Allen Craig put together an impressive year and a half batting with runners in scoring position. He is batting .421, the only player with at least 200 PA batting over .400 in that time. Craig’s career batting average is .305, so the probability of his accumulating at least 85 hits in any given 202 at bats is just .00033, or about 1 in 3000.

Allen Craig shows perfect form as he hits an RBI double on June 21, 2013. Notice his eye on the ball as it comes off the bat. Photo: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Craig should be the kind of hitter who does well in RBI situations, as he combines a high career BABIP (.339) with a high slugging percentage. His balls in play have a high chance of going for hits, and because he gets a high number of long hits, he moves base runners a great distance. Since the start of the 2012 season, his BABIP with runners in scoring position stands at .457 with a .663 slugging percentage. Given the Cardinals are a high OBP team, Craig gets plenty of opportunities to bat in situations where he can drive in runs.

Seldom does a player present himself as someone who fits the common definition of clutch. Since the start of 2012, Craig has fit the bill. Usually, good hitters are clutch hitters, but over his career, Craig’s good batting numbers are highly influenced by his batting with runners in scoring position. If someone wants to study what makes someone a clutch hitter, Craig is the person to explore.