Almost a week ago, I read a post on Threads. It was about some players’ hitting performance while batting second. Well, their batting average doesn’t look good. After reading the post, I was just thinking about a question.
How about the team performance? In the 2026 season, which managers do have serious problems placing the right players to bat second? To solve my doubt, I decided to check on the MLB website.
By far this season, the Chicago Cubs face this serious problem. Their batters who bat second have a batting average of .206. Their OPS is below .700. Alex Bregman is the only player who has 100+ plate appearances at batting second. While batting second, Bregman has a batting average below .220 and an OPS below .700.
At the same time, the Mariners hitters who hit second combine a batting average of .212 and their OPS is below .700. It’s clear that the performance doesn’t look good. Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez each have more than 100 plate appearances at batting second. Well, Julio Rodriguez has an OPS over .700 while batting second. But Cal Raleigh has an OPS below .600 while batting second.
Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Reds do have the same problem. Their players who bat second now combine a batting average of .220. However, they combine an OPS over .700. So far this season, Matt McLain and JJ Bleday each have 100+ plate appearances at batting second, they both have a batting average below .200. Nonetheless, Bleday’s OPS is over .700 while batting second.
In the meantime, the Ranges players who bat second combine a batting average of .223 and their OPS is below .700. Josh Jung and Wyatt Langford each have 100+ plate appearances at batting second for the Rangers, Jung actually hit well with a batting average over .300 and an OPS over .800. However, Langford has some struggles while batting second. For other hitters who bat second for the Rangers, their performance doesn’t go well.
Finally, let’s look at the Dodgers. So far this season, their hitters who bat second own a batting average of .228. And their OPS is below .700. Andy Pages has 100+ plate appearances at batting second and now has a batting average over .250. His OPS is over .770, which isn’t bad. Nevertheless, Kyle Tucker, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts each have an OPS below .700 while batting second. In the meantime, the Padres hitters who bat second combine a batting average of .228 as well. Fernando Tatis Jr. has 100+ plate appearances at batting second, but his OPS is below .700. Jackson Merrill doesn’t hit well while batting second, either.
In today’s baseball, managers tend to put their best hitters in the second spot. That’s quite different from the past. So far this season, we can see that some managers have some problems choosing right hitters to bat second for the team. Now, it’s the second half of the season, we can keep watching if the problem is solved. Or perhaps, some hitters just gradually heat up while batting second.
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