Nick Nick Boom

Nick Gonzales (PIT): 2-3, 2B, R, 4 RBI, BB.

Nick Gonzales played a big part in last night’s 11-5 blowout over the Braves. He started the scoring by delivering a two-out single to center in the first. With deuces wild in the bottom of the sixth and Darius Vines on the hill, Gonzales cracked a two-run double that sailed over Ronald Acuña’s head and short-hopped the wall in right. Gonzales is hitting .300 on the nose with a .364 wOBA since being called up from Indianapolis on May 15th and has given the Pirates some much-needed juice in the middle of their lineup.

The Pirates’ seventh overall pick out of New Mexico State four years ago, Gonzales had lost some of his prospect shine with elevated K rates in the minors (26.6% in 99 games last year with Triple-A Indianapolis). However, he might’ve been on to something this year when he hit a sizzling .358 with a .451 wOBA across 137 PA in Triple-A before being promoted. That hot start also included a much lower 17.7% K rate.

Again, it’s a really small sample of 50 at-bats but Gonzales has demonstrated good power so far (126 via PLV; 100 is average) with average-ish contact ability (97). Gonzales flashed good power in the minors last year with 14 home runs across 99 games so if he can keep up the apparent gains in contact, we might be on to something interesting here. PNC Park isn’t a great spot for power, so his upside probably isn’t sky-high but he’s certainly done enough to warrant adding in 15 teamers.

Let’s see how the other hitters did Friday:

Jonathan India (CIN): 3-3, 2B, HR, R, 4 RBI, BB.

India hadn’t given us much reason to get excited hitting .208 with a .281 wOBA entering last night’s game. At least part of the reason for India’s struggles is a passive approach (13.6% swing aggression) that has led to him letting too many hittable pitches go by (72 zDV via PLV; 100 is average). Last night’s grand slam came on a 3-2 fastball from lefty reliever Alex Vesia, yanked 367 feet down the left field line (105.6 EV). India’s batted ball data leaves much to be desired with a .308 xwOBACON (20th percentile). Still, he’s got a decent chance at approaching 20 home runs thanks to his home park, and can steal a few bases, which is enough to keep him on the radar as an MI option in deeper formats.

Jake Burger (MIA): 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI.

It’s been a long, long time since we’ve seen Burger go yard. But he did it last night, catapulting a hanging slider from Zac Gallen 440 feet to left (110.8 EV). Burger has struggled lately hitting just .127 since returning from an oblique injury on May 6th. Swing decisions continue to be an issue (71 Decision Value via PLV; 100 is average) but we know he’s got the power to be a difference-maker.

Patrick Bailey (SFG): 2-4, HR, R, 4 RBI, SB.

Unfortunately for Mets fans, Bailey’s comet crashed into Citi Field again. Last June 30th, Bailey bashed a go-ahead, three-run dinger against David Robertson in the eighth inning. Last night, Bailey blistered a 2-0 97 mph heater from one of this year’s breakout relievers, Reed Garrett, for a go-ahead grand slam (419 feet, 104.8 EV). The 24-year-old out of NC State is hitting .286 with a .349 wOBA. His batted ball data is pretty decent too including a xwOBAcon in the 92nd percentile. He’s also cut his K rate from 28.3% to 22.5%.

Colt Keith (DET): 2-3, HR, R, 2 RBI.

Keith was a late-round sleeper after hitting .287 with a .385 wOBA across 301 PA with Triple-A Toledo last season. So far though he hadn’t shown the big power that had been part of his scouting report (32nd percentile xwOBACON). But never fear, Alek Manoah is here! The much-maligned Jays right-hander probably got booted back to the waiver wire in a few leagues after cooking up a stinker against the Tigers which included a 3-2 changeup that Keith socked into the right field seats for his first home run (399 feet, 105.2 EV). Keith earned his second RBI the hard way when he got plunked with the bases loaded. Yes, that was Manoah too. Keith has shown good contact ability with just a 17.8% K rate but not much else. Still, maybe this home run can get him started.

Mark Vientos (NYM): 1-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB.

The 24-year-old rookie’s third homer of the year came on a high change-up from lefty Kyle Harrison driven the other way to right (389 feet, 98.4 EV). Third base has been a black hole for the Mets for a long time, including Brett Baty who is hitting .226 with a .278 wOBA and equally bleak batted ball metrics. This recent stretch from Vientos should earn him an extended look to earn the Mets’ 3B job. Vientos has always shown great power as a prospect but his defense has held him back. He hit .284 with a 28.6% K rate, 12% BB rate, and a .387 wOBA across 133 PA with Triple-A Syracuse this year.

José Ramírez (CLE): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB.

Ramírez’s first dinger of the night came in the third on a 93 mph sinker from Patrick Sandoval at the top of the zone that he drilled 419 feet to left-center (105.2 EV). He tormented Sandoval again on his next trip to the dish despite a good defensive effort from Kevin Pillar. The second one touched off a back-to-back-to-back home run barrage courtesy of teammates Josh Naylor and David Fry, the latter of whom has gone yard in three of his last seven starts. As for Ramírez, he’s now hitting .262 with a .356 wOBA while leading the majors with 49 RBIs.

Jorge Soler (SFG): 1-4, HR, R, RBI.

We saw Soler’s roster percentage take a hit after an icy start followed by a stint on the IL with a shoulder issue, but he’s since shown some signs of life. Last night, he torched Met rookie Christian Scott with a dinger to deep central (411 feet, 103.2 EV). If you’re into Statcast’s new bat speed metric, you might’ve noticed Soler, not surprisingly, profiles well in the 93rd percentile. If you’re in a shallow or standard-sized league and looking for power, check your wire to see if he was dropped.

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

This was a pretty impressive piece of hitting from Vaughn as he went the other way on a 96 mph sinker from standout reliever Yennier Cano for his fourth of the year (412 feet, 109.1 EV). I’ll admit, that I’ve always been interested in the idea of Andrew Vaughn since he was such a big prospect out of the University of California. However, here we are 1,316 batted balls later (1,839 PA) and we’re looking at a .250 batting average with a .313 wOBA. That’s all sorts of meh. However, I’ll also note that he has shown more power over his last 200 pitches according to PLV. Maybe, just maybe?

Michael Massey (KCR): 2-3, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.

Massey’s sixth dinger of the season came against left-hander Tyler Alexander, a three-run shot to right-center (389 feet, 100.6 EV) that put the Royals ahead 5-1. Massey has had a rock-solid May hitting .333 while slugging .623 across 77 PA. He’s shown excellent contact ability according to PLV (127; 100 is average) with about average power (96). Hopefully, the back injury that caused him to leave early last night doesn’t linger.

Jon Singleton (HOU): 2-3, R, BB.

This wasn’t a huge line by any means from Singleton but he’s had a respectable showing as the Astros everyday 1B, hitting .233 with a .323 wOBA. He’s turned into a deep-league CI moreso in OBP leagues thanks to his 14% BB rate and a chase rate in the 90th percentile. He’s got a patience and power profile that gives me Eric Thames vibes, remember him? There has been rumbling about José Abreu’s return so I’m interested in how this situation plays out given how much the latter has struggled over the last two years.

Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X)