Kenny Lofton’s Critique of Modern Baseball
Kenny Lofton, the former baseball star, is open about his opinions regarding the current state of Major League Baseball (MLB) and his dissatisfaction with the emphasis on home runs.
Lofton, who boasted a career batting average of .299 and an on-base percentage of .372, feels he was “lost in the shuffle” during his playing days because he wasn’t a prolific home run hitter like some of his contemporaries. He is troubled by the ongoing trends in MLB. “These days, it’s all about the long ball,” Lofton shared in a recent phone interview with The Post. “It’s disheartening to see young players focusing on metrics like exit velocity and launch angle, which boil down to home runs. Back in the ’90s, if a player struck out 100 times, people would advise them to lower that number. Now, players with 200 strikeouts who hit 30 home runs are celebrated as All-Stars.”
Lofton finds it alarming to see so many at-bats resulting in players not putting the ball in play, which limits opportunities for teams. “It’s sad to see that.” During the roughly 16-minute conversation, Lofton’s enthusiasm for the game was clear, as he reflected on his 18-year career that included 2,428 hits and 622 stolen bases across various teams, including the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees.
Frustration with MLB’s Changes
He expressed his frustration with MLB’s attempts to “manipulate” the game in order to encourage base stealing and situational hitting. “It’s as if they’re trying to manufacture small ball by incentivizing steals,” Lofton stated. “What’s next? Are we going to set up a tee for batters to hit home runs? The game needs to revert to its roots, valuing players with high batting averages over those simply focused on hitting home runs.”
Introducing Sluggball
Lofton’s sentiments also inspired his involvement in a new initiative called Sluggball, co-founded by former Phillies GM Ruben Amaro and his brother, David. This project emphasizes situational hitting rather than prioritizing home runs.
Marketed as the baseball equivalent of Topgolf, Sluggball allows teams of 4-6 players to participate in tournaments that focus on hitting challenges without requiring fielding or running. Sluggball is set to officially launch on May 10 at Trenton Thunder Ballpark in Trenton, New Jersey, and will host an event in Staten Island on September 13, with a cash prize for the winning team.
Returning Focus to the Fundamentals
“What excited me about Sluggball was its focus on situational hitting rather than just home runs. It aims to bring joy back to the game,” Lofton remarked. “The essence of baseball, such as small ball and manufacturing runs, seems to have faded away. This initiative can help showcase that aspect of baseball.” He emphasized, “Situational hitting should not be overlooked in the sport.”
In discussing potential reforms, Lofton believes the foundation of change should begin at the youth levels, including high school and minor leagues, to stress the importance of situational hitting and batting averages, rather than just home runs. He pointed out that current financial incentives often favor power hitters, which compounds the issue.
Lofton concluded, noting the troubling reality that young athletes are less motivated to hit for average due to financial rewards being tied primarily to power. “If we can demonstrate the value of a player who hits .340 and starts earning $20-30 million a year, that may catalyze a change. Right now, it’s only the home run hitters who receive those large salaries.”
