Mookie Betts or Ronald Acuña Jr.? This was the question 2023 MVP voters were tasked with answering. There were cases for both: Acuña had just completed an incredible, record-breaking 40/70 season, while Betts had something others argued could not be quantified — positional versatility. The 2023 season marked his professional return to significant time in the infield, complementing his esteemed right field defense that had already earned him multiple Gold Glove awards.

Yet, as this debate unfolded, I found myself wondering: How, in the most quantified sport in the world, was there such a gap in our numerical understanding of player value? Surprisingly little research has been done on the value of positional versatility beyond its defensive benefits, which, for the most part, are at least somewhat accounted for in existing metrics. Considering this, with my research, I focused on quantifying versatility in a different way: by assessing its impact on a team’s ability to use pinch-hitters. Positional versatility allows a manager to make more substitutions in favor of stronger hitters off the bench, potentially increasing wins in a way not currently reflected in WAR. Conversely, versatility may have no such effect or may provide only a marginal benefit that does not meaningfully impact wins. Is versatility truly undervalued in today’s analytical climate? Let’s take a look. Read the rest of this entry »