Ty Hard with a Vengeance
Ty France (SDP): 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI.
France came through for fans yesterday. No, not that France. Sorry Mbappé fans. While the San Diego Padres ultimately lost, it was due to a lack of offense from the rest of the lineup as France notched the team’s lone extra-base hit.
Yesterday afternoon marked France’s 16th home run of the season at a blistering 108.2 mph average exit velocity, as he rapidly approaches a new career high. Since arriving in San Diego, Ty France has looked like a new hitter. France has blown past his career highs with a 92.3 mph average exit velocity, 12.0% barrel rate, and 49.7% hard hit rate.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Thursday:
Tyler Locklear (ARI): 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
Since making his 2026 debut, Tyler Locklear has looked impressive. Yesterday’s performance has Locklear now hitting 5-for-13 with one homer and 5 RBI in four games. The small sample size and .400 BABIP indicate that there will be some regression to the norm for Locklear. Still, it’s worth filing his name away in your brain for after the trade deadline in case he lands an everyday role with the Arizona Diamondbacks once the dust settles.
Adrian Del Castillo (ARI): 3-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI, SB.
Speaking of bats fighting for playing time, despite being the third-string catcher for the Diamondbacks, Adrian Del Castillo has carved out a solid chunk of reps at DH this season. Yesterday marked his fifth home run of the year, and he’s gone 6-for-15 with four runs and five RBI in four games since the start of the month. If Gabriel Moreno is moved at the trade deadline, Del Castillo is a name worth knowing in two-catcher leagues.
Dominic Smith (ATL): 1-3, HR, R, 3 RBI.
Dominic Smith’s seventh home run of 2026 wasn’t the most noteworthy, not even qualifying as a barrel at 99.3 mph. However, the three RBI did bring him up to a respectable 39 on the season alongside some solid contact skills with a .264/.318/.395 triple slash and 94 wRC+. There’s a chance that Atlanta adds another bat at the trade deadline who can push Smith for playing time at DH, but they’ll likely focus most of their resources on adding starting pitching, so this is another situation to keep an eye on.
In deep leagues, Smith is worthy of being added to your outfield as long as he has an everyday role in this starting lineup.
Isaac Collins (KCR): 1-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB.
Outfielder Isaac Collins popped up in the fantasy circuit last season with the Milwaukee Brewers mostly due to his 16 stolen bases and .263/.368/.411 triple slash, although he did knock in nine home runs as well. This year he’s earned more playing time after he landed with the Kansas City Royals in the offseason. The everyday role has led to Collins picking up his sixth homer of the season last night, alongside six steals, and .245/.346/.372 triple slash. The dinger was a no-doubter too, registering a 101.7 mph average exit velocity and 390 feet. I wouldn’t expect another Collins to find another gear here, but he has proven he can be a consistent contributor.
Steven Kwan (CLE): 2-4, BB, SB.
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan has had a tough time getting on base in 2026, despite seeing a jump in his walk rate up to 13.3%. As a result, last night marked only his seventh stolen base of the year. Kwan’s only seen nine stolen base attempts, which has him on pace for a career low, so this is likely more of a contact issue than a speed issue. There’s room for a second half rebound here as well since Kwan has still posted a 112 DV+ and 141 Contact+.
Lars Nootbaar (STL): 2-5, 3 RBI.
After a delayed start to the season recovering from surgery to both heels, Lars Nootbaar was activated from the IL on June 5th. Since then he has hit three homers, one steal, with a .254/.354/.389 triple slash and 109 wRC+. Rather tepid by Nootbaar’s standards, but it comes with a newfound 92.0 mph average exit velocity and 50.5% hard hit rate across 38 games, both of which would be career highs.
The St. Louis Cardinals have been hanging on in the playoff race, but should they decide to sell, Nootbaar is one player I’d be very eager to see find a new team.
George Springer (TOR): 2-3, 2B, RBI, BB.
After putting up one of the best seasons of his career last year, George Springer has had a rough 2026. However, he may finally be turning a corner. Since July 8th, Springer has two homers, one steal, and a .250/.294/.469 slash line. Not the most exciting results, but it comes with a 90.4 mph average exit velocity, which shows he’s still got some juice left in him. Springer’s been extraordinarily unlucky this season with a 78 Pitch Runs value and .252 BABIP, in contrast to his 130 DV+.
I’d bet on his pedigree and buy low right now since he could be in store for an exciting second half.
