Million Dollar Kyle
Kyle Schwarber (PHI): 4-6, 4 HR, 4 R, 9 RBI.
Can you believe it!? What? Anthony Volpe got on base, and it wasn’t a fielder’s choice! What!? You lie! Me? Never. Hooray! Cupcakes for everyone in the Yankee clubhouse.
Wait, something else happened last night. Oh, right, Kyle Schwarber went yard four times, the last coming in the seventh inning when he destroyed a changeup from righty reliever Wander Suero (407 feet, 108.9 EV). He’s just the 21st player in MLB history to hit four longballs in a game, which coincidentally has already happened twice this year with Eugenio Suárez and Nick Kurtz. Schwarber’s bid to become the first player in history to hit five ended with him hitting a pop-up to Atlanta left fielder Eli White on an eephus from infielder Vidal Bruján.
Two days ago, MLB.com’s Mike Petriello wrote about Schwarber and the season he is having. In case you haven’t noticed, he is having one for the ages. His 49 home runs are a career-high, eclipsing the 47 he bopped two seasons ago. He owns a career-best .956 OPS, and his 26.4% strikeout rate is the lowest he has posted since his penultimate season with the Cubs in 2019 (25.6%). As Mike Petriello’s article, which you should read, details, Schwarber is hitting the ball harder more often than Aaron Judge (60.5% to 56.1%). Perhaps better yet, he has a legitimate shot at challenging Ryan Howard’s single-season Phillies record of 58 home runs. What more can I say?
Let’s see how the other hitters did Thursday:
Willy Adames (SFG): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
The Cubs had a one-run lead in the first, but Adames put the home team on top by turning a 91 mph four-seamer from Shota Imanaga into a two-run tater(417 feet, 107 EV). Shota didn’t learn and fired another letter-high 91 mph in the sixth, and the result was similar, although PCA nearly brought it back with a leap at the wall, but it was just over his glove (399 feet, 102.4 EV); the solo shot tied the score 3-3. It’s been an uneven season for the former Brewer, his 126 wRC+ since the ASB (not including yesterday) juxtaposing the 93 he posted in the first half. As is often the case, a rolling graph is worth 1,000 words.
Sal Frelick (MIL): 2-5, HR, R, RBI.
Frelick sat out Wednesday’s game, but started Thursday with a bang, turning an 89 mph heater from D’Backs right-hander Nabil Crismatt into his tenth home run of the season and the first score of the afternoon (377 feet, 107 EV). This, of course, isn’t the 25-year-old lefty’s forte, having hit 15 home runs over 1,242 plate appearances in his career. He doesn’t walk as much as you would like from a leadoff hitter (7.8%), but his .328 BABIP has kept him afloat, for now, at least.
Christian Walker (HOU): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.
Kyle Freeland pitched really well in Houston; two of the three runs he surrendered came in the first on consecutive dingers to Jose Altuve and Walker. I’m guessing Freeland wasn’t happy about Walker’s shot; it was a wallscraper just inside the right field foul pole (329 feet, 93.5 EV). Walker tagged lefty Luis Peralta for his 21st, a go-ahead shot in the eighth (404 feet, 107 EV). Walker’s 95 wRC+ is his lowest since 2021, and his .235 batting average is the lowest he has posted since he broke out in 2019. However, Walker’s 106 Power+ and 110 DV+ provide a glimmer of hope, and he has at least been average against RHP (100 wRC+). Righty sluggers who lose the ability to hit same-handed pitching can sometimes indicate that they are teetering on the proverbial cliff. I think we might be seeing that with Paul Goldschmidt.
Trevor Story (BOS): 1-4, HR, R, RBI.
Story started the scoring in Camden Yards by taking a changeup from Cade Povich for a ride to deep right (386 feet, 109.8 EV). I definitely haven’t given Story enough credit. His swing decisions aren’t great (88 DV+), and he strikes out a bunch (90 Contact Ability+). But results matter. He is the only shortstop with 20 home runs and 80 RBI. And the 23 stolen bases ties the most he has had since 2019. Wow, not bad.
Trent Grisham (NYY): 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB.
The Yankees teed off last night at Rate Field. Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit his 26th, two more than last year’s career-high. Cody Bellinger went yard, putting him four away from what would be his first 30-home run season since he won the NL MVP back in 2019. But let’s highlight Grisham, who, like Story, has had an unexpected renaissance. He entered 2025, hitting .191 with an 87 wRC+ over his previous three seasons combined; that’s 1,288 plate appearances. He entered last night’s game hitting .248 with a 132 wRC+ as the Yankee leadoff hitter. Last night’s two-run shot off lefty Cam Booser was his 27th, ten more than his previous high. Just like we all drew it up! The Grade-A mustache corroborates his legitimacy, but in case you were wondering, his PLV metrics, including a 123 DV+, 120 Process+, and 111 Power+, check the boxes.
Ezequiel Tovar (COL): 1-4, HR, R, RBI.
Tovar tagged Jason Alexander on a 3-2 changeup with the bases empty and two down in the fourth. Serenity now! Tovar seemed like a pretty decent bet as a third-year breakout candidate after swatting 26 home runs while slashing .269/.295/.469 a year ago. Alas, his rates haven’t moved much, and this was just his eighth in 280 plate appearances. However, his 119 Power+ leads me to think that he could eventually have more impactful results.
Pete Alonso (NYM): 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.
Alonso gave the Mets hope momentarily in the fifth with a game-tying, two-run drive just to the left of the apple in center (424 feet, 111 EV). He is the eleventh player to reach 30 home runs this year. The Mets’ all-time home run leader is slashing .267/.348/.514 and has a shot at his third 40-home run season with 28 games to go. Alonso’s 131 Power+ and 135 Process+ support the big bounceback season.
Anthony Volpe (NYY): 2-3, 2B, R, RBI, SB.
I joked about it at the beginning, but in all seriousness, you never want to see a player struggle to the extent that Volpe has. It’s become almost strange, if not cruel, that the Yankees keep shoving him out there. According to Stathead’s Katie Sharp, on Wednesday, his .027 OBP over an 11-game span is the lowest in Yankee history by a non-pitcher. His 82 wRC+ is the eighth-worst among qualified hitters, and the errors have piled up. Regardless, it was good to see him get off the deck last night with a double. As far as fantasy purposes, his 18 home runs and 15 stolen bases are tempting, but, yeah, you don’t need me to tell you it’s not worth the pain.
Jakob Marsee (MIA): 2-5, 2 R.
The Marlins have had some fun breakouts this season: Edward Cabrera, Agustin Ramírez, and, of course, Kyle Stowers. And Marsee is the latest. Two more hits have the 24-year-old Michigander slashing .358/.421/.653 in 107 plate appearances. He has four home runs, eight stolen bases, and a 195 wRC+. A market correction is coming, of course. But at the same time, his 15.9% walk rate in Triple-A supports his sharp eye. And he can steal bases. Where his true talent level lies remains to be seen, but at the very least, it has been a riveting out-of-nowhere story.
Tyler Freeman (COL): 1-3, BB, SB.
Not a terribly exciting line, but if you’re desperate for steals, runs, or batting average, consider Freeman. The Rockies’ leadoff hitter has 17 stolen bases and is hitting .288 with a .360 OBP. He could provide some help with the Rockies on a six-game homestand, starting this weekend with the Cubs.
Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire | Featured image by Aaron Polcare (@abeardoesart on Bluesky and X) and adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky
