Q+A: Vertical Jump in Baseball?

Q: "What is the point of using vertical jump in the baseball SPARQ Rating? You really don’t do a lot of jumping in baseball. Or is it used to calculate explosiveness? Thanks!"

-Jaime Garrido

TRAINER ANSWERS: The vertical jump is a test of explosive power, and it relates closely to your potential for speed. You do need explosiveness in baseball, and you do jump — sideways more often than up, but any sort of lunge while fielding requires the same sort of explosive power.

To give an example, Mike Cameron of the Padres had a 39.5 inching vertical jump when he was younger. He can jump on his horse and move!