Around 10% of the world population is left-handed [1], however we see a much higher proportion of left-handed inviduals playing baseball. From a sample of 891 baseball players, we see that around 60% are right handed, almost 30% are left handed and 10% are ambidextrous. Do left-handed players perform better at this sport?
The batting average is a baseball statistic which is defined by the number
of hits divided by at bats [2]. The median batting average
of left-handed players is higher than right-handed and ambidextrous players.
Left-handed players have less variability in their batting average. However,
the two highest performers are left-handed.
In Baseball an home run is when a batter hits the ball over the edge of
the field and then is able to score a point by reaching home safely. A less
common type of home run is called a inside-the-par home run. This
is when the batter is able to circle all the bases without being put out by
the fielders of the opposite team. [3]
Left-handed players have a median number of home runs
higher than the other players.
The ballparks: Right field in most parks is shorter than left field because of the preponderance of right-handed hitters.
Seeing the ball: "A right-handed batter facing a right-handed pitcher actually has to pick up the ball visually as it comes from behind his (the batter's) left shoulder. The left-handed batter facing the right-handed pitcher has the ball coming to him, so he has a much clearer view of pitches."
Getting going: After a right-hander connects with a ball, his momentum spins him toward the third-base side. He must regroup to take even his first step toward first base. A left-hander's momentum carries him directly toward first. "The left-handed batter has a 5-foot advantage over the right-handed batter," Peters calculates. "And that means the lefty travels the 90 feet to first roughly one-sixth of a second faster than the righty. That translates to more base hits for the left-hander, whether singles or extra base hits because lefties are getting to the bases more quickly."
from: http://www.livescience.com/2665-baseball-rigged-lefties.html