Goldschmidt Thrives with New Approach as Yankees’ Leadoff Batter

New York, NY – Paul Goldschmidt is adjusting his game as the New York Yankees‘ leadoff hitter in the 2025 season. After joining the team this offseason at the age of 37, Goldschmidt has shifted his focus from power hitting to making consistent contact.

Goldschmidt’s career has included standout seasons, notably during his time in Arizona and St. Louis. However, since joining the Yankees, he has changed his approach at the plate. While his power numbers have declined, his contact rate has surged to a career-high zone contact percentage of 83.2. This strategic adjustment has allowed him to lower his strikeout rate to 16.9 percent, a significant drop from his 26.5 percent strikeout rate last season.

In 2025, Goldschmidt’s max exit velocity is the lowest of his career at 109.2 mph, compared to 111.4 mph and 114.0 mph in the previous seasons. His average exit velocity has also decreased to 88.1 mph, down from slightly above 91 mph in 2023 and 2024.

Despite these statistics, his batting average currently stands at .373, which is expected to normalize as the season progresses. However, his new approach includes focusing on making contact and producing line drives, with a line drive percentage of 38.7 percent, a noticeable increase from his previous seasons.

Goldschmidt’s ability to adapt is evident as he continues to barrel up 50.8 percent of his contact in the sweet spot area, which ranks him in the 97th percentile among all players. “I’m just trying to get the ball in play and give our team a chance to win,” Goldschmidt said, reflecting on his new approach. “It’s about getting on base and making things happen.”

As the season unfolds, Goldschmidt remains a talented hitter known for his ability to adapt. The Yankees will look to leverage his contact-first strategy as they head into more challenging matchups.