The world of baseball has witnessed a significant shift in focus, with OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging) taking center stage and batting average taking a backseat. This evolution in the game's priorities has sparked intriguing debates and raised questions about the value of traditional statistics.
When Andrew Benintendi first entered the MLB in 2016, batting average was his primary concern, and he excelled, batting .312 in the minors. However, as he enters his fourth season with the Chicago White Sox, his focus has shifted to OPS and power numbers.
"The game kind of changes where the money is," Benintendi observed. And indeed, the decline in the significance of batting average has been evident for years, with on-base percentage and slugging percentage, along with OPS, taking over.
But here's where it gets controversial: the free agency of Luis Arraez, a three-time batting champion, highlighted the diminished importance of batting average. Despite his impressive .317 career average, Arraez found himself on the market until just before spring training, eventually signing a one-year deal with the San Francisco Giants.
Arraez's story raises questions about the value of batting average in today's game. With a career-low .292 average and limited power and walk rates, his defensive limitations further complicate the picture.
The MLB-wide batting average has remained relatively stable since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, with Sportradar reporting averages of .248 in 2023, .243 in 2024, and .245 in the previous year. While Aaron Judge and Trea Turner won the 2025 AL and NL batting titles, respectively, only seven qualified big leaguers hit .300 or better, matching the previous year's low and continuing a trend that began in 1968.
Chris Young, the president of baseball operations for the Texas Rangers, emphasized the importance of advanced metrics and expected outcomes based on the quality of at-bats and process metrics. Jed Hoyer, the president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs, agreed, stating that batting average is not the primary focus at the beginning of an evaluation.
"I think there's a lot of things that are much more important," Hoyer said, adding, "But I do think that a guy like Nico Hoerner or Luis Arraez, in a world that values strikeouts and incredible pitching, there's something to be said for players who can truly put the ball in play at an elite level."
Hoerner, who hit .297 for the Cubs last year and batted .371 with runners in scoring position, believes players still take pride in their batting average. "I think it's a reflection of the quality of contact that guys make," he said.
The shift in focus has impacted players like Benintendi, who has increased his home run average from 14.1 per 162 games from 2016-23 to 25.8 in the last two years. "I think it's more slug, OPS is what outweighs batting average now," Benintendi explained.
The future of batting average lies with the game's youngest players, who still find allure in the traditional statistic. Sal Stewart, a Cincinnati infielder and preseason favorite for NL Rookie of the Year, hit .309 in the minors last year and values on-base percentage the most.
As the game evolves, the debate over the value of batting average continues, leaving room for discussion and differing opinions. What do you think? Is batting average still a valuable indicator, or has it been overshadowed by more advanced metrics? Share your thoughts in the comments!
