Why is Munetaka Murakami mashing baseballs? While this isn’t the complete reason, often people fail to realize the dissimilarities between baseballs used in the MLB versus the NPB. Balls used in the NPB are smaller, tackier, and have higher seams. All 3 of these factors allow pitchers to spin the ball faster, generating more movement. It is estimated that a pitcher loses around 1.7” of IVB on their fastball from NPB ball to MLB ball. How does this relate to Murakami? Murakami is used to facing fastballs with higher carry, making it easier to adjust to the fastballs in the MLB, even if the velocity might be increased. Think of it like a fastball in Seattle versus a fastball in Denver. I would expect him to continue the trend of hitting bombs this year👀 #MLB #NPB #Baseball #Hitting

@developbaseball @OPS_BASEBALL @qopbaseball @npb @BacksideGB @JBaseballData @JustBB_Media @TalkinBaseball_ He’s probably mashing baseballs because he has 80-grade power.

@Josh33630535 @OPS_BASEBALL @qopbaseball @npb @BacksideGB @JBaseballData @JustBB_Media @TalkinBaseball_ Also a very high contributing factor