There’s a new inconsistency with MLB’s baseballs.
According to The Athletic, there has been more drag on the ball this season and fly balls are averaging 4 feet less than usual. Subsequently, home runs are at an eight-year low in full-time MLB ballparks.
While the league acknowledged the discrepancy, they said nothing intentional has changed with the Rawlings baseballs.
“For the last several seasons, MLB has made drag information available to the public online, which is updated daily during the season,” MLB spokesperson Glen Caplin told The Athletic in a statement. “We are aware of an increase in average drag this season and have provided information to the Major League Baseball Players Association on this issue as our experts continue to study any potential causes beyond normal variability in a product made by hand with natural materials. There has been no change to the manufacturing, storage or handling of baseballs this year, and all baseballs remain within specifications.”
In closed-door meetings, commissioner Rob Manfred has reportedly acknowledged the baseballs are behaving differently. It’s something the MLBPA is keeping tabs on, too.
“The Players Association has been monitoring baseball behavior throughout the season, and recently reached out to the commissioner’s office to review available data and request additional information on a range of baseball measures,” Kevin Slowey, MLBPA’s managing director of player services, told The Athletic.
