Adjustments fuel Harper's improvement

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/105962/adjustments-fuel-harpers-improvement

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Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals has emerged as one of the top hitters in the game. He has made significant improvements that have contributed to his success.

Patience is a virtue

Harper has become a more patient hitter. He leads the major leagues with 40 walks (18 percent more than second place) and is on pace for 144 this year (in 162 games). That would be the second-most walks by a player in his age-22 season or younger since 1900, behind Ted Williams’ 147 in 1941.
Bryce Harper Career 1st 3 Seasons This Season
Swing pct 50% 44%
Chase pct 32% 27%
Pitches per PA 3.9 4.4*
*2nd in MLB

Harper has become more selective. He’s swinging less often and chasing pitches out of the zone much less frequently than in previous seasons.

He is seeing an average of 4.4 pitches per plate appearance, second in the majors. In his first three seasons, he saw an average of 3.9 pitches per plate appearance.

Only Carlos Santana has seen more pitches per plate appearance this year at 4.5.

Stronger on breaking balls

Possibly as a result of the new approach, Harper has significantly improved against breaking balls. He’s chasing those much less and making much harder contact when he does swing.
Bryce Harper vs. Breaking Balls 1st 3 Seasons This Season
BA .218 .378
Slug pct. .397 .844*
Hard-hit avg. .156 .289
Chase pct. 34% 24%
*Best in MLB

His home run rate against those pitches has more than doubled so far this season. He has five homers on breaking balls this year, second in the majors to Edwin Encarnacion.

Outside edge

Entering this season, Harper had struggled with pitches in the outer third of the strike zone or off the outside corner. Not so this year. In fact, he’s been one of the best hitters in the majors on outside pitches.
Bryce Harper has handled outside pitches well this season. ESPN Stats & Information

His batting average (.403) and slugging percentage (.833) on such pitches lead the majors.