Man on a Grisham
Trent Grisham (NYY): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI.
Trent Grisham has been known more for his glove than his bat as a member of the New York Yankees.
In 76 games and 209 plate appearances last season, Grisham hit .190 with a .675 OPS. He hit nine home runs, collected 31 RBI, and scored 21 runs with the Bronx Bombers in limited action. Surprisingly, those numbers were a bit of an upgrade from what he did in his last two seasons in San Diego. In 2023, he hit .198 with a .667 OPS in 555 plate appearances; in 2022, he hit .184 with a .625 OPS in 524 plate appearances.
Thus, it’s been a long time since Grisham has been a relevant hitter in fantasy baseball. He had some hype after 2021 when he hit 15 home runs, stole 13 bases, posted a .242 average, and a .740 OPS. Unfortunately, it’s been all downhill fantasy-wise for the former Brewers 1st round draft pick from 2022 to 2024.
That said, Grisham is doing his best to get back to relevance this season as someone who can provide some surprising production at the bottom of the Yankees lineup.
On Saturday, the 28-year-old outfielder hit two home runs, scored two runs, and collected four RBI against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. In 21 plate appearances this year, he’s hitting .471 with a 1.630 OPS. That includes three home runs, seven RBI, and eight runs scored in seven games with the Yankees.
With Alex Verdugo gone and Giancarlo Stanton on the IL, Grisham is undoubtedly making the most of his early opportunities in 2025.
His early Statcast metrics are also encouraging. His hard-hit and average exit velocity metrics rank in the 83rd percentile. His squared-up rate ranks in the 95th percentile. Not only is he hitting the ball well, but he is also chasing and whiffing less at the plate. That is evidenced by his 22.2% chase rate and 20.8% whiff rate, which rank in the 76th and 73rd percentiles, respectively.
Who knows how long Grisham will keep this up? After all, he’s had three straight seasons of hitting below the Mendoza line.
Nonetheless, he’s likely someone available on waivers who is worth picking up or spending some serious FAAB money on, especially since he is part of a Yankees lineup that is scorching the ball to begin the season.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Saturday.
Matt Mervis (MIA): 3-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
Mervis struggled to get opportunities in Chicago, as he only played 36 games with the Cubs over two seasons. However, he’s getting plenty of at-bats in Miami and making the most of them. He hit two home runs on Saturday and is sporting an .865 OPS in 21 plate appearances, seven away from his total with the Cubs a season ago. The strikeouts still come in bunches for Mervis (41.2% K rate). However, the power looks legit, and he’ll get plenty of opportunities to display it with a rebuilding Marlins squad.
Shea Langeliers (ATH): 1-2, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB.
After hitting 29 home runs and posting a .738 OPS in 482 plate appearances in 2024, the A’s catcher is off to a stellar start in 2025. He is hitting .259 with a .987 OPS in 33 plate appearances, and he has collected three home runs, his latest coming on Saturday against the Rockies. Langeliers has long been known as a low-average, high-strikeout, but big-power catcher. However, his K rate is under 20% (17.2%), and his BB rate is over 10% (10.3%). Thus, the 27-year-old may become a more well-rounded hitter, making him an even more significant asset in fantasy.
Carson Kelly (CHC): 2-3, HR, R, 4 RBI, BB.
With a career .227 average and .691 OPS, Kelly has long been the quintessential MLB backup catcher. However, he’s doing his part with the bat to make himself an intriguing waiver-wire option. In 22 plate appearances, he is hitting .467 with a 1.658 OPS. He also has two home runs, with his latest coming on Saturday at Wrigley Field against the Padres. This hot streak won’t last long, but Kelly may be worth taking a flyer on, especially in two-catcher leagues.
TJ Friedl (CIN): 4-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.
After struggling out of the gate in 2025, the Reds’ bats finally broke out on Saturday in an 11-7 win. Friedl was one of the catalysts with four hits, two RBI, and his first home run of the season. The Cincinnati leadoff man is hitting .294 with a .715 OPS in 36 plate appearances. Hopefully for the Reds’ sake, his home run today can get him going power-wise at the top of the lineup.
Jesse Winker (NYM): 3-4, 2B, 2 3B, 2 RBI.
The focus has been on Juan Soto and Pete Alonso in Queens, and understandably so, due to their “superstar” status. However, people shouldn’t sleep on what Winker has been doing with the Mets in 2025. In 20 plate appearances, he is hitting .294 with a .988 OPS. Unfortunately, he’s not producing in any fantasy-relevant categories beyond average. He had zero home runs, no runs scored, and only four RBI. That said, if he continues to hit the ball like he has been, the runs and home runs will come soon.
Wyatt Langford (TEX): 1-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB.
Langford only had one hit on Saturday. However, he made that hit count, launching a two-run home run in the bottom of the 7th against the Rays. After a decent 16-HR and 19-SB season in his rookie season, Langford has hit three home runs this year and has an .881 OPS, a 140-point improvement from his mark in 2024. A 20-20 season could be on the horizon if Langford stays healthy.
Jonathan Aranda (TBR): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI.
After being more of a complementary player for Tampa in the past two seasons, Aranda may be on his way to breaking out. He is hitting .350 with a 1.167 OPS, and he hit his first home run of the year on Saturday against the Rangers. The 26-year-old is crushing the ball, as his hard-hit rate ranks in the 92nd percentile and his LA Sweet-Spot percentage ranks in the 99th percentile via Savant. As a first baseman defensively, Aranda may not have a proper position with Yandy Díaz, who is still in Tampa. Nonetheless, he’ll have a regular spot in the Rays lineup if he continues to hit like this.
Spencer Torkelson (DET): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, RBI.
Torkelson is finally starting to shed the “bust” label that’s haunted him since being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. He’s hitting .345 with a 1.127 OPS in 36 plate appearances this season, and he collected his second home run of the year on Saturday. He’s launching the ball better than ever, as his LA Sweet-Spot percentage ranks in the 96th percentile. He’s still striking out a lot (34.4% K rate). That may prevent him from reaching “superstar” heights. Still, he looks like a 25+ HR hitter, which the Tigers will gladly take this season.
Jose Altuve (HOU): 3-5, HR, R, RBI.
The Astros’ lineup is a work in progress through eight games this season. Yordan Alvarez, Isaac Paredes, and Christian Walker are all hitting under the Mendoza line, and Yainer Diaz is hitting under .100. Thankfully, Altuve has been a model of consistency at the leadoff spot. The 34-year-old is hitting .364 with a .945 OPS, and on Saturday, he launched his second home run of the season. The nine-time All-Star may be playing a new position this year (left field), but that hasn’t stopped him from being a fantasy force on the hitting end.
