It’s not uncommon for baseball players to start the season with a hot streak and then experience a decline in performance as the season progresses. There are several reasons why this might happen, including injury, fatigue, changes in opposing teams’ strategies, and the simple fact that hitting a baseball is a difficult skill that requires a great deal of practice and repetition to maintain.

Players who start the season hot may have been in great physical shape during spring training and may have had good luck in their early games, but as the season progresses, they may become fatigued or experience minor injuries that affect their performance. Additionally, opposing teams may start to adjust their strategies to counter a player’s strengths, making it more difficult for them to maintain their early success.

It’s also worth noting that baseball is a long and grueling season, with 162 games played over the course of several months. This can take a toll on players both physically and mentally, and it’s not uncommon for players to experience slumps or periods of decreased performance throughout the season. The key is to remain focused and keep working hard, even during difficult times, in order to maintain a high level of play over the course of the entire season.

Here are 10 MLB players over the last 25 years who started the season hot but then faded quickly as the season progressed:

Chris Shelton, Detroit Tigers (2006) – Shelton hit 10 home runs in his first 13 games of the 2006 season, but hit only 7 more the rest of the way.

Tony Clark, Detroit Tigers (1998) – Clark hit 13 home runs in his first 25 games of the 1998 season, but hit only 17 more the rest of the way.

Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles (2013) – Davis hit 9 home runs in his first 13 games of the 2013 season, but hit only 24 more the rest of the way.

Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels (2012) – Pujols hit only 1 home run in his first 27 games of the 2012 season, but hit 28 more the rest of the way.

Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals (2018) – Zimmerman hit 5 home runs in his first 11 games of the 2018 season, but hit only 11 more the rest of the way.

Carlos Lee, Milwaukee Brewers (2006) – Lee hit 10 home runs in his first 18 games of the 2006 season, but hit only 22 more the rest of the way.

Cliff Floyd, New York Mets (2005) – Floyd hit 6 home runs in his first 12 games of the 2005 season, but hit only 17 more the rest of the way.

Ryan Ludwick, St. Louis Cardinals (2008) – Ludwick hit 11 home runs in his first 25 games of the 2008 season, but hit only 18 more the rest of the way.

Delmon Young, Minnesota Twins (2010) – Young hit 5 home runs in his first 10 games of the 2010 season, but hit only 9 more the rest of the way.

J.T. Realmuto, Miami Marlins (2018) – Realmuto hit 4 home runs in his first 9 games of the 2018 season, but hit only 16 more the rest of the way.