Chicago Cubs: Alex Bregman’s insane 2026 stat is almost the stuff of fiction

The Chicago Cubs went to an uncomfortable place to sign free agent three-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman this past offseason. They not only gave him a 5-year, $175 million contract (as he was on the verge of 32 years of age), but they used deferred money to get the deal done, something which was previously a deal killer for Cubs ownership.

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But the Cubs really, really wanted Bregman and were apparently kicking themselves for not going harder at him when he was on the market prior to the 2025 season. Not only do they value his overall ability—from solid, high-end offense to Gold Glove-level defense—but they also love the intangibles he brings to the clubhouse.

A famously intense competitor and general good guy, the former Astros and Red Sox star is also recognized, league-wide, for his leadership skills.

That particular attribute, especially, was desirable for a Cubs team that stands to lose much of its veteran core to free agency next season.

Bregman’s insanely good decision-making so far

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Bregman, however, also brings something else to the team—elite-level patience and discipline at the plate.

So far this season, those abilities have really stood out.

Analytics-focused Twitter account, Rushing Baseball, recently posted a factoid that really caught the attention of fans and media:

“Alex Bregman has swung at a pitch out of the strikezone twice

He’s seen 147 pitches.”

Yikes.

Alex Bregman has swung at a pitch out of the strikezone twice

He’s seen 147 pitches

— RushingBaseball (@RushingBaseball) April 4, 2026

Michael Cerami of Bleacher Nation then followed up, mentioning Bregman’s Statcast O-swing rate of just 6.3% (O-swing rate demonstrates the percentage of swings a hitter takes on balls outside the strike zone). Needless to say, that’s an insane number.

Per Cerami:

“As I hope you could have guessed, that is BY FAR the best mark in baseball. The next closest player, Taylor Ward, has an 11.3% O-swing rate. And league average, get ready for a laugh, is 30.4%. Indeed, the single best mark in the Statcast era belongs to the famously patient Juan Soto, who, in 2021, posted an 11.5% O-swing rate for the season. So, yeah, what Bregman has been doing so far this year is the most extreme of the extreme. He is making VERY good choices.”

Meanwhile, PCA…

In deep, deep contrast, by the way, the Cubs’ free-swinging centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is posting an equally (and opposingly) insane O-swing rate of 46%.

Yes, it’s still very early in the season and Bregman only has 32 plate appearances under his belt. But, despite a weak-looking .214 batting average so far, the veteran is currently doing everything right at the plate. He’s clearly making great decisions, seeing the ball well, and hitting the ball hard (he already has two home runs). He’s also drawing walks and making opposing pitchers work hard to get him out.

It should be just a matter of time before his stats reflect all the good going on. Then, the Cubs front office can once again crow about what a good decision they made by bringing him aboard. Maybe his swing selection will even rub off on PCA.

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