A young baseball player in a white and blue uniform, wearing a helmet, holds a bat in a batting stance on the field. Spectators sit in the background during a game at dusk.

Player Information:

Name: cvn

Throws: R

Bats: R

Age: 43

Height: 5’6

Weight: 235lbs

Developmental Level (based on age): Level 10 (Pro Level)

Player Scorecard: Ty Vanvolkenberg

Rating Scale: 1 (Poor) to 5 (Elite)

Mechanic Category

Component

Fundamentals

Head position

Stance - Open/Closed, Athletic

Stride and Timing of front foot

Balanced at front foot strike

Load and separation

Hip Drive: back knee to front heel

Front leg - Locked or Bent

Hand Position

Posture (Leaning in towards ball)

Staying centered thru swing

Front side open or closed

Swing mechanics

Bat path

Keep hands inside ball

Palm up / palm down

Bat extension thru baseball

Advanced

Head at contact

Back shoulder dropping to much

How long is Barrel in zone

Plate coverage

Rating (1-5)

Coach’s Note

5

Head remains exceptionally still and centered from load through contact.

5

Starts in a powerful, balanced, and athletic base, slightly open to the pitcher.

5

Utilizes a controlled, high leg kick that effectively gathers energy and times the pitch.

5

Lands in a strong, athletic position with weight centered, ready to rotate.

5

Creates elite-level separation (hip/shoulder), stretching the torso to maximize power.

5

Explosive hip rotation initiated by the lower half leads the entire swing sequence.

5

Front leg firms up into a solid block, enabling efficient energy transfer up the chain.

5

Hands load back and up into a powerful launch slot, staying connected to rotation.

5

Maintains a consistent and strong spine angle throughout the entire swing.

5

Rotates powerfully around a stable central axis with no forward lunge.

5

Effectively clears the front side to allow the hips and barrel to accelerate through the zone.

5

A high-level, sequenced swing that produces elite bat speed and power.

5

Ideal upward path that gets on plane early and matches the incoming pitch angle.

5

Hands stay tight to the body, allowing the barrel to whip through with maximum speed.

5

Maintains strong wrist and hand position through the contact point.

5

Achieves full, powerful extension post-contact, driving through the ball.

5

Head is perfectly still and down, with eyes tracking the ball to the bat.

5

Back shoulder works under correctly to get the barrel on plane for the pitch location.

5

Barrel enters the zone deep and stays on the pitch plane for an extended period.

5

Athleticism and mechanics allow for complete plate coverage with power.

Summary, Scoring & Recommendations

Overall Summary

Strengths:

This is an elite-level swing defined by exceptional power generation. The hitter creates plus bat speed through a highly efficient kinetic chain, highlighted by elite hip-shoulder separation and explosive rotation. The bat path is optimized to get on plane early and drive the ball with authority in the air.

Areas for Improvement:

At this level, there are no glaring mechanical deficiencies. The focus shifts from correction to maintaining consistency of these high-level movements. The aggressive nature of the swing, including the high leg kick, requires precise timing, which must be honed daily against various velocities and pitch types.

  • Current Mechanics Rating: 80: MLB Elite mechanics

  • Projected Level of Play: 80: MLB TOP LEVEL

Performance Scores (Based on Rubric)

Recommended Drills

Drill #1: Offset Open Drill

  • Focus: To reinforce the proper kinematic sequence, feeling the lower half initiate while the upper body stays coiled and resists rotation.

  • Execution: Set up a tee on the outer third of the plate. Take your stance with your front foot pulled back (open). Stride to a closed position while keeping the hands back, then execute the swing, focusing on driving the ball to the opposite field gap.

Drill #2: High Tee / Top Hand Drill

  • Focus: To maintain a direct hand path and stay on top of pitches at the top of the strike zone, preventing the back shoulder from dipping excessively.

  • Execution: Place a tee at the top of the strike zone on the inner half. Take swings focusing on a short, direct path to the ball. This can also be done one-handed (top hand only) to emphasize the correct movement pattern.

Drill #3: Med Ball Rotational Throws

  • Focus: To build and maintain explosive core strength and the powerful separation that defines the swing.

  • Execution: Stand perpendicular to a solid wall. Holding a medicine ball, simulate the load and separation, then explosively rotate and throw the ball against the wall. Catch it on the rebound and repeat for reps.