It's no secret that batting averages are generally down across Major League Baseball.
It's not as prioritized a statistic anymore. There's more of an emphasis on on-base percentage and slugging percentage, because batting average leaves out key information (walks and total bases).
But batting average is also one of those stories stats in the history of the game. It tells a story. To be a batting champion is to wear a special crown.
All that to say: This season is heading for a historic futility point in the MLB record books.
Only one hitter is going to hit better than .315 this season. That's New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge, who is at .330 with three games to play.
Never before have fewer than two hitters been at .315 -- that happened in 2021, when Trea Turner and Yuli Gurriel were the only two.
Here's the full list of this:
Nice pic.twitter.com/Ya25mNff0V
— fan of the Yankees (@realboshek) September 26, 2025
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There are a couple of takeaways here. First, it's a bit surprising to see 1908, but at least that season had Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner. It's no surprise to see the 1968 Year of the Pitcher.
And also, how about Judge?
He's viewed as a prodigious slugger, but he's also just such a good hitter. To put up the average he has in a season that no one else is doing that is just as impressive as his power.
Judge will have to carry this mantle on his shoulders, because no one else wanted to join him in the club.
MORE: Aaron Judge breaks Ted Williams' American League record