2025 MLB Season: Record Imbalances, Rockies' Historic Struggles, and Evolving Gameplay Trends

June 12, 2025
2025 MLB Season: Record Imbalances, Rockies' Historic Struggles, and Evolving Gameplay Trends
  • The Colorado Rockies are enduring a historically poor season, currently holding a record of 12-54 after 66 games, making them only the second team to start a season this poorly.

  • Their struggles are further underscored by a -199 run differential, the worst in MLB history through 66 games, indicating serious issues in both offense and defense.

  • In terms of league performance, only six of the top eight MLB teams hail from the American League, suggesting underperformance compared to the National League this season.

  • If the season concluded today, nine of the twelve playoff spots would be occupied by teams from the upper half of the payroll spectrum, reflecting economic disparities in the league.

  • The introduction of larger bases and limits on pitcher disengagements has led to a surge in stolen base attempts, now at 0.99 per game, the highest rate since 1999.

  • Successful stolen bases have also increased to 0.77 per game, marking the highest success rate since 1992, despite no significant changes in player speed or catcher performance.

  • This season has seen a smaller strike zone, resulting in a decrease in strikeouts to 8.26 per game, the lowest since 2017, while walks have risen to 3.24 per game.

  • Umpiring accuracy has reached a record high, with 88.3% of ball/strike calls being accurate, attributed to the newly implemented smaller strike zone.

  • Despite injuries to many top pitchers, starting pitchers are performing better overall, with innings pitched per start at 5.3 and a quality start percentage at 37%, both improvements from 2024.

  • However, rookie hitters are struggling significantly, posting a .644 OPS, the lowest since 1979, and the average isolated power (ISO+) for rookies is at 74, the lowest since 1996.

  • The 2025 MLB season is characterized by notable statistics that reveal trends in gameplay, umpiring accuracy, and competitive balance.

  • A significant competitive imbalance has emerged, with a standard deviation of winning percentages at .099, the highest since 1954, highlighting disparities among team performances.

Summary based on 1 source


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7 Stats to Explain MLB in 2025

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