The Brewers’ flatter swings challenge baseball’s launch-angle orthodoxy

On November 4, 2026, the Brewers’ 2026 season offered a case for a different offensive approach: flatter swings, later contact and more balls driven the other way. As fastballs have become quicker and are released from lower points, the high, pulled fly ball favored by launch-angle hitting has become harder to produce effectively, the analysis argued.

Milwaukee had the lowest average launch angle in baseball at 9.2 degrees and the highest opposite-field rate, 27%. Its 48.1% ground-ball rate was the league’s highest since 2024, while its share of pulled air balls was the lowest recorded since tracking began in 2017. The Brewers were also the only team with an average attack angle directed toward the opposite field.

The five teams with the highest rates of pulled air balls went 391–420 and combined for a 0–4 postseason record. The five with the lowest rates went 430–380 and were 20–7 in the postseason. Grounders hit the other way were especially productive: Milwaukee batted .452 on them in the regular season, compared with .214 on pulled grounders. In the playoffs, those averages were .455 and .254.

Pratt, a 22-year-old shortstop promoted in June with a reputation for defense, also changed his swing as the season progressed. By the playoffs he was closer to the plate, generating more bat speed and letting pitches travel deeper. His attack angle fell from 7 degrees in the first half to 3 degrees in the postseason, while his OPS rose from .684 to .852 and his whiff rate dropped from 23.8% to 17.4%.

The Brewers finished the regular season with 119 opposite-field ground-ball hits. Their postseason run may also affect the club’s plans for William Contreras: a team source said the team was more likely to pursue an extension with the catcher, who is one year from free agency.