Colorado Rockies: Five individual, advanced offensive stats that must be fixed in 2021

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Ryan McMahon strikeout rate (34.2 percent): Bottom 5 percent of the league

Like Sam Hilliard, Ryan McMahon’s big problem has been his strikeout rate. He has been in the top ten in the NL in each of the last two seasons in total strikeouts.

His whiff percentage was also very high in 2020 as it was 31.6 percent (league average was 24.5 percent). Of the 310 players that had 100 or more plate appearances in 2020, that 34.2 percent strikeout rate was 18th-worst in baseball.

Like Hilliard, his hard-hit percentage (43 percent compared to 34.9 percent league average) and average exit velocity (90.1 MPH with league average being 88.3 MPH) are well above league average (for the exit velocity, McMahon led the Rockies and he was the only guy who averaged above 90 MPH). But, also like Hilliard, his launch angle is a bit below league average.

For McMahon, though, since he has been in the major leagues longer than Hilliard and he will be replacing Nolan Arenado at third base, he will have more pressure to produce more at the plate for the Rockies and cutting down on the strikeouts will be a huge factor in that.

Overall for these five numbers, if they can be improved even to league average, the Rockies will be more on the path to “shock the world” by their 2021 performance. There are a few more guys that will need to see some improvements as well. And their 2021 performances may just be the ultimate decider in how the Rockies roster, coaching staff, and maybe even front office look in years to come.

All stats and percentages come from Baseball Savant unless otherwise noted.