Performance Center Hitting Leagues Set-up and Structure

The Red Wings Performance Center was built to bring MLB-caliber technology into the heart of Rochester and make it accessible to every athlete. This fall, our new HitTrax-powered Hitting Leagues will launch…giving players the chance to train, compete, and measure their progress like never before.

How the Leagues Work

Each season will run for 5 weeks inside the Red Wings Performance Center at Innovative Field. Teams will consist of ~6 players, keeping games fast-paced and ensuring plenty of at-bats for everyone.

• Weeks 1–4: Regular Season

  • Each team will play two 7-inning games per week in a one-hour slot.

  • While in the game cage, teams will compete head-to-head with all plays tracked and scored through HitTrax simulated games.

  • While a team is not up to bat in the game, they’ll continue hitting in the second tunnel where Rapsodo will track every batted ball, recording metrics like exit velocity, launch angle, and spin. This ensures that every athlete stays active and engaged throughout the session.

  • Standings and leaderboards will be updated weekly, just like the pros.

• Week 5: Playoffs & Championship

  • Top teams will battle it out for the league title.

  • The week will also include recognition for individual award winners.

Team Formation

Teams will be comprised in two ways. For groups who wish to play together, one team member will purchase the team registration product and will assemble their roster through follow-up communications sent after purchase. For individual players without a team, you can register as a single-player entry. All individual registrants will be drafted into a team within their age division to ensure balanced rosters and competitive play throughout the league.

How HitTrax Games Work

HitTrax turns every swing into a live, game-like outcome. Using advanced cameras and physics modeling, the system measures exit velocity, launch angle, spray angle, and distance, then projects each batted ball into a virtual stadium.

• A line drive up the middle might play out as a single at Fenway Park.

• A high fly ball might carry just enough to leave the yard at Camden Yards.

• For younger players, stadiums are scaled to age level, ensuring outcomes remain realistic and developmentally appropriate.

Each game runs like a real baseball contest...outs, innings, and scoring all function just like on the field. Teams cycle through the lineup, and the HitTrax interface displays a digital scoreboard with pitch count, outs, and current batter.

Standings & Stats

HitTrax automatically tracks both team and individual stats, creating a true league environment.

• Team Stats: Wins, losses, runs scored, runs allowed, standings updated weekly.

• Individual Stats: Batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, RBI, home runs, and more.

• Leaderboards: Highlight the top performers in categories like max exit velocity, longest hit distance, and hard-hit percentage.

These stats will be printed, shared, and displayed in the Performance Center, giving players the same feel as following the pros and fueling friendly competition throughout the season.

Real Data, Real Development

Every swing in HitTrax is measured with precision. Exit velocity, launch angle, distance, and contact point are recorded instantly, then paired with spray charts, leaderboards, and in-game outcomes. For younger players, stadiums are scaled to match their age level so the data stays accurate while the gameplay remains exciting.

Meanwhile, Rapsodo ensures that when players aren’t in live games, they are still collecting data on every swing, turning the league into a comprehensive development experience from start to finish. Every swing an athlete takes, whether on the HitTrax or on the Rapsodo unit, will be compiled into their hitting snapshot that they'll receive after each session.

Curious what a Hitting Snapshot looks like?

Every swing in the Performance Center is tracked, measured, and turned into a personalized report - get a preview of one now HERE.

Individual Awards

At the conclusion of Championship Week, we’ll also honor the top individual performers across all divisions. Awards will be (subject to change) presented for:

• Most Extra-Base Hits

• Highest Batted Ball Exit Velocity

• Longest Hit Distance

• Highest Average Exit Velocity

Award winners will receive a combination of prizes, which will be announced at a later date.

Why Exit Velocity Is Our Core Metric

Exit velocity isn’t just a number — it’s a predictor of success.

• Higher Exit Velocity = More Hits

  • Research shows that harder-hit balls travel faster and are tougher for fielders to catch, significantly increasing the chance of a hit.

• Predicts Offensive Production

  • Batters who consistently slug the ball hard often post stronger offensive numbers (like wRC+), and exit velocity correlates strongly with run production.

• Better Power Outcomes

  • Average MLB exit velocities for power hitters are around 93–95 mph, compared to the league average of 88-90 mph.

• Reliable and Repeatable Performance

  • Higher exit velocity percentiles (e.g., top 10–50%) are more stable year over year and more predictive of future success than averages alone.

In short, tracking exit velocity gives players and coaches a quantitative window into real potential, not just feel.

Why It Matters

The Hitting Leagues are more than just competition. They’re about giving players the same feedback and context that professional athletes use to sharpen their skills. For 8U players, that means seeing their line drive turn into a triple in Fenway Park. For high schoolers, it means obtaining legitimate data they can use to make informed development changes. For everyone, it means training with purpose, competing with excitement, and growing with every rep.

📥 Join the Waitlist today to secure your spot in our first HitTrax Hitting League. Spots will be limited!