While many sports benefit from excellent vision, professional baseball is a sport that demands exceptionally keen eyesight.
Visual Acuity in Baseball
Professional baseball players are known for having superior visual skills. The ability to track a small, fast-moving object, like a baseball, requires precise visual acuity. A study in 2019 focusing on players within the Los Angeles Dodgers' and New York Mets' organizations showcased this.
The Study's Findings:
- Over 81% of the players examined had a visual acuity of 20/15 or better.
- 20/15 vision means they can see at 20 feet what an average person can only see at 15 feet, indicating remarkable clarity of vision.
Why is Good Vision Important in Baseball?
- Hitting: Tracking a pitched ball, judging its speed, and making contact requires incredible visual precision.
- Fielding: Reading the trajectory of a hit, judging the distance, and catching a ball accurately relies heavily on visual acuity and depth perception.
- Base Running: Identifying the movements of the ball and other players in a fast-paced and dynamic environment also depends on a high level of visual ability.
| Sport | Vision Demands |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Extreme visual acuity, tracking, depth perception |
Therefore, while other sports require good vision, the combination of tracking a fast-moving small object and judging distance and speed in baseball makes it a sport where having excellent eyesight is critical for success at the professional level.
