Becoming a major league hitter usually means a player managed to stand out among thousands of aspiring people, from high school to college and then the minor leagues.
These batters often fight against their own physical and mental limitations to push forward and become the best version of themselves.
Imagine, on top of all that, having to fight against the umpires game after game, trying to get fair treatment from them when it comes to calling balls and strikes.
A certain Cleveland Guardians star has certainly suffered unfair treatment from the men in charge of key plate decisions.
“Most outside out-of-zone pitches called strikes (left-handed MLB batters, 2022-2024): Steven Kwan, 160, Bryson Stott, 102, Mike Yastrzemski, 96, Matt Olson, 95, Adley Rutschman, 94, 4 other players, 93,” Codify Baseball wrote on X with some egregious examples.
Most outside out-of-zone pitches called strikes
(left-handed MLB batters, 2022-2024):Steven Kwan, 160 😮
Bryson Stott, 102
Mike Yastrzemski, 96
Matt Olson, 95
Adley Rutschman, 94
4 other players, 93 pic.twitter.com/2YwXfFrmln— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) November 29, 2024
Somebody has to lead the league in this unfortunate category, that’s not really the problem.
The most troubling situation is the gap between Kwan and everybody else.
Among players listed, there are just a few umpire blunders separating, say, Stott from Rutschman.
There are 58 mistakes between Kwan and the second-ranked Stott, though.
It’s not normal.
Despite the frustratingly high rate of mistakes he has suffered since he became a full-time major leaguer in 2022, Kwan still boasts elite plate discipline and a very healthy 186/185 SO/BB ratio.
Yes, that’s right: even with the men in navy blue making mistake after mistake behind him, he almost has as many walks as strikeouts over his major league career.
Imagine if he could enjoy some competent officiating: he could reach base even more than he already does.
NEXT: Former GM Says Free Agent Outfielder Could Be Option For Guardians
