Who hit LHP really well in 2025... or not so much?

Issue #550

Around this time each year I like to remind myself of which hitters hit left-handed pitchers either really well… or really poorly. Because most starting pitchers are right-handed, it is helpful to know who might standout when the more rare southpaws are starting. And it helps explain various bullpen moves during games too. And for those who play fantasy baseball (especially daily fantasy), or who bet on baseball (especially proposition bets, like hitting a HR or getting 2+ hits or 3+ TB or the like), it is critical to know who has the biggest performance splits between RHP and LHP.

So I’ll start with some guys who in 2025 did particularly well against LHP, some of whom are quite well known for hitting LHP better than RHP. Here I’m listing them in order by OPS vs. LHP, then giving each player’s slash line (BA/OBP/SLG), along with the HR and plate appearances so you know the full context of the numbers. (My criteria for this list was guys with a significantly higher OPS against LHP than RHP, a BA over .300 vs. LHP, and at least 80 PA vs. LHP).

STL Iván Herrera

This is a reversal of his splits in 2024, where hit significantly better against RHP than LHP… so we’ll need to watch this in 2026.

MIN Byron Buxton

Buxton has historically hit LHP better than RHP, but not usually to this extent.

ATH Shea Langeliers

This was the first year in Langeliers’ young career where he had such extreme splits and crushed LHP to this degree.

NYY Cody Bellinger

Bellinger is a left-handed batter, and has usually not had such extreme splits, so this bears watching in 2026.