Subscribe to Updates
Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.
- Leo Carlsson, rookie Beckett Sennecke lead Ducks’ over Blackhawks
- Keller & Powell discuss retched Reigns-Sheamus segment, would Reigns even be good if he turned heel, decline of Raw (152 min.)
- I Donâ€t Care Who Hears It
- Yang Hansen, rookie from China, makes first NBA start
- Sting Says This Feud Changed Everything for His Career
- Tiger Woods takeaways, future PGA Tour schedule logistics
- Report: Contract length on one of WWEâ€s signings in 2025
- 2025 MLB Winter Meetings preview
Browsing: stat
Skeptics may question whether the Gray trade actually achieved Bostonâ€s goal, considering Gray is a 36-year-old whose 4.28 ERA in 2025 ranked 50th among the 70 pitchers who threw at least 150 innings.
However, Grayâ€s ERA only tells a small part of the story. While his age may make him more prone to regression and injury, the numbers suggest the three-time All-Star still profiles as a high-end starter.
SIERA (or Skill-Interactive ERA) is one of the best advanced metrics we have at our disposal for evaluating a pitcherâ€s performance and projecting future success. You can read more about SIERA here, but it basically emphasizes strikeouts and walks while also taking into account the types of batted balls a pitcher allows, and few pitchers last year were as good as Gray at collecting strikeouts and limiting walks.
Gray had a 21.6-point difference between his strikeout rate (26.7%) and his walk rate (5.0%) in 2025, an elite mark that was the seventh highest among qualifiers. Relatedly, Grayâ€s SIERA was a full run lower than his ERA at 3.29, which ranked sixth in MLB.
That ranking is impressive on its own, but more telling is the company he was in. In fact, only one other pitcher besides Gray who ranked among the top 11 in SIERA didnâ€t earn Cy Young votes in 2025.
Lowest SIERA, 2025
Minimum 150 innings
1. Tarik Skubal: 2.71 (won AL Cy Young)
2. Garrett Crochet: 2.86 (2nd in AL)
3. Cristopher Sánchez: 3.02 (2nd in NL)
4. Paul Skenes: 3.10 (won NL Cy Young)
5. Logan Webb: 3.14 (4th in NL)
6. Sonny Gray: 3.29
7. Bryan Woo: 3.30 (5th in AL)
8-T. Yoshinobu Yamamoto: 3.32 (3rd in NL)
8-T. Jacob deGrom: 3.32 (8th in AL)
8-T. Joe Ryan: 3.32
11. Hunter Brown: 3.39 (3rd in AL)
The forecast for 2026 is also encouraging. Steamer, one of the most trusted projection systems around, has Gray at 3.9 WAR, ninth best among pitchers. Crochet checks in third at 5.6, making the Red Sox the only team with two hurlers in the top 15.
Ceaseâ€s lofty price tag underscores another benefit of Boston’s trade for Gray. Although the Red Sox had to give up two pitchers in the deal, including promising prospect Brandon Clarke, St. Louis sent Boston $20 million to cover part of Grayâ€s salary for 2026 and the buyout of his $30 million club option for ’27. That leaves Boston with just $21 million in guaranteed money committed to Gray, preserving flexibility to address the clubâ€s other major need: adding a middle-of-the-order bat.
The New York Islanders are 13-9-2 through the first 24 games of the 2025-26 NHL season. That’s good for the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They are tied with the third-place Washington Capitals (13-9-2) in points (28), but Washington has three more regulation wins than they do.
This season is fairly new, with 58 games left. But where a team is at Thanksgiving does matter, as 77% of teams in a playoff spot come the third Thursday in November make the playoffs.
NHL Hockey Standings | NHL.com
NHL Hockey Standings | NHL.com The official standings for the National Hockey League.
Advertisement
Every season, it seems that the standings get tighter and tighter. The difference between being first in the Metro and last in the division is five points — craziness.
But if you are the Islanders, you are thankful that you are on the right side of the ledger at Thanksgiving.
In theory, the Islanders control their own destiny even if it’s so early in the season.
After starting their seven-game homestand 1-2-0, Patrick Roy’s squad is looking to right the ship, especially offensively, as they have scored just two goals over those first three games.
Up next for the Islanders is a 4 PM showdown with the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday, followed by a Sunday matinee against the Washington Capitals.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Maxxine Dupri shocked the WWE Universe when she defeated Becky Lynch to capture the Womenâ€s Intercontinental Championship on the November 17 episode of RAW at Madison Square Garden. But beyond the title change itself, thereâ€s a wild stat that puts her victory in a whole new light—this was only her second singles pinfall win on the WWE main roster.
The match itself carried major energy, with Alicia Taylorâ€s introductions giving it that big-match vibe. Becky Lynch looked locked in from the start, dominating most of the contest and pushing Maxxine to her limits. Just when it looked like The Man was going to coast to a win, Maxxine flipped the script.
AJ Lee returned to ringside and caused the distraction that changed everything. Maxxine capitalized on the moment and came off the top rope with a crossbody, pinning Becky Lynch in a moment that stunned MSG and the viewers at home. While the win was big on its own, Bryan Alvarez put things in perspective on Wrestling Observer Radio:
“This win over Becky Lynch was only the second singles pinfall win that Maxxine has ever had on the WWE main roster. In her entire main roster career, she had only pinned one other person ever in a singles match, ever.â€
He confirmed her first win came over Valhalla more than two years ago:
“That person was Valhalla. Valhalla in July of 2023.â€
Then he dropped the kicker:
“So Maxxine is your new Womenâ€s Intercontinental Champion by getting her first pinfall in over two years.â€
Maxxineâ€s growth has been gradual, and this moment marks a huge career milestone. Whether this title reign lasts or not, she just made her mark in a massive way at one of WWEâ€s most iconic venues. That stat alone shows how unpredictable WWE can be.
What do you think of Maxxineâ€s big win over Becky Lynch—and does this change how you view her trajectory in WWE? Let us know in the comments.
November 18, 2025 8:29 am
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson made history on Thursday night, posting a stat line that has never been seen before in the NBA.
Johnson’s 31 points, 18 rebounds, 14 assists and 7 steals during a 132-122 win over the Utah Jazz were career highs and helped the Hawks to a fourth straight win.
Advertisement
The Hawks were playing without Trae Young, who was out with a knee injury, and Kristaps Porziņģis, who missed the game due to maintenence.
Young enjoyed the show put on by the 2021 first-round draft pick out of Duke.
Forward Onyeka Okongwu also had a good night with 32 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks.
The stat lines from Okongwu and Johnson made them the second teammates in franchise history to record a 30-point triple-double and 30-point double-double in the same game. The other pair? Joe Caldwell and Lenny Wilkens, who did it in October 1967, according to the Hawks. Johnson also became the first NBA player since Chris Paul in January 2009 to record a 30-point, seven-steal game.
Advertisement
The win helped Atlanta to improve to 8-5 as it sits atop the Southeast Division, a half game ahead of the Miami Heat. It’s a good start for a Hawks team that has missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons and has not advanced out of the first round since reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.
Golfers are constantly looking for that quick fix or “secret sauce” that will instantly take their game to the next level. But ask any experienced instructor or accomplished player, and they’ll tell you there’s no magic tip that can replace hard work.
With that said, there are smart, efficient ways to practice that will help you fast-track your progress. And according to Monique Thoresz, a GOLF Teacher to Watch, there’s one key stat every golfer should know if they want to play better: your average carry distance with every club.
This critical data can help your game in more ways than one. Here’s why that information matters more than you might think.
1. It gives you a real understanding of your game.
“Most amateurs don’t know how far they hit their clubs,” Thoresz says, “and if you’re going out to try and shoot your best scores possible, you need to know basic facts [like carry distance] about your game.”
Foundational knowledge—like your average carry yardages—will help you increase your awareness of your game, which will help you be more intentional on the course and the practice range.
2. It helps you make better on-course decisions.
This, again, feels obvious, but it’s worth hammering home. Knowing your carry numbers is critical in situations where precision matters — which is nearly every golf shot. When you find yourself having to hit over a hazard or onto a firm green, you’ll thank yourself for having your yardages dialed in beforehand.
Not only will you have better club selection, but you’ll also be able to mitigate risk and adjust your course strategy for the conditions.
3. It ensures your equipment is right for your game.
Knowing your average distances can help you identify overlaps or significant gaps between your clubs. So when you work with a fitter you can ensure you build a bag that’s efficient, consistent and supports your needs from tee to green.
4. It builds confidence
Don’t underestimate the effect that confidence—or a lack of confidence—can have on your performance. When you know your carry distances, you can trust your decisions and avoid second-guessing when the pressure is on.
5. It keeps your game sharp year-round
Calibrating your yardages consistently helps you track changes due to swing adjustments, weather or equipment tweaks. Which is why Thoresz says it’s important to dial in your distances ahead of off-season.
“Before you embark on any swing changes, you kind of want to know some basics about how far you carry the ball,” she says.
Regularly updating your carry data keeps your game consistent and your practice purposeful. As a rule of thumb, Thoresz says it’s a good idea to check your yardages three or four times a year—or as frequently as every month if you’re serious about your game.
6. It creates focused practice sessions
Tracking carry distances turns your practice sessions into something that’s measurable and meaningful, which is key—especially for newer golfers.
“Some people might think, ‘I’m not good enough to do that.’ But I think that undergoing this exercise really makes you connect to your practice a little bit more,” Thoresz says.
Which can give beginners the validation that they are getting better, even if the scorecard isn’t reflecting it. Having this kind of data-driven practice can keep you motivated and able to see the “invisible gains” you’re making.
7. It’s a hallmark of every good player.
Simply put, knowing your carry yardages is something all of the best golfers in the world do.
“There’s no good player that wouldn’t know how far they carry their particular club,” Thoresz says, “So, yeah, I think it’s a critical piece of information that you need to sort of get to that next level.”

Full Swing KIT Launch Monitor
The Full Swing KIT Launch Monitor is engineered with the most advanced radar technology and a high-resolution camera to give you 16 points of data and video to see your swing in perfect clarity. Tested & trusted by Tiger Woods, made for everyone.
5D Machine-Learning Enhanced Radar
The most innovative radar technology, patented to get the most accurate readings in a more compact design at a lower cost.
Heads-Up Display
The only launch monitor to let you see what mattes on a customizable full-color display.
Portable
Build to be taken to and from the course with quick & easy setup to get your practice started faster.
“I KNOW THAT FULL SWING IS MEASURING MY GOLF BALL, NOT GUESSING AT IT.”– Tiger Woods

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…
HOUSEKEEPING
•Andradeâ€s absence since his return to AEW finally got some explanation. Multiple outlets reported that Andrade had unwittingly violated a 90 day non-compete and was thus potentially subject to a one-year non-compete. The one-year non-compete seems rather punitive and of questionable legality. It remains to be seen how long Andrade will be off TV as the situation is resolved.
INTRO
AEW is back in my home state of Texas tonight for the fallout from WrestleDream. Fallout shows have been a little iffy lately with random matches thrown together. Not the case tonight. The announced matches all stem from something that happened at the PPV. I expect the San Antonio crowd to be lively and make this an even better show.
Quick Note: Did you know you can read an ad-free, silky-smooth-loading version of this website with a PWTorch VIP Membership? Also, unlock 35+ years of archives including nearly 2,000 PWTorch Weekly Newsletters dating back to the late 1980s, hundreds of retro radio shows from the 1990s, and two decades of podcasts including Post-PPV Roundtable Podcasts dating back to the mid-2000s. Plus, new VIP-exclusive articles and podcasts throughout the week, fully compatible with the native Apple Podcasts app: CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON VIP MEMBERSHIP
And It Ends With a Wrestling Move
Latest Developments
After weeks of teasing weapons from a flamethrower to a Molotov Cocktail, Darby Allin forced Jon Moxley to say “I Quit†by applying a simple Scorpion Deathlock.
Analysis
On this past weekâ€s Dynamite, Darby and Mox met for a face-to-face in what appeared to be an abandoned prison. A thick mirrored glass separated the two. The words spoken between the two said more than the violence at the end. Darby explained that part of Moxâ€s philosophy made sense, but his methods were beyond the pale after what he did to Bryan Danielson. Mox said that sacrifices had to be made for the future of the craft. Darby accused Mox of chipping away at everything that makes AEW special. Mox said that Darby is chasing demons of the past not him. Thatâ€s when Pac attacked Darby, repeatedly smashing his head into the glass, leaving him a bloody mess. Darby crawling through the gauntlet of Death Riders to get to Mox later in the night established how relentless he was going to be.
When they bell rang on Sunday, I and everyone else watching were prepared for anything. What we got was still plenty violent, although not as violent as I anticipated. The first half of the match was spent with Mox attempting to torture Darby into quitting. He punched Darby in the mouth with a chain, sliced his ear with the bottom rope, shoved a skewer underneath his fingernail, and whipped him with a belt, but Darby refused to quit.
Darby fought back, hanging Mox over the rope with the AEW flag until Mox gouged his eyes. He attempted a Coffin Drop, but Marina pulled Mox to safety. Once back in the ring, Darby crawled over to his backpack and pulled out a bottle of lighter fluid which he doused Mox with. That brought out the rest of the Death Riders. Up until that point it was just Marina.
Darby sprayed Yuta and Garcia with pepper spray. Mox took Darby out with a cutter than yelled at Claudio to throw him a towel. He wiped off the lighter fluid and then pulled a taser out of Darbyâ€s backpack. With help from Marina, he zapped Darby with the taser and hit a Death Rider on a chair. Still no quit. Claudio picked Darby up and, for the second time in six weeks, launched him from inside the ring out onto the announce table with a bone shattering bounce.
Pac dragged Darbyâ€s limp body around the ring where Mox hit a Death Rider off the apron through two tables. Darby wouldnâ€t quit, but Mox begged the ref to call off the match because he cared about Darby. Meanwhile in the ring the Death Riders filled a small aquarium in center ring with water. Marina dragged Darby into the ring next to the aquarium. Mox splashed water in his face and then dunked his head into the tank. He pulled him out and begged him to quit. Darby didnâ€t, so Mox dunked his head again. Darby still refused, so Mox dunked him one more time.
Thatâ€s when the lights went out.
When they came back on Sting – with fully gray hair and goatee – was standing over Mox, trusty bat in hand. He briefly choked Mox with the bat before clearing out Claudio and Pac with bat shots. He destroyed the aquarium then tossed the bat to Darby. As he started to leave the ring, Marina got in his face. She swung at The Icon, but he ducked and tossed her over his shoulder and carried her out. Darby clocked Mox in the gut, across the back, and finally in the knee with the bat. He hit a Scorpion Death Drop and Coffin Drop in succession and then applied the Scorpion Deathlock in the pile of water and broken glass. Mox said “I quit” quickly.
The finishing sequence to this was so masterfully put together. First, Mox tried to torture Darby into quitting as he shoved his head underwater repeatedly. That brought out Sting who has entered the final phase of his career. There was surfer Sting, Crow Sting, Wolfpac Sting, and Joker Sting. Now we have Gran Torino Sting. Much like Clint Eastwood, Sting is the old gunslinger who has reached the end of his fighting days. Like Eastwood in that movie, though, he has just enough left to defend the good guy from the bullies. His passing Darby the bat could be the symbolic passing of the final vestige of Stingâ€s legendary career to the next generation. I wouldnâ€t be surprised to see Darby carrying that bat with him from now on.
The Scorpion Deathlock being the thing to make Mox quit caught me off guard initially. It seemed like a weak finish compared to the intensity of the feud. In hindsight, I think thatâ€s the point. Mox talks a big game, but the minute heâ€s in trouble and he knows heâ€s alone, he gives up quickly. I donâ€t think thatâ€s going to set well with the other Death Riders, specifically Pac. This is the second time in four months Mox has quit. Couple that with the fact that he displayed a soft spot for Darby and that seems like a recipe for his forceful ejection from the group, especially since Pac has already previously questioned Moxâ€s leadership.
Grade: B+
Just F—–g Kill Me
Latest Developments
Kris Statlander proved her win over Toni Storm in the four-way at All Out was no fluke by defeating Toni one-on-one.
Analysis
Stat vs. Storm was somehow both technical and physical. They started with a more methodical approach before eventually resorting to throwing bombs at one another. Storm was noticeably wrestling with a sense of urgency as she fought to recapture her title. She went for a Storm Zero, but Stat did a handstand to avoid contact. The second time around Storm hit the move but Stat became one of three people to have ever kicked out of it. (Mariah May and Mercedes Moné are the other two.) Thatâ€s when they took to trading submission finishers.
First Stat locked Toni in her painful looking leg vice armbar. Toni made it to the ropes. A short time later she trapped Stat in the TCM Chicken Wing, but the champ fought her way out. She hit a Staturday Night Fever on Toni and then put her back in the leg vice armbar. Toni struggled mightily, trying to get to the ropes as Stat shifted position and torque before defiantly refusing to submit and screaming “Just f—–g kill me!” Stat obliged and hit a second Staturday Night Fever for the win.
This was a good match hampered by a crowd still coming down from the high-octane fight between Kyle Fletcher and Mark Briscoe. Between her urgency and the tacit admission that Stat had her beat in the submission when she yelled for her to put her out of her misery, Toni did her best to put Stat over strong. I do wish both Saturday Night Fevers had landed better.
The biggest issue facing this title reign is Stat’s ongoing identity crisis. Sheâ€s talented in the ring and certainly looks like a champion, but she continues to struggle with her promos and personality. Sheâ€s gone to back to using some of the alien jargon while not being referred to as an alien. When she opens her mouth, though, it feels like sheâ€s trying too hard to be a “character.†If she could relax and just be more herself, sheâ€d be in good shape.
As it stands, Stat’s next feud is with Mercedes Moné. Mercedes came out immediately following her victory and shooed her out of the ring. She then proceeded with open challenge to any champion for a title vs. title match. Mina answered the challenge and, after a match that probably went too long for an open challenge on a PPV, Mercedes won and thus captured the ROH Interim Womenâ€s TV Title. This title puts her at 11 which breaks Ultimo Dragonâ€s record of 10. I really donâ€t like ROH belts on AEW TV, but here we are. After the match, Statlander came back to the ring and hit a modified Angle Slam on Mercedes. Later, Mercedes challenged her to a match at Full Gear.
This will be their third outing. The previous two matches were great so I expect much the same. I also anticipate Stat finally getting the win to further legitimize her title reign.
Grade: B
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
Check out the latest episode of “Wrestling Night in America,” part of the PWTorch Dailycast line-up: CLICK HERE to stream (or search “pwtorch†on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)
A Bitter Angry Samoan
Latest Developments
“Hangman” Adam Page defeated Samoa Joe after three Buckshot Lariats. After gestures of seeming respect for Hangman, Joe blasted him with a clothesline and sicced the Opps on him.
Analysis
To the surprise of nobody, Hangman and Joe had a very physical match. The two men really laid into each other. Joe focused on Hangmanâ€s previously-injured neck, but Hangman just kept fighting back. He finally hit a Dead Eye, an impressive move to execute on a guy of Joe’s size. He followed that up with a Buckshot Lariat. Joe didnâ€t go down. Hangman hit another, but Joe still remained standing. A third Buckshot finally put Joe down for the count.
After the match, the rest of the Opps came down seemingly to console Joe. Hangman extended his hand and Joe accepted. He shook Hangmanâ€s hand, raised his arms, and then nailed him with a clothesline. Shibata and Hobbs then jumped in and started assaulting Hangman. Joe laid the title belt out and dropped Hangman on it with a muscle buster.
The match was really good. Joeâ€s older but heâ€s still every bit the fearsome competitor heâ€s always been. Hangman is no slouch, himself. That it took three Buckshots to put Joe down was a testament to the challenger’s legendary toughness and really made Hangman look strong.
As for the heel turn, I have serious mixed feelings about it. Joe is an excellent heel. Hangman is such the sympathetic, beloved babyface. (Incidentally if you havenâ€t watched his “The Good, The Bad, and the Hangman” documentary on YouTube, stop reading this, go watch it, and then come back.) The problem is that I donâ€t know if the fans will fully get on board with a bitter heel Joe at this stage of his career. I also donâ€t know how effective Shibata can be as a heel.
On the positive side, Hangmanâ€s getting that feud I wanted for him so thereâ€s that.
Grade: B
Callis Family Affairs
Latest Developments
Kyle Fletcher retained the TNT title while friendly fire caused Okada and Takeshita to fail to dethrone Brodido.
Analysis
Kyle Fletcher and Mark Briscoe had really good match. These two guys have great in-ring chemistry; thereâ€s no question about that. The problem is that the match was five minutes too long. When an outcome is as predictable as Fletcher vs. Briscoe, going 25 minutes is a bit excessive. In the end, Fletcher used the top rope brainbuster to secure the victory. With Briscoe firmly behind him, Fletcher should move on to defending against younger up-and-coming wrestlers like “The Dynamite Kid” Tommy Billington.
The AEW Menâ€s World Tag Team title match was as good as expected. How could it not be when there are two Wrestler of the Year candidates and a living legend in the ring together? I appreciated the psychological soundness of Okada targeting Bandidoâ€s injured shoulder. For a lot of the match, Okada and Takeshita actually worked effectively together, but the tension was simmering just below the surface.
Late in the match, when Okada went for a Rainmaker on Bandido. Bandido ducked and Okada hit Takeshita instead. Rather than be dismayed at accidentally taking out his partner, Okada just smiled. That smile quickly turned into a frown as Okada was left alone with the champs. Though it took some encouragement from Brody King, Bandido was able to hit the 21 Plex on Okada with one arm to get the win.
As a result of that pinfall, Bandido was granted a shot at Okadaâ€s Unified Title tonight. That should be another feather in Bandidoâ€s cap even though heâ€s almost certainly going to come up short. The bigger story is what happens between Okada and Takeshita. I donâ€t think Takeshita is going to just forgive and forget being taken out with a Rainmaker or Okadaâ€s crap-eating grin afterwards.
Iâ€d be remiss if I didnâ€t mention the DCF’s other appearance on the show, which was after the Jurassic Express defeated The Young Bucks to win $500K (That brings the grand total of prize money awarded to $3.3 million.) As Josh Alexander, Hechicero, and Lance Archer attacked Jack Perry and Luchasaurus, the Young Bucks just walked away. Kenny Omegaâ€s music then hit.
As The Best Bout Machine made his way down the aisle, he stared down his former friends, attempting to convince them to help Jurassic Express, but they just kept walking. Omega ran to the ring and joined the fray. Eventually Omega and Jurassic Express stood tall.
It very looks like weâ€re getting an Elite reunion sooner rather than later. Kenny needs backup with Kota Ibushi out for a long time. The Bucks have basically hit rock bottom since losing their EVP power at All In. Eventually, they will see the light and stand beside Kenny against the DCF and “Carry On Wayward Son” will once again ring out.
Grade: B+
Random Questions
•Why are these people on my TV? Last week it was MxM TV. This week it was Jacked Jameson with the Frat House, and Big Boom A.J. The only positive in this crap stew of wasted TV time was the fact that Jacked Jameson never got a mic in his hand. MxM TV are neither funny nor entertaining. Taya Valkeryie is being wasted in that group, quite frankly. While I have some respect for Big Boom A.J. because he was actually a legit pro wrestler back in the day and not just some psudeo-celebrity glomming onto the business, Iâ€ve grown tired of seeing him on my TV. Alas, he and Big Justice will be on the Tailgate Brawl for Full Gear in New Jersey where they no doubt receive a pop worthy of actual Garden State royalty like Bon Jovi.
•That took them long enough didnâ€t it? The tournament to crown inaugural AEW Womenâ€s tag Team Champions was announced to be starting in a few weeks. The bracket will be revealed on Dynamite. The way I see it, there are currently five teams for sure in the field: Divine Vanity (Megan Bayne an&d Penelope Ford), The Sisters of Sin, TayJay, Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa, and Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron. Itâ€s possible that Athena & Billie Starkz from ROH get added. Speaking of ROH, a video package from Collision a few weeks ago mentioned that Syrui & Alex Windsor had been teaming up, t so theyâ€re also a possibility. I could see a team from Stardom and a team from CMLL also making their way in. The eventual winner depends on how the tournament is set up.
Image credit:
Michal Toglia (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
While MLB’s best prepare themselves for the start of postseason play this week, two of the game’s worst teams find themselves at organizational crossroads.
The Nationals are hiring Red Sox assistant general manager Paul Toboni as their new head of baseball operations, completing a front office makeover that illustrates how the team’s now five-year MLB rebuild has not gone as planned.
The Rockies, meanwhile, just finished one of the worst seasons in MLB history. Whatever they decide to this offseason, they will need to change course to turn around an organization that has slipped far behind the rest of the National League.
To illustrate how each team managed to fall so far behind—and see where they may find some low-hanging fruit for speedy improvement—we can look at one very basic stat.
Consider that both the Rockies’ and Nationals’ full-season MiLB hitters walked in 9.5 percent of all plate appearances this year, a number tied for the worst walk rate across all 30 organizations. And it’s not particularly close, either, as no other team was under 10.0 percent. The Braves are 29th at 10.1 percent, the Pirates are at 10.4 percent and the Royals and Red Sox are at 10.5 percent.
It wasn’t that long ago that few teams ever topped a 10 percent walk rate. In 2018, the Mariners were the only organization that cleared that mark. But pitch recognition and zone training is one of the many ways hitting development programs have steadily improved over the past few years. As a result, walk rates have climbed.
In 2021, the average organization walked 10.2 percent of the time in the full-season minors. That number has stayed above 10 percent ever since and reached 11.0 percent this year. Clearly, organizations have worked diligently to coach the proper blend of plate discipline and aggressiveness. Pitches are tracked in cage work to help hitters understand when they are swinging at strikes and when they are chasing pitches out of the strike zone.
The Dodgers have long been considered at the forefront of player development. Los Angeles hitters ranked first in the full-season minors this season with a 12.8 percent walk rate that is the best of the past decade. The Dodgers were second in 2024, top 10 in 2023 and first in 2022. The Brewers, another organization that has clearly made walk rate an emphasis, finished second in 2025 at 12.2 percent to tie the 2023 Mariners and 2023 Twins for second-best over the past decade.
But while this change in approach has swept over offenses around baseball, it has yet to catch on with Rockies and Nationals hitters. Though the league average walk rate has been above 10 percent every year this decade, the Rockies have only topped that mark once (in 2023). The Nationals did walk 10.8 percent of the time in 2023 and 10.1 percent in 2024, but they regressed this year back to 9.5 percent.
So, why does it matter? It’s only one minor league stat, after all, and both the Rockies and Nationals have plenty of problems. The issue is that the approach has manifested at the major league level, as well.
In 2025, the Rockies finished with the lowest walk rate in the majors (6.7 percent), while the Nationals were third-worst (7.4 percent). Not coincidentally, the Rockies had the worst on-base percentage in the minors this year (.293) and finished second-worst in MLB in runs scored despite playing home games at Coors Field.

Joining the Rockies in the bottom third of walk percentage at the major league level in each of the past four seasons are the Marlins. Even so, in Miami we find an example of how a change in approach can lead to positive changes.
From 2021-2024, the Marlins ranked bottom five in MLB walk rate every season, including a last-place 6.7 percent rate last year. The same was true in the minors. From 2018-2024, the Marlins’ full-season MiLB walk rate never climbed above 10 percent. In 2024, the Marlins were second-worst at 9.6 percent, ahead of only—you guessed it—the Rockies.
But under new GM Peter Bendix, the Marlins have made significant strides. Miami’s major league walk rate improved from an MLB-worst 6.7 percent to 7.9 percent this year, finishing 24th overall. With a better approach at the plate, the Marlins went from scoring 3.93 runs per game in 2024 (27th best) to 4.43 in 2025 (16th best).
In the minor leagues, the Marlins went from 29th in walk rate in 2024 (9.6 percent) to 10th at 11.3 percent. Their runs per game jumped from 4.23 in 2024 to 4.40 in 2025.
The Cardinals are also reworking their player development under Chaim Bloom. While St. Louis’ walk rate at the MiLB level has generally been better than the Rockies or Nationals, it was still fourth-worst in the minors in 2024 at 9.9 percent. This year, the Cardinals improved to 13th at 11.2 percent.
This isn’t to suggest that if an organization’s hitters simply start walking more all their problems will be solved. But in the Nationals and Rockies—whose 15.1 and 13.8 percent K-BB rates for hitters this season ranked worst and fifth-worst, respectively—we see two struggling organizations whose hitters could benefit the most from learning which pitches to take.
Below, you’ll find sortable full-season minor league data all 30 organizations in a wide variety of hitting and pitching statistics.
2025 MiLB Team Batting Statistics
OrgAVGOBPSLGISOSB/GSB%BABIPR/GBB%K%K%-BB%Whiff
RATEAngels.237.331.374.1371.3076.6%.3084.1410.7%25.5%14.8%30.0%Astros.226.327.362.1351.6178.2%.2964.4411.5%26.3%14.9%29.5%Athletics.252.347.380.1291.0080.9%.3114.5911.2%21.6%10.4%25.6%Blue Jays.235.334.372.1371.0477.8%.2974.4811.5%23.9%12.4%27.4%Braves.223.312.322.0981.3776.4%.2854.8110.1%23.4%13.3%27.2%Brewers.234.337.360.1261.6379.2%.2964.1412.2%23.2%11.1%27.7%Cardinals.249.344.376.1271.4374.7%.3044.6711.2%21.1%9.9%25.9%Cubs.240.339.363.1231.3878.5%.3053.7211.5%23.5%12.0%27.8%D-backs.260.350.401.1411.0874.1%.3224.7610.9%22.0%11.1%26.1%Dodgers.253.356.397.1441.5779.0%.3164.6112.8%23.0%10.2%26.9%Giants.250.343.388.1381.5080.3%.3114.6111.0%22.5%11.5%26.6%Guardians.236.332.371.1351.5777.7%.2994.9011.3%23.6%12.3%27.0%Mariners.252.344.395.1430.8880.7%.3154.5410.8%23.0%12.2%27.8%Marlins.232.328.357.1241.3779.1%.2914.5911.3%22.8%11.6%26.9%Mets.243.337.376.1341.4879.5%.3005.2911.1%22.3%11.2%26.7%Nationals.235.316.353.1191.4481.3%.3024.529.5%24.5%15.1%30.0%Orioles.227.324.350.1231.4676.6%.2954.6911.3%25.1%13.8%28.5%Padres.247.341.372.1251.2976.9%.3094.7211.2%22.3%11.1%27.0%Phillies.239.335.368.1292.0379.2%.2964.4011.2%22.4%11.2%26.5%Pirates.240.331.378.1381.1676.7%.3025.1310.4%24.0%13.7%28.9%Rangers.241.333.367.1261.5576.9%.2994.8310.8%22.4%11.6%26.0%Rays.234.330.357.1231.4079.0%.2954.7611.4%23.5%12.1%28.3%Red Sox.236.324.366.1301.1274.8%.3004.8410.5%24.4%13.9%29.3%Reds.243.336.374.1310.9976.3%.3095.2210.7%23.7%13.0%28.6%Rockies.251.333.390.1381.6978.1%.3154.609.5%23.3%13.8%27.9%Royals.241.330.371.1301.3177.6%.3054.7910.5%23.5%12.9%28.7%Tigers.252.350.401.1491.0879.1%.3135.2811.7%22.6%10.9%27.6%Twins.242.342.389.1471.0681.9%.2965.0911.5%22.5%11.0%26.7%White Sox.242.334.367.1241.6778.0%.3075.5110.6%23.5%12.9%27.6%Yankees.243.337.386.1431.3779.6%.3075.0011.2%23.8%12.6%28.4%
2025 MiLB Team Pitching Statistics
OrgRAAERAAVGOBPSLGBB%K%K-BB%HR9WHIFF
RATEBABIPWHIPStrike%Angels5.635.02.262.358.40411.7%22.9%11.2%0.9127.2%.3291.5461.3%Astros5.104.51.240.345.37312.3%23.0%10.7%0.8827.5%.3001.4460.6%Athletics5.184.53.254.338.39610.1%22.6%12.5%0.8826.6%.3161.4262.2%Blue Jays4.854.22.242.330.37810.5%24.1%13.6%0.8728.2%.3061.3762.8%Braves4.423.87.229.319.35310.3%23.9%13.6%0.7528.4%.2891.2962.4%Brewers4.533.95.240.329.35810.5%23.0%12.5%0.6827.5%.3031.3562.2%Cardinals4.914.40.240.339.37211.9%23.8%11.9%0.8028.7%.3041.4261.3%Cubs4.634.05.236.337.35311.6%23.1%11.5%0.6427.5%.3011.3861.3%D-backs5.835.18.259.359.41512.1%21.5%9.4%1.0026.8%.3161.5460.6%Dodgers5.264.68.238.352.36213.4%24.2%10.9%0.7529.5%.3091.4960.1%Giants4.794.26.244.336.38110.9%23.3%12.4%0.8527.2%.3071.3961.9%Guardians4.534.02.236.331.36411.2%23.4%12.2%0.7627.9%.2981.3661.7%Mariners5.214.63.259.340.3999.6%20.6%11.1%0.8924.4%.3111.4262.9%Marlins4.553.88.228.332.33611.7%24.4%12.7%0.6529.0%.2961.3561.6%Mets4.293.65.219.314.33910.8%26.6%15.8%0.7630.3%.2901.2762.7%Nationals5.064.44.243.339.38211.5%21.6%10.1%0.8826.0%.2961.4161.3%Orioles4.964.23.233.332.34711.7%24.7%13.0%0.6929.3%.3031.3861.5%Padres5.484.86.254.351.39111.5%22.7%11.1%0.7726.6%.3211.4861.4%Phillies5.204.62.247.340.39411.1%22.8%11.7%0.9527.6%.3061.4362.0%Pirates4.433.98.232.323.36210.4%22.8%12.4%0.7726.5%.2891.3162.6%Rangers4.734.17.237.332.36410.9%24.9%14.0%0.8029.0%.3071.3662.1%Rays4.293.80.234.311.3629.0%23.8%14.7%0.8928.1%.2911.2564.0%Red Sox4.814.19.236.333.35711.1%24.9%13.7%0.7829.3%.3051.3762.1%Reds5.184.59.245.341.39011.4%21.8%10.4%0.9326.2%.2991.4361.4%Rockies5.454.83.261.350.41510.9%22.4%11.5%0.9926.7%.3221.4861.5%Royals5.044.42.247.337.38210.6%22.8%12.3%0.8227.1%.3091.4061.8%Tigers4.163.65.229.309.3559.4%23.2%13.7%0.7626.9%.2851.2563.4%Twins5.204.56.251.335.38410.0%22.8%12.8%0.8627.1%.3121.4062.6%White Sox4.814.29.239.337.36811.5%23.2%11.7%0.8028.5%.3011.3961.5%Yankees4.353.79.222.319.34011.2%24.5%13.4%0.6928.5%.2851.3062.0%
Image credit: Kyle Schwarber (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) Let’s round up select category leaders for the month of August…
Scottie Scheffler, during the third round of last week’s Tour Championship, bogeyed the 2nd hole — then birdied the 3rd.A…