One prominent Major League Baseball player thinks that the league is altering baseballs so that they do not go as far when hit.
On Saturday, Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Andrew McCutchen claimed that the league informed him that the baseballs used in 2025 have been altered and do not carry as well as before. This statement came after footage surfaced from Friday evening showing New York Mets ace Juan Soto hitting what appeared to be a potential home run, which ultimately landed at the warning track instead.
I received information from an MLB representative that the baseballs have changed this year,” McCutchen posted on X. “The rep mentioned ‘higher seams,’ which increases drag on the ball, resulting in baseballs not traveling as far as expected. Upon inquiry into the reason behind this change, I was informed that since every baseball is handmade, each one varies slightly. When I questioned whether anything could be done to address the current state of play with these new balls, I was advised that nothing would be adjusted during this season; however, they assured me that efforts were underway to determine why the seam heights are elevated.
Allegations that MLB tamper with baseballs aren’t unheard of. Previously, a Mets player contended that the league alters the balls.
based on the forthcoming group of unrestricted free agents
It should be mentioned that the 2025-26 MLB free agency class isn’t particularly skewed towards position players or pitchers, although outfielder Kyle Tucker stands out as the prominent figure.
For whatever it is worth, the ball Soto hit Friday night came off the bat at 110.8 MPH,
according to Baseball Savant
, accompanied by an anticipated batting average of .990.
The MLB consistently claims that they do not alter baseballs in any way, yet there is inherent variation in their performance due to manufacturing processes. This statement may not convince certain athletes who firmly believe otherwise, with McCutchen being one of them.
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