Baseball is currently facing a challenge with a significant decrease in batting averages, reaching levels not seen since the late 1960s. The major league batting average has been on a decline, dropping to .243 heading into the All-Star break, the lowest since the dead-ball era ended in 1920. This trend is also reflected in minor league baseball, with this year's batting average at .243, down from .256 in 2019.
The increase in pitching velocity is a key factor contributing to the difficulty in scoring runs. The average four-seam fastball velocity has risen to 94.2 mph this year, matching the previous year and significantly higher than in 2008. The prevalence of pitches exceeding 100 mph has also surged, with 3,880 such pitches thrown last year compared to just 214 in 2008.
