Power hitter is a term used inbaseball for a skilled player that has a higher than average ability in terms of hisbatting, featuring a combination of dexterity and personal strength that likely leads to a high number ofhome runs as well asdoubles andtriples. In baseball, a power hitter typically bats fourth or "cleanup" in a Major League lineup, which consists of 9 hitters in a rotating order.^[2]

In terms of detailed analysis, looking at a player's ability as a power hitter often involves usingstatistics such as someone's 'slugging percentage' (a function that's calculated by evaluating someone's number of momentsat bat in relation to the nature of theirhits andstrikes). 'Isolated Power' (ISO), a measure showing the number of extra bases earned per time at bat that's calculated by subtracting someone'sbatting average from his slugging percentage, is another statistic used.^[3]

The concept generally isanalogous to that of apower pitcher, a player who relies on the velocity of his pitches (perhaps at the expense of accuracy) and a high record ofstrikeout associated with them (statistics such as strikeouts per nine innings pitched are common measures).

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Barry Bonds, who setthe record for the most home runs in a season inMajor League Baseball history, is often cited as a power hitter. His career was later bogged down by allegations regardingperformance enhancing drugs. However, he managed a total of 762 home runs while also earning a comparatively high ISO compared to his rivals, with the publicationBusiness Insider labeling him #3 in a list of the greatest power hitters of all time.^[3]

Prior toBarry Bonds breaking the single season home run record in 2001,Sammy Sosa andMark McGwire closely competed for the record in 1998 with Sosa finishing at a respective 66 home runs and McGwire with a respective 70 home runs to secure the title.^{[citation needed]}

Other baseball figures so cited include the famous hittersBabe Ruth,Hank Aaron,Lou Gehrig, andTed Williams.^[3] Popular newspaper writerVictor O. Jones wrote about Williams in particular, "Ted is lucky to come along in a baseball age that worships on the shrine of power, pure, unadulterated power."^[1]

• Power pitcher
• List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career slugging percentage leaders

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