The Significance of .400
Achieving a season batting average over .400 is a rarity in modern baseball. Not since the early 2000s have players like Ichiro in 2004, Nomar Garciaparra and Todd Helton in 2000 approached the mark, each topping out at .372, while Barry Bonds reached .370 in 2002. Since then, no one has surpassed .370.
Historically, 42 players have hit .400 in a season, most of them before 1900. Ted Williams was the last MLB player to do it in 1941, and four Negro League players achieved it between 1943 and 1948.
Just last year, Luis Arraez led the league with a .354 average, nearly 20 points ahead of Ronald Acuna Jr., who finished second at .337.
This season, the difference between Steven Kwan and his competitors is even more pronounced. As of today, Kwan's batting average stands at .398. The next closest, Trea Turner, has a .340 average with a minimum of 150 plate appearances, followed by LaMonte Wade Jr. at .333. Among qualified hitters, Bobby Witt Jr. leads with a .323 average.
