Major League Baseball appears to be experiencing a period of significant revitalization, marked by increasing fan engagement and dynamic on-field action. Over the past several seasons, attendance figures have steadily climbed, with notable surges recorded by teams such as the White Sox, Blue Jays, and Mariners in 2026. Television ratings are also on an upward trajectory; the 2025 World Series, for instance, became the most-watched domestic series since 2017, with its seventh game attracting an impressive 51 million viewers across the United States, Canada, and Japan.
National broadcasts have seen substantial viewership increases, while game pace has quickened. The new automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system has largely garnered positive feedback, and smaller market teams are demonstrating strong performances against higher-spending clubs in the first half of the season, challenging long-held concerns about competitive balance.
Highlight reels frequently showcase extraordinary athletic feats. Pitchers like Jacob Misiorowski are clocking speeds of 105 mph, while Shohei Ohtani continues to excel remarkably as both a hitter and a pitcher, a sustained dual-threat performance virtually unparalleled in league history. Kyle Schwarber is contending for home run records amidst continuous pitching improvements. Mason Miller has proven nearly unhittable. Furthermore, young talents in smaller markets, including Jackson Chourio, Konnor Griffin, Bobby Witt Jr., Jackson Merrill, Kevin McGonigle, Colt Emerson, and Samuel Basallo, have been secured with long-term contracts, reassuring fans that these stars will remain with their teams for much of their prime years, alleviating anxieties over free agency.
Despite this positive outlook, football commentator Kirk Herbstreit recently expressed a starkly different view, suggesting baseball is in decline, specifically lamenting a perceived lack of athleticism.
Herbstreit's Critique and the Reality of Modern Baseball
Responding to a complaint from former Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, Herbstreit posted an extensive commentary on social media platform X, articulating a perspective that seems to misinterpret several aspects of the contemporary game.
THANK YOU!!!!! Where did the athletic ability go? Clutch hitting in the 8th and 9th inning? Starting pitching that goes 8 or 9 innings? Base stealing-hell just good base running and SPEED?!? Sac bunts-moving runners over late in a game? Where’s Tony Gwynn? Rod Carew? Wade Boggs? Ichiro? Those guys wouldn’t exist in today’s ridiculous HR or K 'launch angle' game! The game has been dying with the youth of America for YEARS and now is losing the core fanbase as well with this ridiculous product we’ve had to digest for the last 7-10 years. Bring back Small Ball and athleticism…this s*** dreadful!!!
However, an examination of current baseball statistics and trends reveals that many of these assertions are inconsistent with reality.
Debunking the Claims: Athleticism, Strategy, and Fan Engagement
The notion that athleticism in baseball has diminished is directly contradicted by evidence. Pitchers like Misiorowski and Mason Miller consistently throw fastballs well over 100 mph, a testament to enhanced physical capabilities. Hitters, in turn, continue to succeed despite a steady year-over-year increase in average fastball velocity. In 2008, the average fastball velocity was 90.4 mph; today, it hovers around 95 mph. This acceleration is attributed to advancements in training, nutrition, and biomechanical development, making hitting more challenging than ever. Yet, stars such as Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Cal Raleigh have achieved historically successful offensive seasons, disproving the claim of declining athleticism.
The shift away from starting pitchers completing eight or nine innings is not due to a lack of ability but rather a strategic evolution based on extensive data analysis. Over time, it became evident that pitchers' effectiveness diminishes as they tire and face the same hitters multiple times. This phenomenon, known as the
