The days of the .300 hitter in Major League Baseball are becoming a rarity due to the increase in pitch velocity. With four-seam fastballs averaging a record 94.3 mph, batters are finding it harder to make contact and maintain a high batting average. The major league batting average is on track to finish at .243 or .244, down from .248 last year, and the minor league average has also decreased to .242. Only seven qualified batters were on track to hit .300 or better entering the final weekend of the season, the lowest since 1968.
Pitchers have developed larger repertoires with an increase in cut fastballs and a decrease in four-seam fastballs. Despite this, MLB’s imposition of a 13-pitcher maximum on active rosters in 2022 has slowed the trend towards bullpen use, with average innings for starting pitchers slightly rebounding to 5.2 this season. However, the use of electric arms and technology to analyze pitching strategies remains a challenge for batters.
MLB’s attempt to increase offense by limiting defensive shifts in 2023 did not have the desired effect on batting averages. The average through April of this season was .239, impacted by cold weather, down from .249 in April 2023. With the game evolving to favor pitchers, the days of the .300 hitter may continue to decline as batters face faster and more varied pitches.
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