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Top MLB Players Underperforming Early in the 2025 Season

Apr 5, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (27) before action against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesApr 5, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (27) before action against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

The Major League Baseball season is about a month old, so enough games have been played to determine who’s off to a disappointing start. It’s not simply a matter of identifying who is playing poorly—although that helps—but we also need to factor in expectations, recent results and what kind of contract value the team is getting for the player.

They’ve played just a month in 2025, but as Yogi Berra possibly said: It’s getting late awfully early out there. Here are players who need to pick it up soon, or else they’ll keep making lists like this one:

Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies, SP
Nola carries a 5.40 ERA and a 4.56 expected ERA (per FanGraphs), plus an 0-5 record through his first six starts—though the Phillies did win his most recent appearance. Nola, who turns 32 in June, has allowed two home runs in three different starts. He’s in the second year of a seven-year, $172 million contract.

Yainer Diaz, Houston Astros, C
Diaz has been one of the top three or four hitting catchers in the league since 2023, but he came into action Tuesday with a slash line of .172/.200/.299 and two home runs in 90 plate appearances. Yordan Alvarez and others in the Astros’ lineup have started slow too, but not this sluggish.

Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox, 1B
Casas is batting .185/.279/.315 with three home runs in his first 104 plate appearances, and manager Alex Cora has dropped him to sixth or seventh in the batting order. Entering 2025, Casas had produced about 25 percent better than league average (.250/.357/.473) with 45 homers in 840 plate appearances.

Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers, 2B

Jul 25, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers second base Marcus Semien (2) celebrates with shortstop Corey Seager (5) after hitting a home run against the Chicago White Sox in the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn ImagesJul 25, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers second base Marcus Semien (2) celebrates with shortstop Corey Seager (5) after hitting a home run against the Chicago White Sox in the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

The Rangers entered action Tuesday with the most anemic offense by runs scored in the league, and Semien was not helping. He came in hitting .155/.226/.223 with two home runs in 115 plate appearances, though he did pick up three singles against the Athletics on Tuesday night. Only José Altuve and Ketel Marte have produced more offense at second base than Semien since he switched to that position full time in 2021.

Willy Adames, San Francisco Giants, SS
Adames produced about 11 percent above league average (.243/.320/.454) over five seasons before signing a $182 million free-agent contract in the offseason. For the Giants so far, his results have been tiny: .212/.286/.305 with just seven extra-base hits (two homers, including one Tuesday night). Oracle Park is a tough ballpark for right-handed hitters, but even accounting for that, Adames is producing 30 percent below league average.

Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies, 3B
Bohm hit .280/.332/.448 with 97 RBIs in 606 plate appearances in 2024, and produced about 10 percent above league average over the past two seasons combined. He’s been one of the worst hitters in the league in 2025, slashing .221/.252/.274 with zero home runs and just three walks for a mediocre Phillies offense.

Cody Bellinger, New York Yankees, LF

Mar 29, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) hits an RBI single in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesMar 29, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) hits an RBI single in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Bellinger homered and doubled Tuesday night and is probably about to get hot. But he came in batting .194/.262/.312 with two homers and a .118 isolated power in 107 plate appearances, which translates to nearly 40 percent below league average. The Yankees will need more—and they’ll probably get it soon—but it’s been a poor start.

Anthony Santander, Toronto Blue Jays, RF
The Blue Jays finally landed Santander on a free-agent deal, and he has yet to show he was worth it. He’s batting .174/.260/.294 with three home runs in 123 plate appearances. His average exit velocity has been typical for him, but he’s been striking out more than usual. He’s probably trying too hard to be worth $92.5 million.

Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox, CF
For parts of two seasons now, Robert has been disappointing. He hit a home run, drew a walk and stole a base Tuesday, but he’s still batting .158/.283/.305 in 115 plate appearances. He’s 27 years old and could become a free agent after this season if the White Sox don’t pick up $20 million team options for 2026 and 2027. It’s hard to figure why he’s been so bad. In 2023, he slugged .542 with 38 homers and 20 stolen bases.

Vinnie Pasquantino, Kansas City Royals, DH

Aug 29, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz (21) collides with Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (9) in the eighth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY SportsAug 29, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz (21) collides with Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (9) in the eighth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

He’s been one of the worst hitters in the league at .174/.242/.303 with three home runs in 120 plate appearances—good for 55 percent below league average. Pasquantino has expressed concern that he’s swinging the bat too fast. His bat speed, per MLB Statcast, has jumped from the 45th percentile to 84th, and he wonders if swinging harder might be less effective. In 1,112 previous career plate appearances, he produced about 15 percent better than league average.

Devin Williams, New York Yankees, CL
Well, he’s not the closer anymore—at least for now. Williams throws two pitches, a changeup and a four-seam fastball, and neither has been effective. The changeup has typically been one of the best pitches in the league, but it’s been no better than neutral so far. That drop in effectiveness could be linked to a drop in fastball velocity, which has declined from the 61st percentile to the 40th.

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Milos Uzan’s 26 points lead No. 5 Houston to definitive win over Colorado

NCAA Basketball: Colorado at HoustonFeb 28, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars guard Milos Uzan (7) dribbles against the Colorado Buffaloes in the first half at Fertitta Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Milos Uzan poured in 26 points while hitting on five of his seven 3-point shots as host No. 5 Houston got back on the winning track with a 102-62 win over Colorado on Saturday afternoon in a late-season Big 12 Conference dustup.

The Cougars (24-5, 12-4 Big 12) shrugged off a ragged start to build a 26-point lead at halftime behind a balanced attack that had all eight players who saw the court score at least two points. Colorado never got closer than 21 points in the second half before the Cougars reasserted themselves, stretching the margin to 94-58 on Emanuel Sharp’s 3-pointer with 5:35 to play.

From there, Houston cruised to the finish to snap a three-game losing streak and dispel any doubts about its fitness for the season’s stretch run and the NCAA Tournament.

Joseph Tugler added 14 points for the Cougars, with Chris Cenac Jr. hitting for 12, Kingston Flemings scoring 11 and Sharp, Chase McCarty and Mercy Miller tallying 10 points apiece.

Isaiah Johnson led Colorado with 19 points. Bangot Dak added 15 and Sebastian Rancik had 11 for the Buffaloes (16-13, 6-10), who had a two-game winning streak snapped.

The Buffaloes built a 10-2 lead when Rancik hit a layup at the 17:09 mark of the first half, but Houston responded with a 15-6 run capped by a layup from Kalifa Sakho four minutes later to leapfrog to a 17-16 advantage. That margin grew to 23-16 after Flemings drove the lane for a layup with 11:58 left in the half that capped a 12-0 run for the Cougars.

Free throws by Jalin Holland and Rancik ended Houston’s run. But the Cougars began another surge, scoring 12 straight points and building the lead to 35-19 when Miller canned 3-pointer with 7:42 left until halftime.

Houston was up 43-27 when Colorado coach Tad Boyle was assessed his second technical foul of the game and ejected with 3:06 to play in the half. The Cougars finished the half on a 12-2 run to carry a 55-29 advantage into the break.

Uzan led all scorers with 16 points before halftime while McCarty added 10 for Houston, which shot 55.6% and broached the 50-point mark in a first half for the second time this season. Dak paced the Buffaloes with 11 points.

–Field Level Media

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Florida State stays hot with thorough win over Georgia Tech

NCAA Basketball: Florida State at Georgia TechFeb 28, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Robert McCray V. (6) drives to the basket against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the first half at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Robert McCray V scored a game-high 20 points to help visiting Florida State post a wire-to-wire 80-71 victory over Georgia Tech in Atlantic Coast Conference play on Saturday in Atlanta.

Thomas Bassong had 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Chauncey Wiggins chipped in 12 points for Florida State (15-14, 8-8 ACC), which won its seventh game in nine tries.

Kowacie Reeves Jr.’s 17 points led Georgia Tech (11-18, 2-14), followed by Jaeden Mustaf’s 16 and 15 points apiece from Akai Fleming and Kam Craft. The Yellow Jackets lost their 10th straight game.

After trailing by 16 points with three minutes left in the first half, Georgia Tech sliced its deficit to 45-43 on Reeves’ 3-pointer with 17:23 left in the second.

Florida State rebuilt its cushion to eight on AJ Swinton’s dunk and Cam Miles’ layup at the 10:54 mark. McCray’s stepback 3-pointer extended the lead to 65-53.

Meanwhile, Georgia Tech went 8:37 without a field goal until Craft’s 3-pointer with 5:52 remaining cut the Yellow Jackets’ deficit to 68-58.

Martin Sommerville was fouled and made an off-balance floater at the 4:13 mark, then completed the three-point play to give the Seminoles a 72-60 lead. Bassong put the finishing touches on the convincing victory with a dunk with 1:36 left.

McCray’s personal 7-0 run gave Florida State an early 9-2 lead. Kobe MaGee and Swinton drilled triples to extend the visitors’ advantage to 18-8 with 13:42 left in the first half.

Fleming’s 3-pointer pulled the Yellow Jackets within six, but Miles’ layup stamped a 6-0 Seminoles run to put them ahead 26-14 at the 8:34 mark. The margin ballooned to 16 on Wiggins’ corner 3-pointer with 4:41 remaining.

After Somerville drilled three free throws, Georgia Tech answered with a 12-1 run, including Craft and Reeves’ consecutive 3-pointers, to trim the halftime deficit to 41-36.

The Yellow Jackets held Florida State without a made field goal for the final 4:40 of the opening half.

–Field Level Media

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Alex Karaban, No. 6 UConn sink Seton Hall

NCAA Basketball: Seton Hall at ConnecticutFeb 28, 2026; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies forward Alex Karaban (11) shoots the ball against Seton Hall Pirates guard Tajuan Simpkins (2) in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Alex Karaban made 5 of 6 3-point attempts and scored a game-high 23 points, lifting No. 6 UConn to a 71-67 victory over Seton Hall on Saturday in a Big East matchup played In Storrs, Conn.

Solo Ball added 14 points for UConn (27-3, 17-2 Big East), which trailed by eight points midway through the second half.

Karaban sank two free throws to give UConn a 68-65 lead with 20 seconds to play.

After Seton Hall’s Adam Clark missed a 3-pointer, Ball made two free throws that extended UConn’s lead with eight seconds left. Following Najai Hines’ basket, Ball capped the scoring by making a free throw with three seconds remaining.

Seton Hall (19-10, 9-9) received 20 points from A.J. Staton-McCray, 12 from Elijah Fisher and 11 from Hines. Clark, who entered the game averaging a team-high 12.5 points per game, was held to four points.

The Pirates made 9 of 18 3-point attempts after going 0 for 18 from 3-point range in their last game, a 51-47 victory over Georgetown. Seton Hall was 1 of 16 from beyond the 3-point arc when it dropped a 69-64 decision to UConn on Jan. 13.

Despite 15 first-half points from Karaban, Seton Hall had a 33-32 halftime lead.

UConn took a 43-42 lead on a Jayden Ross layup with 14:57 left in the second half, but Seton Hall had a 54-46 advantage – its largest lead of the game – after a Staton-McCray 3-pointer with 9:33 remaining in regulation.

Braylon Mullins capped a 10-0 run that put UConn in front 58-56 with 5:57 left.

It was 63-63 after a Fisher jump shot with 2:02 to play, but the Huskies took a lead they wouldn’t relinquish when Ball made two free throws that erased a 65-64 deficit.

Mullins (11) and Tarris Reed (10) also scored in double figures for UConn.

–Field Level Media

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