Andrew McCutchen accuses MLB of ruining Aaron Judge’s power with sneaky high-seam baseball changes

The New York Yankees are going through a rough patch with their recent losing streak. While many fans are pointing fingers at the team’s performance, one baseball veteran has shared something even more surprising.

His words are now making headlines. The truth may have less to do with how players are swinging and more to do with what they are swinging at. The problem could be in the baseballs themselves.

Former New York Yankees outfielder Andrew McCutchen discussed on June 15, 2025 a major baseball shift few fans were aware of. He made this public in a video interview, saying that an MLB official told him the balls this season are not the same as previously.

McCutchen said, “They told me the seams are higher this year. ” Higher ball seams, he said, can slow it down in flight. This implies that the ball does not travel as far when a player hits it as it used to. “Every baseball is hand-sewn; so no ball is same,” he continued.When McCutchen asked the MLB if they could fix the issue during the 2025 season, they said no. The league is still looking into it but won’t make changes right now.

This comes at a time when teams like the Yankees depend on strong batters to hit home runs and score runs.

Yankees power hitters like Aaron Judge can be affected

Known for their potent hitters Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees are having trouble scoring. Once leading in home runs, the squad is having more difficulty now hitting balls outside the park.Also Read: Aaron Judge And Fans React After DJ LeMahieu Hit Sparks New MLB OutrageStats from this season show fewer home runs across all MLB teams. The average went from 1.12 home runs per game last year to 1.09 this year.

Runs per game have also dropped slightly.Fans and baseball experts are now asking if these ball changes are being done on purpose to slow down hitters. Some believe it’s unfair to teams built around power hitting.If what McCutchen says is true, the Yankees might need to change their game plan. Until the MLB fixes or confirms the issue, teams and fans will be watching closely.