As the 2026 season approaches, certain players and teams have distinct objectives to consider.
Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
While New Year’s resolutions are on our minds, we’re not exactly known for sticking to them. Inspired by this, we’ve crafted resolutions for baseball players and teams based on statistics. Take a look!
Joey Ortiz: I Resolve to Avoid Chasing Pitches
Joey Ortiz faced a challenging season in Milwaukee last year, stepping in as shortstop for the beloved Willy Adames. His offensive performance plummeted, with OPS dropping from .726 in 2024 to .593 in 2025. Although his batting average only decreased slightly, his on-base percentage fell by 53 points, and his slugging percentage dropped by 81 points.
Ortiz struggled with swing decisions, leading to an increase in his chase rate from 27% to 36%. This spike was notable, being the most significant rise among players with at least 300 plate appearances.
Nick Martinez: I Resolve to Regain My Chases
Nick Martinez accepted a $21 million qualifying offer from the Reds after a standout 2024 season. However, his ERA surged from 3.10 to 4.45 in 2025, partly due to a drop in chase rate by 7.5 percentage points—the largest decline of any pitcher who threw 80 or more innings.
With this decline, Martinez faced more walks, fewer strikeouts, and allowed more home runs. His chase rate diminished significantly on both his fastball and changeup, impacting his overall effectiveness.
Marlins Pitchers and Catchers: We Resolve to Limit Baserunner Advancement
The Marlins allowed a staggering 191 stolen bases last season, leading the league by a substantial margin. They also recorded the second-fewest caught stealings and fewest pickoffs while having the highest number of combined wild pitches and passed balls.
Key culprits included Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera, each giving up a league-high 35 stolen bases. Catcher Agustín Ramírez allowed 83 stolen bases with only 8 caught stealings and led in errors, further emphasizing the need for improvement.
C.J. Abrams: I Resolve to Complete Plays More Effectively
C.J. Abrams demonstrated impressive range last season, saving 7 runs. However, he finished the season with an overall -6 Runs Saved, largely due to bobbling balls and failing to execute expected throws.
His -12 Throwing Runs Saved were the worst in the league, with 18 throwing errors and an additional 5 defensive misplays related to throws, highlighting significant areas for improvement.
Phillies Infielders: We Resolve to Improve Double Play Execution
Despite being a strong team overall, the Phillies struggled defensively, particularly with double plays. Tracking their double play opportunities and success rates underlines the need for better execution.
Over the past three seasons, their performance has consistently ranked last in double play runs saved, with the same duo of Trea Turner and Bryson Stott at the center of these struggles. Their range numbers are impressive, but the double play issues have hindered award considerations.
The Twins: We Resolve to Improve Outfield Positioning
The Twins finished a disappointing 29th in Defensive Runs Saved, with notable deficits in both shortstop and right field positions. They ranked last in runs saved due to poor outfield positioning, which contributed to a significant drop in overall team performance.
