DENVER -- Exit velocity, launch angle and other technology-driven tracking measurements were merely in theory when Vinny Castilla was in the Majors. But in conjunction with Weather & Science Day at Coors Field, and through his own sheer curiosity, the Rockies' special front office assistant put his swing to the Statcast™ test.
Utilizing the Statcast™ technology, Castilla contributed to the interactive presentation at Weather & Science Day with a display elaborating the physics of hitting. In its eighth year and with an emphasis on math and meteorology, the educational event, which sold more than 15,000 tickets, has become an early-season tradition, and it is hosted with Steve Spangler Science, Colorado State University and the 9News weather team.
"I was a little nervous, because I said, 'I, at least, need to hit one to show the kids how fast a home run can come out of the bat,'" Castilla said. "I think it's pretty cool to teach the kids how fast a baseball is coming out of a Major League bat and all the science about this that the kids can learn. That's a really cool thing."
A two-time All-Star who hit 320 career homers over 16 seasons, Castilla went 3-for-13 on deep flies during a blustery morning in Denver, where temperatures hovered in the 40s. Six of his batted balls were hit at an exit velocity of 100 mph or higher.
Castilla said the ability of Statcast™ to put more elaborate measurements on hitting has made the game even more digestible, particularly for younger fans.
"That's what it's all about right now, educating all the people about the science about the game," Castilla said.