The New York Yankees are approaching a statistical oddity that has not been seen in Major League Baseball since the Deadball Era, with their power production and batting average moving in opposite directions.
Through Aug. 19, the Yankees have hit 172 home runs, second-most in MLB, while carrying a .229 batting average, also second-lowest in the majors. According to OptaSTATS, the last team to rank in the top two in home runs while finishing in the bottom two in batting average was the 1916 Chicago Cubs.
The unusual combination highlights how heavily New York has relied on power to keep its offense productive. Rather than consistently stringing together hits, the Yankees have generated much of their damage through the long ball.
The approach has helped keep New York firmly in the postseason picture despite the low team average. The Yankees are 70-55 and sit five games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East while holding an eight-game cushion for the top American League Wild Card spot.
Luis Garcia has been one of the club’s key power contributors, producing 24 home runs and 79 RBIs. Ben Rice has also emerged as an important part of the lineup as the Yankees continue leaning on their power-heavy offensive identity.
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Injuries have added another challenge to New York’s lineup construction. Jasson Domínguez has been sidelined since May 7, while Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton have also dealt with injured-list stints that have forced Aaron Boone to adjust his lineup.
For now, the strategy is producing results. But if the Yankees finish the season among MLB’s home run leaders while remaining near the bottom in batting average, they could join the 1916 Cubs as part of one of baseball’s rarest statistical combinations.
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