Once upon a time, batting .400 was something magical. Now, most batters are lucky to hit .300, says Bill Shaikin at the Los Angeles Times. In fact, the only National League hitter batting at .300 or above is Freddie Freeman, who sits just over the line at .302. What gives?

“The pitching is just too good. It’s hard to combat,” Freeman said. “My whole goal every year is to hit .300. It’s getting harder and harder.”

That goal might just be enough, as Freeman is now in the batting title conversation. Last year’s winner, Luis Arraez, won with a .314 batting average, a drop from Freeman’s own winning average of .331 in 2023.

Only one other player—Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox—has won a batting championship with a lower average. Yaz did it with a .301 year in 1968 (the first with a sh

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