In baseball and softball, we hear a lot about exit velocity—how fast the ball comes off the bat. And yes, it matters. A lot. But just like many things in sports, there’s a point where chasing “more” becomes less important than learning how to truly compete at a high level.
A helpful way to think about exit velocity is to compare it to height in basketball.
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Height in Basketball vs. Exit Velocity in Baseball
In basketball, you need a certain amount of height to play at a high level. But being extremely tall doesn’t automatically make you elite. Some of the best to ever play the game—Michael Jordan (6’6”), Kobe Bryant (6’7”), and LeBron James (6’8”)—weren’t the tallest players. They stood out because they paired their physical tools with elite-level skills and competitive discipline.
Exit velocity works the same way.
To compete in high-level baseball or softball, players need a certain level of strength and bat speed. But once you reach that threshold, hitting the ball harder isn’t necessarily what separates the good from the great.
Here’s a good example: Below are the current to date top 10 players that have that highest average exit velocity. Below that we have the top 10 players for weighted on base percentage (wOBA). Here’s a quick definition of wOBA – a more accurate version of OBP that takes into account how useful different types of hits are. It’s one of the best all-around stats for evaluating a hitter’s contribution to run scoring.
You’ll notice some of the same names, but a lot of the names are different.
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What Is Exit Velocity and What Should You Aim For?
Here’s what athletes should aim for by the time they reach college-recruitable age:
• Baseball: A competitive college-level exit velocity is around 95+ mph
• Softball: A competitive college exit velocity is around 65+ mph
These benchmarks are not expected of younger athletes but serve as long-term development targets. Athletes in middle school or early high school should focus on improving mechanics and strength gradually to reach those numbers over time.
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Why Exit Velocity Alone Isn’t Enough
Once a player reaches that competitive EV mark (95 in baseball, 65 in softball), more power doesn’t automatically equal better performance.
Hitting the ball 110 mph instead of 95 means very little if the hitter is:
• Frequently swinging and missing
• Chasing pitches outside the strike zone
• Struggling with timing
• Making poor contact on hittable pitches
At a certain point, what matters more than velocity is the ability to compete effectively during at-bats.
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What College Coaches Actually Look For
Once a player demonstrates adequate exit velocity, the focus shifts. College coaches are looking for hitters who can:
• Control the strike zone
• Make consistent, high-quality contact
• Compete with a clear approach
• Adjust to different pitch types and situations
Raw tools may get a player noticed, but what earns and sustains opportunity is a refined skill set and game-time performance.
What That Means for Player Development
For players and parents focused on long-term growth, it’s important to prioritize the right things at the right time:
1.Build strength and efficient swing mechanics to develop power.
2.Use exit velocity as a tracking tool—not the end goal.
3.Once exit velocity is competitive, shift focus to:
•Plate discipline
•Pitch recognition
•Bat control
4.Recognize that the most successful players are often not the ones who hit the hardest—but the ones who are able to find the barrel often with an acceptable level of power.
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Final Takeaway
Exit velocity is like height in basketball:
• You need enough of it to compete at a high level.
• But having more than enough doesn’t automatically make you better.
• The best players combine physical tools with awareness, adaptability, and competitive maturity.
The goal isn’t just to hit harder. The goal is to win more at-bats.
Thanks For Reading,
Kurt Hewes
Founder and CEO of Ignite Baseball
