Batting stances have always been a way for players to express their personality in a way that fits their swing, but what is its significance?
In this article, we are going to swing for the fences with MLB The Show 24’s best batting stances.
We are looking at the pros and cons of batting stances and how to pick the best one for you so you can smash pitches and hit dingers.
10. Juan Soto
Juan Soto has a great stance that balances contact and power. With the bat positioned a little further back in Soto’s stance, as well as his front foot, you have more forgiveness with poor swings and stronger power on well-timed swings.
Soto’s stance also has the back elbow being raised, keeping the hitter ready to hit balls high in the zone with the ability to quickly adjust to hit low in the zone with the drop of a shoulder.
So, if you are flying out to the warning track, or just off with your swing timing, you should try making the switch to Juan Soto’s stance and see the difference for yourself.
What is good about Juan Soto’s batting stance?
It increases contact and power without sacrificing either.
Stance details:
- more forgiveness with poor swings
- stronger power on well-timed swings
- easier to hit balls high and low
9. William Contreras
If you are looking to boost your contact without sacrificing power, William Contreras’s stance is what you are looking for. He has a mostly medium swing, nothing too extreme one way or another, but with his hands a little higher and positioned slightly back, late-timed swings can be just as effective as well-timed swings.
This is my go-to catcher in Diamond Dynasty as Contreras’s stance makes hitting for contact much easier without a large drop-off in power and his quick swing catches up to the nasty cheese and sends it over the fence where it belongs.
What is good about William Contreras’s batting stance: You can boost your contact without sacrificing power.
Stance details:
- Balanced swing
- Increases contact
- Solid power
8. Gunnar Henderson
Gunnar Henderson’s batting stance has many elements of a balanced swing stance. But after playing around with him and taking a closer look, this stance has many benefits. The biggest plus you notice off the bat is that you will see increased power on well-hit balls without sacrificing contact. He is the inverse of William Contreras.
Gunnar Henderson has a rather balanced swing, but his hands are slightly further back than usual, and he has a strong grip. His feet are slightly outside his shoulders in a position that makes it easier for him to transfer his power to his front as he swings the bat. This allows him to create higher swing speeds, and higher exit velocity, that are more controlled and a great stance to use for power swings. While he can generate more power, it is generally concentrated on pitches on the bottom half and far side of the plate. This can be deadly against pitchers trying to go down and away and makes hitting with two strikes a little easier.
What is good about Gunnar Henderson’s batting stance: increased power without sacrificing contact.
Stance details:
- Strong grip
- higher swing speeds and exit velocity
- great against down and away pitching
7. Aaron Judge
All rise, the honorable Aaron Judge is now presiding over MLB. Not only is Judge a generational talent, but he also pays incredible attention to detail and implements that knowledge across all aspects of his game. Standing six feet and seven inches tall, Judge is tied for tallest position player in the Major Leagues, and he maximizes the use of his size in his batting stance.
Aaron Judge has a stance that really lets you take advantage of size and power swings in the top half of the zone. Whether it is right down the middle, or the high nasty cheese you cannot seem to catch up to, this stance can get to it. Judge has the bat much further back in his stance and waggles the bat minimally. This means you need to be a little bit later in your swing timing and you can hit any pitch in the top third and middle third of the plate out of the park.
What is good about Aaron Judge’s batting stance: great power on pitches in the top half of the plate.
Stance details:
- need to swing a little later to maximize efficiency
- minimal waggle
- bat much further back
6. Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench belongs anywhere but on the bench… As one of the all-time best hitters in the game's history, his swing cuts through a baseball like a hot knife cuts through butter.
I will probably get some heat for this one, but the swing works so well if you know how to use it. Bench’s stance has the hands a tad further back with the back elbow much higher than the lead. This increases swing speed so you need to time the swing a little later and you will stop missing and hitting foul balls and start hitting out of the park.
What is good about Johnny Bench’s batting stance: rewarded for swinging a little late.
Swing details:
- back elbow much higher than the lead
- hands a tad further back
- increased swing speed
5. Shohei Ohtani
Since coming over to the big leagues from Japan, Shohei Ohtani has been a nightmare for pitchers. His swing is smooth, balanced and powerful; and it all starts with his batting stance.
Ohtani has his lead foot slightly off center with both elbows high and pronounced allowing him to get anywhere in the zone with power. The bat is a bit further back, but the stance is rather balanced other than that. If you want to improve contact while keeping power this is a solid choice.
What is good about Shohei Ohtani’s batting stance: improved contact while keeping power.
Stance details:
- lead foot slightly off-center
- both elbows high and pronounced
- bat is a little bit further back
4. Chipper Jones
Chipper Jones was a staple right in the heart of the lineup for the great Braves teams of the 90s. Being in the heart of the order for multiple World Series teams signifies something special, and when you look at Chipper’s batting stance you can see where his success comes from.
Chipper’s stance is unique and that is part of what makes it so special. His front foot is offset allowing you to turn around on the ball easier and he holds the bat much higher in his stance making it easier to drop and hit pitches on the bottom half of the plate.
What is good about Chipper Jones’s batting stance: great for hitting pitching on the bottom half of the plate.
Stance details:
- front foot is offset
- bat much higher in his stance
- unique (even for batting stances)
3. David Ortiz
Known universally by the nickname, “Big Papi”, David Ortiz is a hall-of-fame slugger who made a career as a designated hitter (DH). The start to a slugger’s success is a slugger stance and Ortiz has a fun one. Great for solid contact and power, this is another player who can reach out of the zone and destroy the outside of the plate.
Ortiz’s stance has his legs a little wider and his hands a little further back in his stance giving him the ability to make consistent solid contact and opposite field power. He picks up his front foot much higher than most which requires you to swing a little earlier, but the flare is well worth it.
What is good about David Ortiz’s batting stance: can reach out of the zone and destroy the outside of the plate.
Stance details:
- consistent solid contact
- opposite field power
- legs a little wider and his hands a little further back in his stance
2. Ken Griffey Jr.
“The Kid” and “Junior”, those are the two nicknames that fans recognize as Ken Griffey Jr. He is, obviously, the son of MLB player Ken Griffey Sr and grew up in MLB clubhouses before becoming a big leaguer and player with his father. When you combine Juniors’ raw talent with the knowledge gained from growing up around the pros of the game, you get what has been dubbed by many as “the perfect swing”; and the start to a perfect swing, is a perfect batting stance.
Junior has the bat a little further back in his stance, his back elbow higher, and he is wagging with his bat. This allows him to get more power while reaching across the zone destroying pitches on the outside third of the plate and even well out of the zone.
What is good about Ken Griffey Jr.’s batting stance: increased power on the outside third of the plate.
Stance details:
- bat a little further back in his stance
- back elbow higher and waggling
- great power outside the strike zone
1. Trea Turner
Coming in at #1 is Trea Turner. His swing is easy, great for contact, and can go anywhere in the field. He holds the bat almost vertically with his elbows tucked allowing him to stay shallow and make great contact on pitches inside while also allowing him to extend his arms as needed to reach across the zone.
Turner’s batting stance is great at just making contact and perfect to have in the top of any batting order. The flexibility of the stance is really what makes it special. Whether your timing is a little off or your contact is weak, this stance can be a difference-maker.
What is good about Trea Turner’s batting stance: improved contact anywhere in the strike zone.
Stance details:
- great for contact
- flexibility
- can hit opposite field
