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Pay attention to the top hand and the top hand forearm. The hand is doing what I call the swivel, and this is at the heart of the high level swing. Supination of the top hand forearm and wrist causes the barrel's first move to be backward, away from the ball and away from the pitcher. This is a highly misunderstood move in the baseball/softball swing. Most amateur hitters either pull or push their hands forward "to the ball" by using their arms. Others "rotate the hands to the ball" with shoulder rotation. Neither of these techniques are high level. In the high level swing, the barrel's first move is backward. For this to happen the top hand wrist has to swivel.
The significance of this move can not be overstated. It plays a large role in creating "early" batspeed. Speed early in the swing. It also creates the proper approach angle of the barrel to the ball. Amateur swings "carve" the baseball because the barrel arcs late in the swing. The high level swing arcs to the ball early and creates a better approach angle. This approach angle is very important to achieve the highest compression of the ball at impact. The sound of the ball hitting the bat is quite different in professional hitters as compared to amateurs. Batspeed plays a role. But the angle of approach which leads to better ball compression is equally important.