""When contacted by The Athletic, MLB confirmed the difference in the ball's performance, including the 4-foot reduction on long flies, but did not offer a specific explanation.""
""For the last several seasons, MLB has made drag information available to the public online, which is updated daily during the season," league spokesperson Glen Caplin said in a statement."
In response to a surge in home runs, MLB modified its baseball manufacturing starting in 2021, loosening ball tension to reduce weight. Although the league anticipated subtle changes, the result was a noticeable decrease in ball distance, with 2024 seeing a significant uptick in drag, causing well-hit balls to fall short by an average of four feet. Despite confirming performance differences, MLB denied any new changes to production or specifications, attributing the variance to normal variability, and analyzed seam width or height as possible factors.
Read at Dodger Blue
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