MLB Admits Increased Baseball Drag Reduces Fly Ball Distance

Baseball fans and analysts are buzzing about the latest update from Major League Baseball (MLB): the baseballs used in the 2025 season have more drag. That means long fly balls are traveling about four feet less than last year, which is kind of wild if you think about it.

This development, first reported by The Athletic, has people asking what’s behind the change and how it might shake up the game. MLB says they haven’t made any deliberate changes to how the balls are made, stored, or handled. So, everyone’s left guessing what’s really going on.

Understanding Increased Drag on Baseballs

The 2025 season’s baseballs are showing more drag than ever, according to The Athletic. Drag is just the resistance a ball faces as it moves through the air, and this year’s numbers are higher than anything seen in the last nine seasons.

MLB has admitted there’s an issue, but they’re sticking to their story—no intentional tweaks to the balls. Rawlings in Costa Rica still makes them, just like they have since MLB bought the company back in 2018.

Potential Factors Contributing to Increased Drag

Some experts suspect the hand-stitched seams might be part of the problem. Tiny differences in seam width or height could bump up drag, even if that sounds minor.

Still, this doesn’t totally explain why it’s happening everywhere. Even small changes can mess with how far a ball flies, which could impact the game in ways we’re only starting to notice.

Impact on Game Metrics: Home Runs, Batting Averages, and More

Despite the added drag, the main offensive stats—home runs, batting averages, runs per game—look pretty steady compared to last year. Through about 40% of the season, here’s what the numbers show:

• Home runs per ball in play: 4.2% in 2025, up from 4.1% in 2024.
• Batting average: .244 in 2025, compared to .240 in 2024.
• Runs per game: 8.6 in 2025, slightly down from 8.7 in 2024.

This data comes from 28 of 30 ballparks and skips games in minor league venues. So far, the increased drag hasn’t really shaken up league-wide performance.

Some people think players or pitchers are adjusting their approach to balance things out, but honestly, who knows for sure?

Star Performers: Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge

Even with the extra drag, some players are still crushing it. Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh leads the league with 26 home runs. Aaron Judge isn’t far behind with 25, matching last year’s pace at this point.

It’s kind of impressive—top hitters seem to find a way, no matter what’s going on with the ball.

Player and Union Responses

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has already talked with player reps about the drag issue. The MLB Players Association is keeping an eye on things too.

There’s no big uproar yet, but everyone’s watching to see if it becomes a bigger deal as the season rolls on.

The Future of MLB Baseballs

With all this attention on ball drag, MLB might need to dig deeper into their manufacturing and quality checks. They keep saying there’s been no intentional change, but fans and teams are watching closely.

It’s a reminder that even tiny tweaks—intentional or not—can ripple through the whole sport. Makes you wonder what else could be hiding in plain sight.

Conclusion

People can’t stop talking about the increased drag on MLB baseballs this 2025 season. It’s become a whole thing, with fans and analysts dissecting every angle.

Offensive stats look pretty steady so far. Players like Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge are still putting on a show.

But honestly, it’s wild how tiny tweaks can stir up so much in a sport with such deep roots. Who knows what’s next?

 
Here is the source article for this story: MLB acknowledges increased drag on baseballs has led to fly balls traveling 4 feet less this year