Hitter Profiles: Farewell Razzball — Six Years, Ten Lessons (Selected Highlights)

The useful part

Six years of researching players, arguing over rankings, watching games, chasing down stats, and trying to make sense of a game that refuses to make sense most of the time. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had this opportunity, especially alongside the people who made this more than just a writing gig. That's a number I never imagined when I started, and one that carries a lot more meaning now that I know it's the last.

How it works

• At the same time, I don't want to dismiss a player hitting.240 if he's making better contact and showing meaningful improvements in his approach.
• The best buying opportunities usually come before the box score catches up.
• Of course, not every change is real, and not every early signal deserves an investment.
• The results are worth watching, but the changes are what will determine whether he's worth buying.
• A meaningful change in how he swings or the quality of his contact might tell us considerably more.

What to take from it

In 2026, he has hit.241 with a.423 SLG, but his.253 expected average and.486 expected slugging suggest he has left some production on the table. That 63-point gap in slugging is worth paying attention to heading into 2027. He isn't suddenly a different hitter because the Mariners gave him more starts.

Example or evidence

• For 2027, Mike Trout is a good reminder not to confuse disappointing results with declining skills.
• Small samples are neither something to ignore nor something to build an entire evaluation around.
• Small samples should lead to questions, not conclusions.
• The market is often slow to change its mind about a player.

Details worth keeping

So, for our final Hitter Profiles, we're going deep into the archives. Over the years, I've written about plenty of players, strategies, successes, and spectacularly bad takes. When I look back, what are the lessons that actually stuck?

Related coverage

• Razzball: There is something uniquely fun about digging through the minor leagues at this time of year.
• Razzball: Yes, here we are talking about 2027 again.
• Razzball: This is always a bittersweet article.