Baseball legend Bo Jackson believes the game has changed in a big way. The former MLB All-Star recently shared his thoughts on how hitters approach the plate in today’s Major League Baseball. According to Jackson, the focus is no longer on simply getting consistent hits. Instead, he says many players now step into the batter’s box looking to hit the ball out of the park.
Jackson, now 63, spoke during an appearance on the podcast Green Light with Chris Long. He explained that the mindset of modern hitters is very different from what it was during his playing career. In his view, power numbers have become more important than batting average, and that shift has changed how players are valued and paid.
Bo Jackson questions why .241 hitters are still earning millions
“Everybody’s trying to hit the home run. Hit it out of the park or strike out. You getting guys making seven, $8 million a year, and they’re batting .241,” Jackson said.
His comments point directly to how contracts are shaped in today’s game. In past eras, a .241 batting average would have raised concerns about consistency at the plate. Now, players with that average can still earn large salaries if they produce home runs and drive in runs.
Jackson said the game has become more accepting of strikeouts as long as the power numbers are there. He compared those hitters to scout team players in the NFL making high salaries, suggesting that the value system feels very different from what it used to be.
Batting average was once one of the main ways to judge a hitter’s performance. Today, teams focus more on slugging percentage, on-base numbers, and overall power production.
Players who can change a game with one swing are highly rewarded, even if they do not hit for a high average.
Jackson’s remarks center on one clear idea. In today’s MLB, he believes the home run has become the main priority, and batting average no longer carries the same weight when it comes to major contracts. For him, that shift clearly shows how much the league’s values and player evaluations have changed over time.
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