Former MLB All-Star Bo Jackson isn’t mincing words about the state of today’s game. At 63, the two-sport icon has watched baseball evolve from a contact-driven chess match into what he sees as a power-obsessed spectacle, and he believes the numbers tell the story.
Bo Jackson “Hit It Out of the Park or Strike Out”
Speaking recently on “Green Light with Chris Long,” Jackson laid out his blunt assessment of modern hitters. In his view, the approach is simple: swing for the fences or head back to the dugout.
“Everybody’s trying to hit the home run. Hit it out of the park or strike out,” Jackson said. “You’re getting guys making seven, $8 million a year, and they’re batting .241.”
That figure, .241, became the centerpiece of his critique. Decades ago, a batting average hovering near .240 often raised questions about consistency and value. Today, however, the metric carries far less weight in contract negotiations. Front offices increasingly prioritize slugging percentage, on-base metrics, and power production over traditional batting averages.
Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber offers a clear example of that shift. Last season, Schwarber hit .240 yet blasted 56 home runs, drove in 132 runs, and finished second in National League MVP voting. The result was a five-year, $150 million contract in the offseason, a deal that underscores how dramatically offensive value is now measured.
The $150 Million Power Formula
For Jackson, Schwarber represents more than just one player’s success. He symbolizes the modern formula: high strikeouts, lower batting averages, but elite power numbers that tilt games in an instant. In today’s analytics-driven front offices, home runs and run production often outweigh traditional batting titles.
Jackson drew a comparison to the NFL to drive home his point.
“That’s like somebody making minimum wage, that’s a guy on the scout team that you know isn’t supposed to be in the game making seven-eight million a year,” he said.
The comparison highlights his belief that batting average once served as a baseline measure of reliability. In contrast, the contemporary model tolerates more swing-and-miss in exchange for extra-base damage.
The Disappearance of Small Ball
Beyond contracts and averages, Jackson also lamented the stylistic changes reshaping baseball’s identity. He pointed to the decline of stolen bases, hit-and-run plays, and sacrifice bunts, tactics once considered fundamental tools for manufacturing runs.
“Stealing bases back then was a must,” Jackson said. “You don’t see too many guys stealing bases or doing hit and runs now in baseball, or sacrifice bunts.”
While electrifying players such as Cincinnati Reds star Elly De La Cruz continue to showcase speed and aggressive base running, Jackson sees fewer examples of that brand of baseball overall. The emphasis has shifted from incremental pressure to immediate payoff.
Jackson’s perspective carries weight. Over eight MLB seasons, he compiled a .250 career batting average with 141 home runs, 415 RBI, and 82 stolen bases in 694 games. He earned an All-Star selection with the Kansas City Royals in 1989. At the same time, he built a four-season NFL career with the then–Los Angeles Raiders, rushing for 2,782 yards and 16 touchdowns in just 38 games.
The game Jackson once dominated has undeniably changed. Advanced analytics now shape roster construction and offensive philosophy, elevating power metrics and run expectancy models over traditional benchmarks. Whether that evolution represents progress or a departure from baseball’s roots remains part of an ongoing debate.
In Jackson’s view, however, the transformation is unmistakable: modern hitters are swinging for glory, and getting paid handsomely for it, even if the batting average no longer tells the full story.
