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Are MLB’s Top Hitters Struggling or Sabotaged? The Shocking Truth Behind Their Slow Starts Revealed!

Are MLB’s Top Hitters Struggling or Sabotaged? The Shocking Truth Behind Their Slow Starts Revealed!

Is he bad now? Short answer: Probably, yeah. Pederson’s fall-off this season is so dramatic that, at 33, we have to at least consider it. Any hitter who makes a 12-year career for himself will have awful, prolonged stretches. But amid Pederson’s 29-game nightmare to start his career in Texas, he’s experienced (through Monday) by far the worst drop in OPS of any player with at least 350 at-bats in 2024 and 85 in 2025.

largest decrease OPS 2024-25

The Numbers: .179/.264/.462; 9 HRs; 147 RV+; 95 wRC+; 0.0 fWAR 

What’s gone wrong? Defense, for one thing. Trout’s move to right field from center was designed to keep him healthier and limit the defensive problems he could cause the Angels in his old age. So far it’s gone poorly, as Trout has been the second-worst defensive right fielder in MLB by Defensive Runs Saved (minus-4) and fourth-worst by Outs Above Average (-2). More reps will make him better, but more aging will make him worse, and eventually, the Angels will have little choice but to turn their best player ever into a DH. 

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