MLB Slightly Deadening Ball Amid HR Surge
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has slightly deadened its baseballs amid a years-long surge in home runs. MLB anticipates the changes will be subtle, and a memo to teams last week cited an independent lab that found the new balls will fly 1 to 2 feet shorter when hit over 375 feet. Five teams also plan to add humidors to their stadiums, raising the total to 10 of 30 MLB stadiums equipped with humidity-controlled storage spaces. A person familiar with the note spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the memo was sent privately.