Vinnie Pasquantino (KCR): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
Roman general Julius Caesar once proclaimed “Veni vidi vici” in a letter to the Senate to proudly boast of his military victories in foreign lands. The Latin phrase translates to “I came, I saw, I conquered.” It might be a little bold to use that phrase in parallel reference to a young Royals first baseman struggling to live up to the lofty expectations we’ve all placed on him. OK, it’s definitely too bold (sorry, Caesar), but I enjoy the pun and Vinnie P certainly conquered on this day.
Pasquantino collected two hits, including a towering home run on a terrible belt-high four-seamer from Reid Detmers who was serving up juicy pitches all night. Pasquantino drove in two runs and staked the Royals to an early 4-0 lead on that homer, which traveled 442 feet with a 110.6 EV. There have been 1,153 home runs this season with just 4% of those travelling greater than 440 feet. That’s some serious distance.
Vinnie P has been frustrating to roster at times this season though not a disappointment. On the season, he is slashing .256/.340/.457. His offense has come in spurts and he’s in the midst of a good spurt at the moment. Though this is his first home run since April 19, he has started May hot with a .429/.484/.714 slash line and an extra-base hit in six of his past nine games.
This was a player many expected to hit for both average and power in the big leagues and there’s no reason to think we’re not seeing the start of his true rise to stardom right now. Everything about his profile screams breakout. His combination of quality of contact and plate discipline is a rare sight. If at all possible, he’s worth trading for if you can find a manager who only sees his .256 batting average.
Let’s See How the Other Hitters Did Thursday
Brenton Doyle (COL): 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
The Rockies had six straight hits to open the fourth inning capped by a monstrous three-run home run from Doyle. Giants pitcher Keaton Winn served up the meatiest 88 mph pitch straight down the center of the plate that you’ll ever see and Doyle did not miss on a 430-foot drive to straight center. Doyle is putting together a fine sophomore season. He had a career .843 OPS in the minors, showcasing both power and speed, which is a little of what he gave us last season in his first taste of the big leagues. He’s currently slashing .276/.317/.455 with 4 home runs and 4 stolen bases.
Joc Pederson (ARI): 3-5, HR, 2 R, RBI, SB.
Pederson’s 384-foot solo homer with two outs in the top of the first inning staked the Diamondbacks to an early 1-0 lead. It was a strong shot, but his hardest-hit ball of the night was actually a 107.3 mph grounder that Pederson drove through the infield in the sixth for a single. It’s never the power that’s the issue with Pederson, he is just a difficult asset to manage. He’s useless against lefties, so he occupies the strong side of a platoon at DH. In that role, he’s very useful. His exit velocities and hard-hit rate have consistently been among the league’s best the past few years and that’s true again this season with a .413 wOBA, 92.3 mph average EV, and 49.3% hard-hit rate.
Max Kepler (MIN): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.
Kepler is feeling it. His hot streak continued Thursday with his fifth two-hit game and eighth extra-base hit in the past six games. He opened the seventh inning with a solo home run 411 feet to right center (108.8 EV) to stretch the Twins’ lead to 10-1. He has done nothing but his since returning from an early-season knee injury that forced him to miss two-plus weeks. Since coming back on April 22, Kepler is slashing .434/.492/.755 with four home runs, 14 RBI, 11 runs, and a stolen base. I don’t know how long this streak will last, but he’s worth a roster spot.
Ryan Jeffers (MIN): 1-2, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB.
Jeffers is another Minnesota hitter who is currently terrorizing opposing pitchers with impunity. He hit his eighth home run of the season and third in the past four games Thursday night. The homer was a line-drive shot on a high cutter Jeffers simply muscled into the plants over the left-center wall. He now has 16 RBI and 10 runs in his past 13 games. He’s hitless just once in that span and is slashing .306/.389/.631 overall. Jeffers wasn’t expected to be much of a factor in the fantasy game, but he’s now the No. 2-ranked catcher behind Milwaukee’s William Contreras.
Michael Conforto (SFG): 2-3, HR, R, RBI, BB.
Conforto was loving his time in Colorado. During the Giants’ three-game stay in the Mile High City, Conforto went 6-for-11 with two home runs, three RBI, and three runs. Conforto provided all the Giants’ offense Thursday with his seventh home run of the season. His solo shot to open the fourth inning left the bat at a modest 99.9 mph and traveled 368 feet straight down the left field line where it tucked just inside the foul pole. Conforto has cooled off a bit since his hot start but there’s no reason to think he can’t at least maintain his level with a .355 xwOBA that matches his current output.
Jon Singleton (HOU): 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI.
Singleton is taking full advantage of his extra playing time with José Abreu optioned by the Astros earlier this month. Since securing a full-time role, Singleton has four home runs. That included Thursday’s impressive 442-foot blast that Singleton absolutely demolished deep into the rightfield stands with a ridiculous 115.4 mph EV—easily the hardest shot of the 32-year-old journeyman’s career. Singleton is slashing .239/.329/.437, which is in line with his expected stats. Don’t expect strong ratios, but if you need power, he has it.
Aaron Judge (NYY): 1-4, HR, R, RBI.
Singleton’s home run was impressive and ultimately played a big role in the Astros’ eventual 4-3 victory, but Judge stole the show. His 473-foot solo shot in the eighth inning tied Mike Trout for the longest home run of the season. Judge was not fooled on a 90 mph change-up and it was a no-doubter off his bat even as it headed for the deepest part of center field. The buy-low window for Judge—if there ever was one—is now firmly closed. He is hitting .455/.538/1.045 during a current six-game hitting streak with three home runs, seven RBI, seven runs, and an absurd .648 wOBA. Judge is back!
Christian Yelich (MIL): 3-4, 3B, R, RBI.
Yelich made his surprising return to the lineup Wednesday after missing nearly a month with a back injury. The Brewers were content with how Yelich looked during his rehab and opted not to send him on a minor-league assignment. It’s hard to argue with the results. After going 0-for-5 with a strikeout Wednesday, Yelich collected three hits Thursday. In the fifth inning, he pulled a pitch that rode high and inside down the first base line and easily made it around the bases for an RBI triple. Yelich was off to his best start in years before being placed on the IL. He’s slashing .333/.407/.708 with five home runs, 12 RBI, eight runs, and two stolen bases in just 13 games.