show what kind of batted ball qualifies as a barrel is with this image -- the
"Barrel Zone" is where barrels live:
Image 4-1: Visual Diagram of Barrel ZoneBarrel Zone begins at 98 mph between 26 degrees and 30 degrees, and
expands outward from there. The higher the speed of the ball, the wider
the range of launch angle exists for a ball to be considered a barrel. At 99
mph and up, for example, between 25 degrees and 31 degrees is
"barrelled." At 100 mph and above, batted balls between 24 and 33
degrees will always be considered a barrel, and so on, expanding as balls
get hit harder. These aren't arbitrary definitions; instead they are based
on a review of all of those batted-ball types and outlining the area where
you get your minimum of ".500 batting average and 1.500 slugging
percentage."3^
Hitters put a lot of effort to hit these barrels. Representatively, bulking
up was believed to reduce speed in the past, but it has become a trend in