Best switch hitters

Sporting News, The, May 26, 2003 by Tom Gatto

These guys can hurt you regardless of which batter's box they're occupying.

Bernie Williams, OF, Yankees

A natural righthanded hitter, Williams took up switch hitting in the minor leagues; a year and a half later, he was in the majors. Obviously, the experiment worked: Williams hit .300 or better each of the past eight seasons, and he was at .314 entering the week. With five seasons of 100 or more RBIs and two others in the 90s, he does more than just put the ball in play. He's a power threat from both sides, although he hit 15 of his 19 homers last season lefthanded. The 19 homers were Williams' lowest total since 1995, but he played most of last season with two sore shoulders. That made his .333 average, which was third in the American League, even more impressive, Williams' shoulders are OK, but now he is contending with an inflamed left knee. Even with his power, Williams is content to use the entire field, and his career walk and strikeout totals are close (858 walks, 942 strikeouts). He's a low-ball hitter lefthanded, a high-ball hitter from the right side.

Carlos Beltran, OF, Royals. Judging from batting averages, Beltran is consistent--.282 from both sides of the plate. He had a so-so 2002 from the right side (.245 in 163 at-bats), perhaps because he was trying to hit more home runs or because he had trouble adjusting to seeing fewer fastballs. Beltran sometimes struggles with an uppercut and poor strike-zone judgment.

Chipper Jones, OF, Braves. Teams used to succeed against Jones by having him bat righthanded. In the past four seasons, however, Jones nullified that strategy, batting .368 (177-for-481) with 39 home runs. Overall, his lefthanded power numbers dominated (202 homers to 51), but he can drive the ball from either side. His average righthanded (.314) is seven points higher than his lefty average.

Lance Berkman, OF Astros. Last year Berkman became just the fifth switch hitter in history to hit 40 or more homers in a season, but 40 of his 42 came from the left side. In fact, just six of his 101 career homers entering this season were hit righthanded. His lifetime average against lefties (.251) is 64 points lower than his mark against righties--puzzling given Minute Maid Park's inviting left field.

Jorge Posada, C, Yankees. Like Williams, Posada began his career as a righthanded hitter. And, like Williams, he has developed power from the left side of the plate. Posada can be pitched to, but he'll crush mistakes up in the strike zone. He's more of a pull hitter righthanded, which reduces his homer total given the large left-center gap at Yankee Stadium. Catching cuts into his offensive effectiveness.

Carl Everett, OF, Rangers. Everett is showing he still can produce when healthy. His hot start with Texas is reminiscent of the 1999 and 2000 seasons he put together with the Astros and Red Sox, respectively. Injuries played a key role in the offensive drop-off that followed, but Everett rebounded late last season with the Rangers, hitting .327 with 10 home runs after the All-Star break. The left side is his power side.

Jose Vidro, 2B, Expos. A dangerous line-drive hitter from either side, Vidro has developed patience at the plate, making him an even tougher out. The left side is his power side, but he's not a pull hitter; he sprays balls from the right-center gap to the left field line. His righthanded hit chart mirrors that pattern--most of his base hits were to center or right. He annually is among baseball's leaders in doubles.