MLB hitters swinging at first pitches at highest rate since 1988

CHICAGO (AP) — Pete Crow-Armstrong is ready to go. Same goes for Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos. Ceddanne Rafaela, too.

They are the kings of swinging at the first pitch — and they have some company.

Through Thursday's games, the MLB-wide swing percentage on first pitches this year was 32.1%, according to Sportradar. That is the same number as last year, and an increase from 31% in both 2022 and 2023.

While there are some pitches missing from the data before the 2000 season, the percentage for each of the last two years is the highest such number since it was 32.6% in 1988.

“I just think that the message that gets preached more often these days is being ready to hit good pitches,” Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “And obviously pitchers want to get ahead because they’re trying to get to two strikes as fast as possible. Most guys probably feel like they can have success earlier in counts than they can later in counts.”

Castellanos leads the way at 56%, followed by Harper — another slugger with the Phillies — at 53.9%. Crow-Armstrong, an All-Star center fielder with the Cubs, is next at 52.7%, and Rafaela of the Red Sox is fourth at 50.8%. They are the only qualified batters in the majors that clear 50%, according to Sportradar.

The 33-year-old Castellanos said swinging at the first pitch isn't something that he consciously thinks about. He attributed his percentage to just being ready to hit, and he pointed to his first at-bat in a recent game while detailing his approach.

“I saw a slider for a strike which is a good pitch to hit,” he said. “And I’m like, all right, well now let’s see. He’s probably going to waste a pitch here or whatever. Threw me another slider that was a good pitch to hit. And then, now I’m 0-2, I saw two good pitches to hit, and now I haven’t even seen what his fastball looks like yet. So, for me, it’s just like a double-edged sword. But sometimes you go up there and I might see one and you end up 3-0.”

Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo (40.1%) and Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman (39%) are the top pitchers when it comes to batters swinging at the first pitch. Tigers ace Tarik Skubal (38.6%), who is contending for a second straight AL Cy Young Award, is next, followed by Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (37.8%).

Gausman's first-pitch swing percentage was 35.6 last year and 32 in 2023.

“I look at the numbers. I know that it’s higher than usual this year,” Gausman said. “You know 3-2 is always the highest swing percentage of any count, and that never changes. But 0-0 has gotten higher. The only reason I can think of is me and Woo throw a lot of strikes. If you're an offense game-planning against us you know, ‘Hey, if he’s going to be in the zone within the first three pitches.’”

According to Sportradar, the MLB-wide batting average on the first pitch is .338, compared to .333 last year and .348 in 2023. That number has captured Gausman's attention as well.

“I think in the past, there was a lot more free strikes,” he said. “Even thinking about scouting, it was a lot more guys like, ‘Hey, we can steal a strike 0-0.’ There’s not many guys in (the) lineup that are like that. It used to be three or four guys that would kind of see a pitch, first pitch, especially first at-bat. Now it’s maybe one or two guys. Guys know they’re not necessarily getting paid to get on base.”

It’s a bit of a renaissance for swinging at the first pitch after it went from 30% in 2001 all the way down to 26% in 2010, coinciding with an increased emphasis on on-base percentage and working the count — the arrival of baseball’s “Moneyball” era.

But, amid advances in velocity and stuff across the major leagues, that first pitch might be the best offensive opportunity since pitchers look to jump ahead in the count. Gausman also mentioned the pitch clock, which was added to the majors before the 2023 season, as possibly forcing batters to be ready more quickly than before.

On the way to his first All-Star Game, Crow-Armstrong had a 1.150 OPS on the first pitch in the first half of the season. That number has dropped to .778 since the break.

“Guys throw so hard and there’s a lot of different shapes that are so hard, and then a lot of different differences in speed,” Crow-Armstrong said. “Pitchers are able to play the game of now that they've figured out that I want to attack early, then they combat that with whatever they do.”

AP Sports Writer Ben Nuckols and AP freelance reporter Ian Harrison contributed to this report.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman aims a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo reacts in the dugout after being relieved during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper hits a single leading Weston Wilson and Trea Turner to score during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Philadelphia Phillies' Nick Castellanos looks on before a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong runs to first base after hitting a single against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy troops to quell persistent protests against the federal officers sent to Minneapolis to enforce his administration's massive immigration crackdown.

The threat comes a day after a man was shot and wounded by an immigration officer who had been attacked with a shovel and broom handle. That shooting further heightened the fear and anger that has radiated across the city since an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot Renee Good in the head.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to invoke the rarely used federal law to deploy the U.S. military or federalize the National Guard for domestic law enforcement, over the objections of state governors.

“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State,” Trump said in social media post.

Presidents have indeed invoked the Insurrection Act more than two dozen times, most recently in 1992 by President George H.W. Bush to end unrest in Los Angeles. In that instance, local authorities had asked for the assistance.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison responded to Trump's post by saying he would challenge any deployment in court. He's already suing to try to stop the surge by the Department of Homeland Security, which says it has made more than 2,000 arrests in the state since early December. ICE is a DHS agency.

In Minneapolis, smoke filled the streets Wednesday night near the site of the latest shooting as federal officers wearing gas masks and helmets fired tear gas into a small crowd. Protesters responded by throwing rocks and shooting fireworks.

Demonstrations have become common in Minneapolis since Good was fatally shot on Jan. 7. Agents who have yanked people from their cars and homes have been confronted by angry bystanders demanding they leave.

“This is an impossible situation that our city is presently being put in and at the same time we are trying to find a way forward to keep people safe, to protect our neighbors, to maintain order,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said.

Frey said the federal force — five times the size of the city’s 600-officer police force — has “invaded” Minneapolis, and that residents are scared and angry.

Homeland Security said in a statement that federal law enforcement officers on Wednesday stopped a driver from Venezuela who is in the U.S. illegally. The person drove off then crashed into a parked car before fleeing on foot, DHS said.

Officers caught up, then two other people arrived and the three started attacking the officer, according to DHS.

“Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life,” DHS said. The confrontation took place about 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) from where Good was killed.

Police chief Brian O’Hara said the shot man was being treated for a non-life-threatening injury. The two others are in custody, DHS said. O’Hara's account of what happened largely echoed that of Homeland Security.

Earlier Wednesday, Gov. Tim Walz described Minnesota said what's happening in the state “defies belief.”

“Let’s be very, very clear: this long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement,” he said. “Instead, it’s a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government.”

Jonathan Ross, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who killed Good, suffered internal bleeding to his torso during the encounter, a Homeland Security official told The Associated Press.

The official spoke to AP on condition of anonymity in order to discuss Ross’ medical condition. The official did not provide details about the severity of the injuries, and the agency did not respond to questions about the bleeding, how he suffered the injury, when it was diagnosed or his medical treatment.

Good was killed after three ICE officers surrounded her SUV on a snowy street near her home. Bystander video shows one officer ordering Good to open the door and grabbing the handle. As the vehicle begins to move forward, Ross, standing in front, raises his weapon and fires at least three shots at close range. He steps back as the SUV advances and turns.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said Ross was struck by the vehicle and that Good was using her SUV as a weapon — a self-defense claim that has been criticized by Minnesota officials.

Chris Madel, an attorney for Ross, declined to comment.

Good’s family has hired the same law firm that represented George Floyd’s family in a $27 million settlement with Minneapolis. Floyd, who was Black, died after a white police officer pinned his neck to the ground 2020.

Madhani reported from Washington, D.C. Associated Press reporters Bill Barrow in Atlanta; Julie Watson in San Diego; Rebecca Santana in Washington; Ed White in Detroit and Giovanna Dell’Orto in Minneapolis contributed.

A protester holds an umbrella as sparks fly from a flash bang deployed by law enforcement on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

Monica Travis shares an embrace while visiting a makeshift memorial for Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer last week, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A protester yells in front of law enforcement after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Tear gas surrounds federal law enforcement officers as they leave a scene after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Protesters shout at law enforcement officers after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Law enforcement officers stand amid tear gas at the scene of a reported shooting Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)