Fifteen Veterans Currently Treading Under The Mendoza Line
Just A Few Seasons Ago, Brian Dozier Was One Of The Best Offensive Players In Baseball
The List Includes A Former Most Valuable Player And Several Pairs Of Teammates
As the Major League Baseball season has reached May, much of the discussion has centered on batting average. On one extreme we have Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who is hitting a whopping .455 after more than a month of games.
At the other end, unfortunately, we have Bryce Harper, the star outfielder who just before the start of the season signed a record thirteen year deal for over a $130 million. Although his overall average is still around .230, over the last two weeks the Philadelphia Phillies star is hitting just .188.
Some veterans, believe it or not, have started off even more poorly than has Harper, including several pairs of teammates. All fifteen of these guys are hitting below what is known as the Mendoza Line, or a batting average under .200.
1. Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians
A favorite to win the Most Valuable Player award for most of 2018, the second baseman has underachieved by hitting just .188.
2. Jung Ho Kang, Pittsburgh Pirates
Attempting comeback from a near two year absence from the Big Leagues, the third baseman has been able to muster an average of only .166.
3. Roughned Odor, Texas Rangers
Counted on to help fill in some of the offense of his departed double play partner Jurickson Profar, the veteran shortstop has taken a giant step back as indicated by his .158 batting average.
4. Delino Deshields, Texas Rangers
Like teammate Odor, the outfielder has struggled with the bat. His .192 is higher than that of Odor, but it will greatly diminish Texas's chances to be contenders in the very competitive American League West.
5. Joe Panik, San Francisco Giants
His average of .184 is the lowest of an already weak lineup, which must improve if the Giants want to keep out of the basement of the National League West.
6. Brandon Crawford, San Francisco Giants
He is just one hit away from getting his .199 average over the Mendoza Line, which is certainly nothing to be boast about from a guy who was once a key part of three San Francisco teams to win the World Series.
7. Kevin Pillar, San Francisco Giants
After coming over from Toronto in an early season trade, Pillar hitting just .196 was not something the Giants had envisioned.
8. Justin Bour, Los Angels
His team is the same as that of Mike Trout, and his surname had the same two vowels. That is just about where the similarities end, especially the two hundred point difference in between the .179 average of Bour and up that of Trout's.
9. Brian Dozier, Washington Nationals
Whatever happened to the All Star second baseman who just a few years ago led the league in runs and set a record for most home runs by a second baseman? Well, the former lead off hitter of the Minnesota Twins is in the nation's Capitol batting just .188.
10. Yasiel Puig, Cincinnati Reds
He did not get his first home run in Great American Ball Park until the last week of April, and he is hitting just .198 since joining Cincinnati in a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
11. Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles
Unlike the other fourteen on this list, Davis is probably relieved to be at .156 after struggling through a horrendous hitless drought that had reached over sixty at bats before he finally broke it.
12. Marwin Gonzalez, Minnesota Twins
While he is still valuable as a super utility player, Minnesota is going to have to get more than .173 of offensive production from the former Astro if they intend to win the A. L. Central.
13. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
Thanks to the hot start of reigning M.V.P. Christian Yelich, the Brew Crew was able to hold first place for the starting weeks in spite of their former M.V.P.'s .196 batting average.
14. Travis Shaw, Milwaukee Brewers
Because the Brewers have two talented middle infield prospects on the verge of a call up, Shaw must improve significantly upon his .191 if he wants to stay in the starting lineup.
15. Kendrys Morales, Oakland A's,
Acquired to boost Oakland's offense as the designated hitter, all the A's have gotten so far from the veteran slugger is a .179 batting average.
