Major League Baseball faced more questions about consistency after reports confirmed they used two different types of baseballs during the 2021 season. The league had planned to switch from the tightly wound, high-flying 2019 ball to a looser version in 2021 to reduce home run rates. However, MLB told the players union it had to mix in older 2020 balls due to COVID-related supply issues at Rawlings, the company that makes the baseballs. Both types technically met the league’s standards but sat on opposite ends of the performance spectrum. One ball carried well in the air. The other didn’t.
Some players say they were never told about the mix, casting doubt on MLB’s communication. The situation drew more scrutiny after physicist Dr. Meredith Wills, who has spent years studying baseball construction, found evidence Rawlings was still manufacturing both types of balls even after MLB claimed they had to pull from old stock. Since MLB owns Rawlings, they have control over what gets produced. By telling the union and operating within the approved specifications, MLB may have protected itself legally. But pitchers and hitters playing under inconsistent equipment without knowing which ball is in play is a problem the league hasn’t fully explained.