Five noteworthy hitters mired in slumps to start 2024

Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra was once asked about breaking out of a batting slump.

“Slump?” Berra said. “I ain’t in no slump. I just ain’t hitting.”

Whether you call it a slump or not, even the greatest major-league hitters can't avoid often long stretches in which the hits don't seem to fall. 

At one point in 2022, three-time American League MVP Mike Trout experienced the worst slump of his career, going 0-for-26.    

Given the difficulty of consistently hitting a baseball, the trick is minimizing the slumps. Physically and mentally, hitters will do anything and everything to fix whatever is ailing them when they step into the batter's box.

To begin the 2024 season, several hitters are trying to reacquaint themselves with their bats. Here are five notable ones who are off to terrible starts.

Stats are through Wednesday.

Kris Bryant | Colorado Rockies

Since signing a seven-year, $182 contract with the Rockies in 2022, Bryant has only played in 36.5 percent of their games over the past two seasons due to various injuries. While he’s healthy to start 2024, his bat isn’t. After six games, the former National League MVP and Rookie of the Year is 2-for-20 (.100) with 10 strikeouts and only one RBI.

Evan Carter | Texas Rangers

Coming off a brilliant postseason in which he had a slash line of .300/.417/.500 to help lead the Rangers to their first World Series title, Carter entered the season as one of the favorites to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award. However, the 21-year-old outfielder would like to earn a hit at the current rate. So far, Carter is hitless in 15 at-bats, with five walks, five runs and two strikeouts.

Francisco Lindor | New York Mets

Last season, the 30-year-old switch-hitting Lindor belted more than 30 home runs for the fourth time in his career. Yet the four-time All-Star shortstop has been an easy out in 2024, beginning with spring training, when he hit .145 in 19 games. Unfortunately, his cold bat has carried over into the regular season; after four games, Lindor has only one hit in 16 at-bats (.063).

Anthony Rendon | Los Angeles Angels

In every 2024 game thus far, new manager Ron Washington has inserted Rendon, a former All-Star and World Series champion, into the leadoff spot. The veteran third baseman has responded with nothing but outs. After five games, Rendon owns MLB’s longest hitless streak (0-for-19, with five strikeouts). The oft-injured Rendon has done little to live up to the seven-year, $245 million contract he signed with the Angels in 2020.

Giancarlo Stanton | New York Yankees

Coming off a career-worst season in which he batted .191, Stanton has done little to inspire confidence he will do much better in 2024. The former NL MVP is hitting .150 (3-for-20) with a .540 OPS and 11 strikeouts. Stanton was held out of Wednesday’s series finale against Arizona after going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts on Tuesday night.