Batted ball records have been falling in recent years and even more are on pace to fall in 2019. Lots of words have been devoted to the home run surge and the rapid increase in strike outs. In face, last year Dr. Meredith Wills, who happens to be an astrophysicist in addition to a baseball fan, took apart a bunch of baseballs to definitively prove that the ball was in fact different.
Although I suppose this side-by-side doesn’t leave a lot of room for doubt on that front:
Well, another batted ball record has been surging lately and while it hasn’t gotten nearly as much attention as the home run and strike out surges, batters being hit by a pitch are at an all time high.