when they know your holes. Example: the pitcher buried you on three disappearing sliders last at bat and you know you’re not getting anything but sliders the next at bat. Plan: see mistake slider up.

• If a pitcher’s arsenal makes it more likely that a pitch will finish in a certain zone, sit on that zone. Cutters/sliders usually land glove side. Sinkers end up arm side. Riding FB’s end up at the top of the zone.

• Velo: If you struggle to catch up to a FB over 95, giving a hitter permission to cheat to it can be freeing.

Here is a pitching game chart from a college pitcher. It might be wise for a hitter to sit on a mistake in the middle of the plate based on the fact that he didn’t missed over the middle very often during this outing. However, sitting on a changeup that starts in the middle of the zone and fades to the bottom half might be the ticket to success.

Conclusion:

Sitting on pitches and zones is a great way to attack pitching at higher levels when hitting everything isn’t an option. We hope this helps you with your approach! Whatever you go with, the most important thing is to commit to it and be willing to fail.