diff --git a/app/db_engine.py b/app/db_engine.py
index 29f4c80..f132f47 100644
--- a/app/db_engine.py
+++ b/app/db_engine.py
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ else:
         pragmas={"journal_mode": "wal", "cache_size": -1 * 64000, "synchronous": 0},
     )
 
+# Refractor stat accumulation starts at this season — stats from earlier seasons
+# are excluded from evaluation queries.  Override via REFRACTOR_START_SEASON env var.
+REFRACTOR_START_SEASON = int(os.environ.get("REFRACTOR_START_SEASON", "11"))
+
 # 2025, 2005
 ranked_cardsets = [24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29]
 LIVE_CARDSET_ID = 27
diff --git a/app/services/refractor_evaluator.py b/app/services/refractor_evaluator.py
index 68a901b..7712875 100644
--- a/app/services/refractor_evaluator.py
+++ b/app/services/refractor_evaluator.py
@@ -148,10 +148,11 @@ def evaluate_card(
             strikeouts=sum(r.strikeouts for r in rows),
         )
     else:
-        from app.db_engine import (
+        from app.db_engine import (  # noqa: PLC0415
             BattingSeasonStats,
             PitchingSeasonStats,
-        )  # noqa: PLC0415
+            REFRACTOR_START_SEASON,
+        )
 
         card_type = card_state.track.card_type
         if card_type == "batter":
@@ -159,6 +160,7 @@ def evaluate_card(
                 BattingSeasonStats.select().where(
                     (BattingSeasonStats.player == player_id)
                     & (BattingSeasonStats.team == team_id)
+                    & (BattingSeasonStats.season >= REFRACTOR_START_SEASON)
                 )
             )
             totals = _CareerTotals(
@@ -175,6 +177,7 @@ def evaluate_card(
                 PitchingSeasonStats.select().where(
                     (PitchingSeasonStats.player == player_id)
                     & (PitchingSeasonStats.team == team_id)
+                    & (PitchingSeasonStats.season >= REFRACTOR_START_SEASON)
                 )
             )
             totals = _CareerTotals(