Learn more about recipients of SABR Research Grants in 2026
APRIL 1, 2026 — SABR is pleased to announce the inaugural recipients of its new Research Grants in 2026:
- Routine-Oriented Traits and Position-Specific Performance in Collegiate Baseball
Taku Imaizumi, Assistant Professor, National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, Japan- This project examines how routine-oriented psychological traits—such as strong adherence to routines and intense cognitive focus—relate to position-specific performance in collegiate baseball. While physical and technical skills have long been central to baseball analytics, the role of psychological traits remains less clearly understood. Using a large-scale dataset of collegiate players, this study investigates how these traits vary across positions and how they contribute to on-field performance, with particular attention to pitchers, whose roles emphasize repetition and structured routines. By integrating psychological measures with performance data, the project aims to provide new insights into player evaluation and to expand baseball analytics to include cognitive and behavioral dimensions.
- Growing Accessible Biomechanics Data and Analysis with Computer Vision
Hassan Rafique, Assistant Professor in Sport Analytics, Syracuse University
Jeremy Losak, Associate Professor in Sport Analytics, Syracuse University- This project will explore the feasibility of building a publicly accessible repository of baseball biomechanical data using computer vision technology applied to broadcast footage. The resulting data will then be put to work advancing baseball research, with analyses targeting hitting, pitching, and catching — demonstrating the potential of open biomechanical data to deepen our understanding of the game.
SABR Research Grants are intended to support original scholarly work that aligns with our organization’s core mission: fostering the study, discussion, and understanding of all aspects of baseball. We invite proposals that deepen our knowledge of baseball from various disciplines, including (but not limited to) history and the broader humanities, analytics, data science, business, law, biomechanics, and kinesiology.
SABR Research Grants are open to individual researchers or groups of researchers, with preference given to those with terminal degrees in their field of study and/or demonstrated professional achievement in that field. Applicants do not need to be active SABR members to submit a proposal; however, grant recipients who are not members are encouraged to join to take advantage of SABR’s research resources and community of subject-matter experts. Preference will be given to applicants who indicate they will utilize existing SABR resources and publications in their work.
To learn more, visit SABR.org/research-grants.
Originally published: April 1, 2026. Last Updated: March 31, 2026.