Statcast Data segment 1.0 - reveal tracking samples To start, we will evaluate how MLB players run to first base. We will focus on right-handed hitters looking to beat out a throw to first base.

segment 1.1 - morph samples to chart Using Statcast, we’ve calculated Altuve’s instantaneous speed for every tenth of a second along his path to first base. The play in question is a ground ball to first in the 8th inning of a game against Kansas City on 4/8/2017.

segment 1.2 - smoothing window Feet per second is shown on the y-axis and time is represented on the x-axis. Sprint speed is defined as the maximum distance covered in any one-second window in any given play. Sprint speed measures sustained speed over a full second, ensuring that runners are able to maintain their speed for about seven full-effort strides. We can see here that Altuve reaches 25 feet per second around 2.5 seconds into the run, and then reaches his maximum sprint speed of 29.3 as he nears first base.

segment 1.3 - all plays Of course Altuve doesn’t always use his speed in the same way. Here is a chart of all of Altuve’s runs to first base in 2017.

segment 1.4 - highlight one play Highlighted is a play from 4/21/2017 against the Tampa Bay Rays where Altuve hits a ground ball directly back to the pitcher. After Altuve decided against exerting maximum effort, it took him 7 seconds to reach first, reaching a top sprint speed of only 16.8 feet per second.

segment 1.5 - highlight qualifying plays Sprint speed is calculated by taking the best two-thirds of runs to first base in order to isolate plays where we can reasonably assume a player was giving maximum effort.