The world of college baseball analytics is evolving, and with it comes a groundbreaking new addition to 64Analytics: RE24. This advanced metric, adapted from Major League Baseball analytics, is designed to bring professional-grade insights to the college game—with a twist that makes it uniquely suited for the collegiate landscape.
What is RE24?
At its core, RE24 (Run Expectancy 24) is a metric that measures the change in run expectancy based on base-out states during a player’s at-bat or plate appearance. It provides a detailed view of a player’s impact on the game by quantifying how their actions shift the likelihood of scoring runs. This measure, utilized in MLB analytics and adopted by teams like the Houston Astros, offers a more nuanced understanding of offensive value than traditional metrics like batting average or RBIs.
RE24 considers all 24 possible base-out states—combinations of runners on base and outs in an inning—to calculate the expected runs. Each action a player takes, whether a base hit, a walk, or even a sacrifice fly, changes the game’s run expectancy. By measuring this change, RE24 gives insight into how much a player contributes to their team’s success.
Why Adapt RE24 for College Baseball?
While MLB’s RE24 framework is well-established, the unique dynamics of college baseball demanded a tailored approach. College baseball games often see far more runs scored than MLB games, and the scoring environment differs significantly between divisions. For instance, Division III games typically feature higher run totals than Division I, and these differences cannot be captured by a one-size-fits-all matrix.
To address these challenges, 64Analytics developed a variable matrix for RE24 that adjusts for:
- Division-Specific Variations: Each division (D1, D2, D3) has a custom run expectancy matrix that reflects its unique scoring environment. This ensures that RE24 is meaningful and accurate at every level of college baseball.
- Conference and Opponent Strength: The matrix considers the quality of competition, allowing metrics to remain relevant regardless of the opponent’s RPI ranking.
- Game Context: Variability in-game dynamics, such as differences in weekday versus weekend games, is integrated into the model to mirror real-world conditions.
How Coaches Can Use RE24
Our enhanced RE24 metric empowers coaches to evaluate player performance with unparalleled precision. By capturing a player’s ability to influence the game’s trajectory, RE24 answers questions that traditional stats cannot. For example:
- Which players excel at driving in runs or advancing runners in high-leverage situations?
- How does a player’s impact vary against different tiers of competition?
- What base-out scenarios maximize a player’s contributions to team success?
Consider a player with a high RE24 score against upper-tier Division I opponents. This player can be identified as particularly impactful in critical matchups, offering valuable insight into their ability to perform under pressure. Based on conference RPI rankings, this differentiation allows programs to assess player performance relative to the level of competition they face. Similarly, RE24 can highlight players especially effective in non-conference or weekday vs. weekend games, giving teams a strategic edge.
By leveraging RE24’s detailed analysis, programs can evaluate players’ contributions with context and clarity. One of the most significant features of this innovation is that 64Analytics now feeds every at-bat from every game across Division I, II, and III directly into its database in real time. This comprehensive data integration allows coaches to assess performance as it happens and ensures that RE24 reflects the most current trends and contributions. Additionally, because RE24 is a cumulative statistic rather than an average, it allows coaches to track how players progress throughout the season, providing a clear picture of their sustained impact on the team over time. A player’s value is no longer confined to raw stats; instead, RE24 reveals their impact on game outcomes, painting a fuller picture of their performance.
This new functionality represents a leap forward for college baseball analytics, bridging the gap between professional-grade metrics and the distinct characteristics of the collegiate game. By tailoring RE24 to the nuances of college baseball, 64Analytics provides programs at every level with tools to make data-driven decisions that elevate their performance.
For college baseball, where strategy and adaptability are key, RE24 opens the door to a deeper understanding of player contributions and game dynamics. With this metric, coaches and analysts can identify the moments and players that genuinely shape outcomes. Welcome to the next chapter of analytics—where MLB precision meets college baseball's unique challenges and opportunities.