5 MLB Players Who Weren't Able to Keep Up Their Hot Starts

Baseball is a hot and cold sport. At any time, a batter can go on a hitting tear and the next thing you know, they're struggling with the strike zone. The same can be said for pitchers. Here are five batters who got out to hot starts in 2019 but have seen some regression in their hitting as the season has progressed.

5. Eric Sogard

Toronto Blue Jays v Baltimore Orioles / Greg Fiume

The Blue Jays infielder is off to a great start in 2019, hitting .280 with six home runs, a .350 on base percentage and an OPS of over .800. However, his career average is just .241 with an on base of .312 and a career OPS of .640, way below league average. Sogard, while a nice surprise in 2019, shouldn't be expected to keep this hot hitting up.

4. Tim Beckham

Seattle Mariners v Los Angeles Angels / Jayne Kamin-Oncea

The Mariners infielder got off to a hot start in April, hitting .282 with six home runs and nine RBI as Seattle got off to a quick start in 2019. However, Beckham and his team have cooled off massively since then, with the former first round pick hitting just .186 over his last 88 plate appearances. Safe to say he has not lived up to his draft slot.

3. Christian Walker

Arizona Diamondbacks v Toronto Blue Jays / Tom Szczerbowski

The D-backs first baseman was sensational early on, which explains his 11 home runs and .826 OPS in 65 games played so far. However, he's making less hard contact over the past month and has seen a regression to his more sustainable .230 career batting average.

2. Joe Musgrove

Pittsburgh Pirates v Atlanta Braves / Kevin C. Cox

Pirates right-handed pitcher Joe Musgrove's ERA was 1.54 through April 30, but has ballooned to over 6.98 ERA since the beginning of May. Not to mention, his WHIP and home run rate increased significantly since May 1, indicating how much trouble he was pitching in and eventually not getting out of. The Pirates have struggled of late and so has their young right-hander.

1. Jason Heyward

St Louis Cardinals v Chicago Cubs / Jonathan Daniel

Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward was scorching hot in April, hitting 10 homers after hitting 19 combined between 2017 and 2018. However, Heyward has not hit another home run since and has also seen a large drop in batting average and OPS. The outfielder's walk and strikeout rates have decreased and increased, respectively, since May which has also been a factor in his lesser production.