As of July 28, San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado holds the National League’s highest batting average, standing at .302. This marks a surprising milestone considering the current challenges hitters face across Major League Baseball this season.
Machado’s recent 2-for-4 game against the New York Mets lifted his average just over the .300 mark, making him the only qualified National League player above that threshold with days remaining before August.
National League Batting Averages Reflect a Broader Decline in Hitting
Only one other National League hitter, Miami Marlins left fielder Kyle Stowers, approaches the .300 mark this year, posting a .299 average over 335 plate appearances. No other qualified hitters in the league have surpassed .296, highlighting a significant drop in batting success compared to past seasons.
In contrast, the 2013 season saw many batters performing at higher levels. That year, 24 qualified hitters maintained averages of at least .300, including stars like Miguel Cabrera with .348 and Matt Holliday at exactly .300. Twelve hitters even exceeded a .315 average during that time.
Changes in Player Performance and the Meaning of Batting Average
Despite Machado’s leading figure barely clearing .300, other standout players like Aaron Judge with a .342 average and Jeremy Peña batting .322 show there are still high performers. However, many top players this season demonstrate that batting average is no longer the sole benchmark for success.
For instance, Shohei Ohtani, widely expected to secure his fourth MVP award in five years, has a batting average of only .276. Meanwhile, Chicago Cubs teammates Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker have maintained lower averages but remain on track to hit at least 30 home runs and steal 30 bases each.
Implications of a Low Batting Threshold to Claim the Title
The possibility that the National League batting champion could finish the season with an average barely above .300—or even below—signals a new dynamic in Major League Baseball’s offensive landscape. Although unconventional, such a development would represent a notable shift in hitting performance and standards.