Welcome back to Week Ten of our Patience or Panic series, where we take a look at three struggling players and provide recommendations on how you should react to their slow starts and subpar performance. Can these cold bats heat up as we get closer to summer?
Dansby Swanson, SS, Chicago Cubs
May was the worst-hitting month for Dansby Swanson since 2017, a .151 average and .448 OPS with just 1 home run. He’s dropped all the way down to ninth in the batting order for the Cubs, but has remained in the lineup every day thanks to his Gold Glove-caliber defense at a premium defensive position. As a result, his RBI chances have dropped significantly, but he can still provide value setting the table ahead of the top of the Chicago order.
Swanson is walking at a career-best 13.3% rate so far this season, and striking out 23.0% of the time, which would be his best since 2019. He’s clearly seeing the ball well, keeping his floor high for runs and steals. The quality of contact has been the lacking element. He’s in the 5th percentile for launch angle sweet-spot, popping up or hitting the ball on the ground in almost three-quarters of his batted ball events. His hard-hit rates and average exit velocities are similar to previous seasons, so if he can make that small adjustment in combination with his improved plate discipline, we could see a well-rounded hitter the rest of the way as the weather heats up.
The light at the end of the tunnel could be here sooner rather than later as well. The next 15 games on the schedule for the Cubs come against pitching staffs struggling to retire opposing RHH, including two series each against the Rockies and Giants. This week alone, Swanson is expected to face three lefties. That combination puts all the right ingredients in place for managers to wait and see if he can capitalize.
Verdict: Patience
Seiya Suzuki, OF, Chicago Cubs
Staying in the North Side. Not much of a coincidence. Only six teams scored fewer runs per game than the Cubs in May. For Seiya Suzuki specifically, it’s been particularly ugly, hitting .190 in May and failing to homer in more than three weeks. Unlike Swanson, Suzuki has yet to attempt a steal this season, so his power outage is particularly damaging. The underlying metrics don’t show much promise so far, especially compared to his 32-homer campaign in 2025.
Not only is Suzuki making hard contact less often, but he’s chasing more out of the zone. Even more concerning, his BABIP is up this year, suggesting some regression may bring that average even further down should fewer hits fall into the gaps. Almost every metric is going in the wrong direction for Suzuki, who has been one of the more consistent producers over the past three seasons.
That track record is the primary reason managers will be inclined to hold. For those of you who skipped past the Swanson section (you aren’t sneaky), many of the same ingredients for a turnaround are coming in June. The Cubs have a soft schedule coming up, particularly against right-handed hitters, and Suzuki’s glove solidifies a near-everyday role in the lineup. Unlike Swanson, however, this should be Suzuki’s last chance. Should he carry his cold streak through this, managers should look for alternatives.
Verdict: Panic
Jac Caglianone, 1B/OF, Kansas City Royals
Jac Caglianone’s all-or-nothing approach is working better than you might realize. Despite a strikeout rate just north of 30%, Caglianone has seen his quality of contact improve drastically. Hard-hit rate, average exit velocity, barrel rate, and chase rate are all headed in the right direction from his disappointing debut in 2025.
The expected statistics also suggest he’s been unlucky to begin 2026. His .242 average and .401 slugging are about 20 and 40 points below expected, respectively. Points leagues managers will have a harder time stomaching the strikeout rate, but the potential is here for a 30 HR bat. The biggest concern will be if the Royals decide to platoon Caglianone, but in that scenario, the rate stats will improve, and he will retain significant playing time as the strong side of any platoon. For those in need of power, Caglianone is available in about half of all leagues and offers a tremendous amount of upside without having to sacrifice average.
Verdict: Patience
Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Aaron Polcare (@abeardoesart on Bluesky and X)
