O’Hoppe Days Are Here Again

Logan O’Hoppe has returned from his long IL stint and, after a slow start, has hit the gas. Since recovering from surgery to a torn left labrum, O’Hoppe picked up where he left off as a top-level prospect and contributor early in the year.

On Monday, O’Hoppe went double jack, which gives him 4 in as many days. When the Mariners took an early 3-0 lead in the 1st, O’Hoppe picked the Angels up and brought the game back to a tie with two big swings off Logan Gilbert:

O'Hammered 💪💣@Angels | #GoHalos pic.twitter.com/YGrZ5V6uXP

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) September 12, 2023

2x the O'Homers 👏 #GoHalos pic.twitter.com/j3gApoGtbw

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) September 12, 2023

Logan O’Hoppe (LAA): 3-5, 2B, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.

That gets O’Hoppe to 10 HR on the season in only 35 games. Including 22 RBI and a .820 OPS, there is a lot to like for O’Hoppe’s September and future potential. You could find a nice fantasy playoff addition with O’Hoppe.

The Angels are playing for pride at this point, and O’Hoppe should get as much play time as possible to get him regular season repetition before the season’s end. O’Hoppe was quoted as being “disgusted” with his results since his return, but that was published on 9/7, and since then, he’s been red hot.

 

Let’s see how the other hitters did Monday:

 

Willy Adames (MIL): 3-4, 2 2B, 3B, 3 R, 4 RBI.

Adames has contributed significant production within the last week and will give fantasy owners a much-needed boost towards championship hopes. Adames knocked in 4 RBI Monday and also contributed with 3 runs scored. The three XBH helped the Brewers complete a double-digit shutout of the Marlins. Adames has driven in 11 RBI in the past 5 games, along with 2 HR. Even though Adames’ overall numbers are down from last year (31 HR/98 RBI/.756 OPS), he will still likely finish the year with 25 HR and over 80 RBI.

Cedric Mullins (BAL): 2-3, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB.

In what has been an amazing year for the Orioles, Mullins continues to be a solid contributor when he’s on the field. Mullins golfed a grand slam in the 5th inning, which launched the Orioles from a 4-5 deficit against the Cardinals to an 8-4 lead:

MAMA, THERE GOES THAT MAN 🔥 pic.twitter.com/uDBPx39oLm

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 12, 2023

Mullins has been more consistent as of late but has missed some starts due to lefty match-up decisions, but will continue to be a must-start with the Orioles looking to bury the Rays during a highly anticipated series this upcoming weekend.

Yandy Díaz (TB): 4-6, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI.

Díaz is having a career year and cemented an exceptional campaign with a huge day at the office. The Rays tallied 13 hits in a Sonny Gray start for the Twins and had all of their runs produced by the 6th inning. Díaz’s 4 hits, including his solo shot, propelled the Rays to another win. Díaz has a .920 OPS and is in the 97th percentile for Batting Run Value and has absolutely crushed off-speed pitching this season, where he has a 12 RV against the curveball and an 8 against the slider. The Rays will continue to look for Díaz to be one of the best lead-off hitters in baseball this season.

Michael Harris II (ATL): 2-4, 2B, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI and 2/4, HR, 1 R, 1 RBI.

Harris has put the slow start to the season way back in the rearview mirror. Those who held onto Harris have been rewarded generously. Since June 1st, Harris has been on a steady climb toward his current .296/.337/477 slash line. In a doubleheader Monday, Harris hit at the bottom of the lineup and at the top, showing the flexibility and potency of the Braves roster. The recent NL ROY will look to finish the year strong with 7 games left against the Nationals, who are in the bottom 5 in MLB team ERA.

Tommy Pham (ARI): 3-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI.

Pham has been a clutch performer for the Diamondbacks since his trade deadline move from the Mets. Pham sat 3rd in the order against the Mets and delivered 2 XBH for damage. In the 4th, Pham led off the inning with a double and later scored on an Evan Longoria single. Later in the 8th, Pham hit a rope to right center, which ended up getting over the wall for a game-tying home run:

TOMMY TIES IT. 😤 pic.twitter.com/v5UgzjMyip

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 12, 2023

Pham has been a nice addition to the Diamondbacks, and he has been on fire with 7 R, 3 HR, and 8 RBI with 4 multi-hit games in the last 6.

Cavan Biggio (TOR): 1-2, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB.

Biggio has seen more at-bats as of late and has done well since September 1st. In the 9 games since then, Biggio has 6 R and 6 RBI. While Biggio has had a hard time earning consistent playing time this season, he may be worth keeping an eye on if he continues to see at-bats in the top 2/3 of the order. Yesterday, Biggio hit behind rookie menace Davis Schneider, who could give him many more opportunities to produce.

Mookie Betts (LAD): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 4 RBI.

In a game where I could have highlighted any one of four stars, Betts started the game with 2 XBH and 4 RBI before the end of the 3rd inning. The latter double gave the Dodgers a 7-2 lead, but they didn’t hold onto that lead for too long. The Padres battled back to a 7-7 score in the 6th, and then in the top of the 9th, the Padre stars shined. Juan Soto hit a 3-run home run, followed by a Xander Bogaerts home run. An exciting game overall and another MVP-caliber performance from Betts.

Mike Yastrzemski (SF): 2-3, 2B, HR, R, RBI.

Yastrzemski had a great night before ultimately being pinch-hit in the 7th inning. With a lead-off home run to kick off the game, Yastrzemski added a double in the 5th. Snagging a lead-off hitter who is hot at this point in the season could pay off, especially relative to the recent performances. It has been an injury-riddled year where he’s had reoccurring hamstring issues, but since returning at the end of August, Yastrzemski has 3 HR. In the last 4 games alone, he has posted 5 R and 4 RBI, including a 4 hit game against Colorado.

Brent Rooker (OAK): 1-2, HR, R, RBI, BB, SB.

Yes, you read right, the Athletics were the ones who earned a shutout of the Astros on Monday. In a great overall team performance, Rooker had a solid night with a HR and SB. Rooker, the topic of one of my Going Deep pieces early in the season, cooled off considerably and was thus dropped from many fantasy rosters. Rooker has top-level pop with his Hard Hit, Barrel, and Avg Exit Velo, all sitting 85th percentile or better, but it’s been a tale of two outcomes. While Rooker will finish with 25 HR, he strikes out at a high rate (both Whiff and K% are bottom 5 percentile), and his early season explosion has consistently trickled down towards his now .241/.327/.466.