The Bryan Identity
Bryan Reynolds (PIT): 4-5, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI.
Reynolds had himself a game last night, facing the Athletics, popping off for four total hits, including two home runs. His first two at-bats yielded singles (EVs of 85.6 and 105.4 mph, respectively). He then took Jack Perkins and Hogan Harris deep in back-to-back innings. His first long ball featured a 104.2 EV traveling 408 feet, and the second clocked in at 97.3 EV / 350 FT.
Reynolds, coming off a down year where he turned in a sub-100 wRC+ for the first time in his career since 2020, is well in line to post a number of career-highs this season, like his .400 OBP fueled by an elite 15% walk rate (nearly doubled compared to his career average) or his high-quality 143 wRC+. His xwOBA (.383) is the highest it’s been since 2021, when he posted a .912 OPS through 159 games. If Reynolds’ first 74 games this season have been any indication, he could potentially blow parts of his career-best slash line out of the water.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Tuesday…
Nasim Nuñez (WSN): 2-2, 2 3B, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB, SB.
Nunez is slashing just .217/.307/.261 with a 66 wRC+ this season, but he tallied two hits and two walks in yesterday’s action against Michael Wacha and the Royals. Each of those hits, by the way? Triples! His first three-bagger registered an exit velo of just 62.7 mph (.520 xBA), but the second one came in at 96.9 EV and was actually a home run in 4 of 30 ballparks. Nunez may have gotten off to a slow start, but he’s gone 11-for-30 (.367 BA) with 3 XBHs since June 5th.
Kody Clemens (MIN): 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB.
Clemens tallied two extra-base hits against the Rangers yesterday, adding to his impressive .251/.318/.493 slash line. He now boasts a 121 wRC+ through 62 games this season — by far the highest mark in his young career. It feels like with more opportunities, Clemens continues to get better at the major league level. It shouldn’t shock anyone if Clemens pops 20 home runs this season.
Trevor Larnach (MIN): 4-6, HR, 2 R, RBI.
I usually try to stay away from highlighting multiple players from the same game, let alone the same team, but this performance was too good to pass up. Larnach is an OBP machine featuring a 13% walk rate (T-career high), but yesterday it was all about racking up base knocks. He destroyed a home run off Kumar Rocker in the first inning (108.8 EV / 425 FT — gone in 30/30 ballparks) and later sliced a 103.6 mph single off the same arm in the third. He also tallied two singles later in the game for good measure. The 29-year-old owns a 117 wRC+ and the best OBP of his career (.368) this season.
Zack Gelof (ATH): 3-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB.
Gelof hasn’t really lived up to the hype he generated in his rookie season… until this year. Despite posting a 132 wRC+ through 69 games in 2023, the 26-year-old turned in two wRC+ under 100 that don’t even add up to 132 over 168 games in 2024-25. This season, however, Gelof has slashed .286/.335/.500 while limiting strikeouts at the best rate of his career (25%) and popping off for 10 home runs through 57 games. He racked up three hits — all versus Mitch Keller yesterday — coming in at 93.4, 98.4, and 99.2 mph. His 360 FT home run was gone in 26 of 30 ballparks.
George Springer (TOR): 2-3, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB, SB.
Springer was torching the ball yesterday, and knowing his prior success against Boston, it was only a matter of time before he went yard again. And he did. Springer singled off standout youngster Payton Tolle in the fifth inning (100.6 EV) and later went deep off Ryan Watson (109.2 EV / 438 FT) — a ball that was absolutely demolished. It was a homer in 30 of 30 ballparks. The 36-year-old has multiple hits in back-to-back games against two different division rivals.
Sal Stewart (CIN): 2-3, HR, R, 4 RBI, BB.
Stewart took Kodai Senga deep in the first inning, registering a 106.9 EV. The ball traveled 410 feet and was yet another home run that showcased 30/30 ballpark range. He also smacked a 97 EV single off Cionel Pérez in the fifth and worked a walk. At 22 years old, Stewart is slashing .252/.350/.456 with a 119 wRC+… he is one of the game’s youngest and brightest stars.
Mike Trout (LAA): 2-5, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI.
Trout is still doing it in his age-34 season, and what’s even crazier… he’s due for more positive regression:
| BA | xBA | SLG | xSLG | wOBA | xwOBA |
| .233 | .260 | .473 | .563 | .377 | .413 |
The future HOFer destroyed both a double (110.8 EV) and home run (104 EV / 438 FT — HR in 30/30 ballparks) en route to an Angels win.
Alec Bohm (PHI): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
Bohm posted a wRC+ of just 8 (yes, you read that right through his first 88 plate appearances this season. Since then, he’s gone hot and cold a few times, but he’s sporting a wRC+ 100 points higher and a mark of 130 over his last 50 plate appearances dating back to June 3rd. He lasered a .640 xBA single and 105.7 EV / 447 FT home run against Tyler Phillips yesterday.
José Caballero (NYY): 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI.
Cabellero singled off Joe Rock (91.6 EV) and went deep against position player Luisangel Acuña (90.5 EV / 351 FT) en route to a monster Yankees win. The 29-year-old continues to rake, going 7-for-20 (.350 BA) with a 174 wRC+ since June 10th. He’s been such a relief for the Yankees and fantasy managers alike thanks to his superutility ability.
Featured image by Aaron Polcare (@abeardoesart on Bluesky and X) and adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X)
