Handedness Splits
While left-handed batters typically struggle hitting against left-handed pitchers, Gorman seems to have broken that mold this year. Since Nolan Gorman is a left-handed batter, it is reasonable to assume that he would struggle against lefties. That was definitely the case in 2022; however, the script has been flipped this year. Below are his numbers against lefties these last two years.
Year | Plate Appearances | Batting Average | On-Base Percentage | Slugging Percentage |
---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | 23 | .211 | .348 | .316 |
2023 | 66 | .286 | .379 | .518 |
While these are both small sample sizes, it is obvious that Gorman has made an adjustment this year against left-handed pitchers. He is being more patient, as is evidenced by his 2% increase in walk rate. Also, he is hitting the ball much harder more often. His hard-hit percentage has gone up by nearly 5% this year compared to last year.
Despite these drastic improvements in his ability to hit lefties, Gorman is still absent in lineups when a left-handed pitcher is on the mound, most recently on August 25th against the Phillies. Instead, Taylor Motter, a career .190 hitter, got the start despite Gorman having been just activated off the Injured List. While Gorman's numbers against righties have dipped slightly, he is still an above-average hitter at the plate. He has improved his plate discipline, hit pitch selection, and his power numbers.