It Was A Good Bleday

JJ Bleday (CIN): 3-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 6 RBI.

Since being called up from Triple-A on April 26th, JJ Bleday has had only one day off and has now worked his way into the cleanup spot. Bleday has made the most of that playing time in Great American Ball Park, going 19-for-53 with six home runs, 10 runs, and 18 RBI in 16 games.

The 28-year-old missed almost half of last season with an ACL sprain, which led him to sign a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds during the offseason, and Bleday has taken his game to another level in his new home. So far, Bleday has posted a career-high 93.9 mph average exit velocity, 74.9 mph bat speed, 16.3% barrel rate, and 55.8% hard hit rate. He’s also dropped his chase rate down to an elite 21.6% to go alongside a 1.30 BB/K. Unless Bleday’s decision-making regresses from a 116 Strikezone Judgement and 112 DV+ (96 zDV/115 oDV), he’s a must roster for 2026.

 

Let’s see how the other hitters did Thursday:

Yordan Alvarez (HOU): 3-3, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB.

You probably don’t need me to tell you that Yordan Alvarez is good at baseball, especially if your inbox has been as filled with trade offers as mine. That he leads baseball with seven intentional walks tells you just how afraid of him major league pitchers are right now. Still he deserves to be mentioned here as he bounces back from an injury-plagued 2025 campaign. Alvarez has more than doubled his home run total from last year in one fewer plate appearance, as well as adding almost half a tick to his AVG and OBP. Could 2026 be the year he ekes out Aaron Judge for AL MVP?

 

Gage Workman (DET): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI.

Gage Workman took a leap forward in Triple-A this season, as he dropped his strikeout rate by 15.0% and increased his batting average from .230 to .358. Changes that sudden and dramatic are almost certainly unsustainable, especially given a .454 BABIP, but Workman has carried it over to the big leagues. Through four major league games this year, Workman has now gone 4-for-11 with two home runs, five RBI, and only two strikeouts. I’d add him while he’s hot so you can take advantage of the production, but don’t get too attached. Those Baseball Savant sliders may be bright red, but there’s a reason it shows as “Not Qualified”. Regression will come for Gauge Workman.

 

A.J. Ewing (NYM): 2-4, HR, R, RBI.

The New York Mets came into the season with one of the league’s best farm systems, which caused A.J. Ewing to fly under the radar. Ewing may not be under the radar for much longer after hitting his first major league home run yesterday. It was a barrel, too, as the 110.5 mph bomb was the hardest hit ball of the entire game.

While the power has been inconsistent for Ewing in the minors, he’s a speedster with 17 stolen bases before his callup and 70 across three levels last season. Unlike many prospects with his speed, the 21-year-old is also an on-base machine, with a minor league career .290/.395/.425/.819 slashline. I wouldn’t bank on 20+ home run power from Ewing, but he’ll fill every other column on the boxscore, which makes him a must-add right now.

 

Jordan Walker (STL): 2-5, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI.

“I wish I knew how to quit you.” Every season, I buy into the hype around Jordan Walker, get burned, and wind up doing it all over again the next year. But this time it’s real. I hope so. It certainly looks like it. Not only did his twelfth home run clock in at 105.1 mph, but he also smoked another pair of barrels right at the Athletics‘ defence. Ironically, his game-winning double was actually his weakest hit ball of the game.

Walker’s 78.6 mph bat speed is the second-fastest in baseball, and he’s paired it with career highs in average exit velocity (94.9 mph, 99th percentile) and sprint speed (28.9 ft/s, 92nd percentile). However, the power-speed combo is nothing new, even if it is now elite. What is new is Walker’s ability to elevate the ball, which has resulted in a career best 36.0% groundball rate and a 37.7% launch angle sweet spot (80th percentile). The latter is also a massive turnaround from last year’s 29.0% launch angle sweet spot (5th percentile).

 

Henry Bolte (ATH): 1-4, SB.

Henry Bolte made his MLB debut on Wednesday and picked up his first career stolen base yesterday, going 3-for-6 across his first two games. Bolte opened 2026 as one of the hottest players in the minor leagues with 12 homers, 17 steals, and a .348/.418/.658/1.076 line. If he’s still on your waivers, this is one of the easiest calls you’ll make all season. In his first taste of big league action, Bolte has shown a 92.9 mph average exit velocity, 79.1 mph bat speed, and an 18.2% chase rate. He entered the year much higher on prospect boards, so take advantage of the fact that others may still be sleeping on him.

 

Austin Martin (MIN): 2-4, 2B, R, 3 RBI, BB, SB.

After opening the year as a platoon corner outfielder, Austin Martin may have finally earned an everyday role with the Minnesota Twins. Yesterday afternoon, the Twins demoted Matt Wallner to Triple-A and placed Byron Buxton on the IL, but Martin was too busy getting on base to notice. Across 130 plate appearances, Martin now sports a .333/.454/.429/.882 line while walking more than he strikes out (16.9% BB rate, 13.8% K rate). The former top prospect may lack power, but has the speed to steal 20+ bases with elite rate stats.

 

Andrew Vaughn (MIL): 2-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB.

I was a big fan of Andrew Vaughn after last summer’s trade to the Milwaukee Brewers. You don’t need a degree in biomechanics to know that leaving the Chicago White Sox is good for a player’s fantasy value. Vaughn suffered a fractured left wrist on Opening Day, but in seven games since returning from the IL, he’s gone 6-for-20 with a homer, five runs, and five RBI. The Brewers have eased Vaughn back into the lineup, but that may be more about Jake Bauers‘ hot start than any lingering concerns, as Vaughn has posted an unhampered 91.1 mph average exit velocity.

 

Brendan Donovan (SEA): 3-5, 2B, 3B, R.

The Seattle Mariners traded for Brendan Donovan this past offseason, and he has impressed with three homers, one steal, and a .278/.396/.468/.864 slashline. While Donovan’s decision-making skills are still above average, with a 24.9% chase rate and 108 DV+ (106 zDV/106 oDV), his average exit velocity so far this season has dropped to 85.6 mph (-4.1 mph). It’s worth noting that Donovan has already missed 17 games with a left hip injury after undergoing a sports hernia surgery in the offseason, which is a red flag. Based on his performance so far, I’m cautiously optimistic.

 

Endy Rodríguez (PIT): 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB.

It’s been a rough start to Endy Rodríguez’s career, as a pair of elbow injuries has limited him to just 46 games over the past two seasons. However, a clean bill of health for the young catcher and a trip to the IL for Joey Bart have given Rodríguez another chance to carve out a role behind the plate with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 26-year-old made his season debut yesterday and showed some heat with a 97.9 mph double and 92.2 mph two-run single.

The ceiling isn’t high enough for him to be worth an immediate stash, but I’m keeping an eye on Rodríguez now that he’s back in the majors.