Happy almost All-Star week, everybody! Also, happy draft week for those who love their prospects. I have to say it will be interesting to see the order of the draft, as the waters of draft rankings have been really muddied leading up to the big event. Of course, in a few years, it’s probable that some of the players from that draft will be featured in this article series. So, let’s see who we are covering today!
Jake McCarthy, OF, COL
For those of you who check the most added players in your fantasy leagues on a daily basis, you’re probably sick of seeing the name Jake McCarthy. That’s because he’s been as hot as the surface of the sun as of late. He absolutely tore it up in a homestand against the Marlins and Giants, which included a career game where he went four-for-five with two homers, six RBIs, and a stolen base for good measure.
McCarthy is, by all accounts, having the best season of his career in 2026. He has career-high marks in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. He already has a career-high nine home runs, and any day now he’ll smash that double-digit ceiling. Some may cite a higher BABIP for this rise, but it’s worth noting that he had a ridiculously low BABIP the previous season, so in some ways, this is just the luck balancing out. There’s also a secret recipe to McCarthy’s success: his speed. He’s one of the fastest runners in the Major Leagues, and he’s been able to hustle out the third most triples in the Major Leagues, and he has significantly fewer plate appearances than the players ranked first and second. He’s stolen 14 bases as well, showcasing that he can provide a real boost in that area.
Verdict: Probably Not Legit. Unfortunately, I think this is just a hot streak. As you can see in the rolling chart, his process has overall been below average for most of the season. You can respect that he can produce runs through his legs, but the lack of raw power and discipline suggests that you definitely can’t expect him to have incredible weeks like he just did very often. Another thing to keep in mind is the Coors effect. It definitely helps him produce more at home, but in turn, it can often mean that batters will struggle on the road due to being used to the way pitches move at their home ballpark.
Heliot Ramos, OF, SFG
It’s time for the yearly Heliot Ramos hot streak. Ramos missed more than a month’s worth of games from mid-May to late June, but since he’s come back, he’s been electric. The Giants haven’t had much success at all this season at really any point, so you’d be a bit surprised to see a player from their squad in an article like this. But he’s been scorching hot, even breaking up a no-hitter by Dylan Cease. But is he a legitimate fantasy option?
Ramos currently has a 228 wRC+ in July and a 119 mark on the season. Similar to McCarthy, he is currently sporting what would be career highs in a season in average, on-base percentage, and slugging. The expected stats are looking pretty good too, mainly because he has been making better contact than in previous seasons. His barrel rate and average exit velocity are well up, which is somewhat surprising given his decrease in bat speed. Of course, these numbers come from a relatively small sample size, due to the good-sized chunk of missed time.
Verdict: Probably Not Legit. He’s still probably one of the better hitters on the Giants, but it does feel like this hot streak is indeed just a hot streak. He’s done this before, putting up a scorching hot May last season and an excellent June the prior campaign. He has some great pop in the bat, but he lacks the discipline or contact skills that would make him a viable outfield starter long-term. Pick him up while he’s hot, coming off injury, but be ready to drop him if he slumps, which could happen any day now.
Jake Bennett, SP, BOS
One of the most fun aspects of any season is seeing the unexpected breakout pitchers. Jake Bennett has been one of the most fun and exciting of these this season. He was traded to the Red Sox in a pitching prospect exchange and was able to flash good enough stuff that the team gave him an extended look in the rotation. He’s taken this opportunity and run with it. He currently has an ERA of 2.64 and a WHIP of 0.94 across 47 and two-thirds innings. So how’s he doing it?
The same way so many other lefties do it: a healthy diet of fastballs and changeups. He throws over 60% fastballs, using a four-seamer for righty batters and a sinker for lefties. Neither pitch has exceptional velocity or shape, but he makes up for it with extension. Bennett has over 7 feet of it, which allows the fastballs to come in a bit harder and also allows him to tunnel with his changeup better. Speaking of his changeup, it has a near 20% swinging strike rate, as Bennett is able to throw it down and away incessantly, leading to plenty of ugly swings from batters. He also throws tons of strikes, rarely walking any batters, which also allows him to go deep into games.
One aspect that Bennett lacks is strikeouts. While this is true, it feels like he has the potential to up his K numbers as his season continues. His swinging strike rate is overall above average, and his foundation of fastballs up and changeups down can lead to plenty of deception.
Verdict: Possibly Legit. It’s hard to say we expect a sub-3 ERA and sub-1 WHIP from here on out, but Bennett has proven to be a great arm capable of winning games and eating innings. His combination of stuff and command is great, and he adds yet another name to the long list of fastball/changeup lefties who outperform expectations due to their deceptive nature.
