Mid-Season Ball Change Plus Summer Heat Points to HR Surge
A manufacturing defect reduced drag on MLB baseballs, sending batted balls ~5 feet farther. Warmer summer air compounds the effect, lifting HR expectations leaguewide.
A mid-season manufacturing issue changed the MLB baseball, reducing drag and adding roughly five feet to batted ball distance. Warmer summer temperatures independently increase ball carry due to lower air density. The two factors together are expected to produce a meaningful spike in home run rates over the coming months. Hitters with strong underlying batted-ball profiles stand to benefit most from the combined effect.
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