Jonathan Aranda (1B-TB) continued his productive start to the 2025 season as he went 2-4 with an RBI against the Marlins on Saturday afternoon. The 26 year-old is now batting .321 with 6 long balls, 21 RBI, and 19 runs scored through his first 155 PA of the campaign. Aranda has fanned at a 24.5% clip while walking at an 11% rate. His average seems most likely to dip going forward since a .407 BABIP is especially high for a guy who has little in the way of wheels. While his overall contact rate (76%) and in-zone contact rate (83%) are actually down a bit from what he posted in a 143-PA sample in the major last season, his Statcast profile is stellar with a 57.5% hard-hit rate, 13% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 94.5 mph. He seems likely to offer a bit more power with a less average going forward.
Jackson Holliday (2B-BAL) had a productive day out of the leadoff spot against the Nationals on Saturday as he went 2-3 with a 2B, a homer, and 3 RBI. The 21 year-old has shown signs of coming around in 2025 as he's now hitting .269 with 5 dingers, 16 RBI, 14 runs scored, and 2 steals (albeit in 6 attempts) across 146 PA. His strikeout rate is down to 22% (was 33% in last year's 208 PA) while his walk rate is still at 7%. Encouragingly, Holliday has slashed his swinging-strike rate from 13.5% to 9% while elevating his contact rate from 70% to 80.5% and, more importantly, boosting his in-zone contact rate from 81% to 89.5%. His quality of contact is actually right around where it was last season with a 43.5% hard-hit rate, 7% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 90 mph. Look for him to continue making progress as the season unfolds.
Chase Meidroth (SS-CHW) went 3-4 against the Cubs with a stolen base and a solo homer, the first of his big-league career. Overlooked because he plays for one of the league's lousiest clubs, the 23 year-old rookie is quietly putting together a solid debut season as he's now batting .286 with a homer, 4 RBI, 13 runs scored, and 5 steals (in 5 attempts) over 88 PA. Meidroth has shown strong command of the dish with a 12.5% walk rate against a 16% strikeout rate while registering a strong 88.5% overall contact rate and 93% in-zone contact rate. His Statcast profile is pretty meh with a 35.5% hard-hit rate and average exit velo of 86.5 mph, but his bread and butter is a strong hit tool, an ability to draw walks, and an ability to swipe a few bags. He's a solid MI option in deeper leagues in particular if one needs to replace someone hitting the IL.
Wyatt Langford (OF-TEX) filled the stat box against the Astros on Saturday as he went 2-4 with a homer, 2 RBI, and a stolen base. The 23 year-old is now hitting .255 with 9 dingers, 20 RBI, 19 runs scored, and 8 steals (in 10 attempts) across 157 PA on the year. Langford has raised his overall contact rate to 80.5% (from 79.5%) while, more importantly, elevating his in-zone contact rate from 86.5% to 89.5%. Meanwhile, his Statcast profile is slightly better than it was a season ago as it now features a 43.5% hard-hit rate (steady), 14% barrel rate (up from 9%), and an average exit velo of 91 mph (up from 89.5). Given his speed and ability to drive the ball, a .274 BABIP seems low, and so it should rise going forward, with his average rising with it.
Griffin Canning (SP-NYM) flirted with disaster in a no-decision against the Yankees but avoided the worst as he allowed 2 runs on 7 hits and a walk while fanning 4 over 5.1 IP. Both runs scored via solo homers as the 29 year-old righty threw 64 of his 92 offerings for strikes in the contest. Canning now owns a 2.47 ERA, 8.8 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, and 3.40 xFIP through 47.1 IP (9 starts) on the year. A lucky 91.5% strand rate has helped to suppress his ERA, but Canning has been surprisingly productive in his first campaign with the Mets. Compared to last season, his swinging-strike rate is up 1% to 12% and his control is slightly improved (BB/9 is down from 3.4). A closer look under the hood, though, reveals some red flags as the opposition's in-zone contact rate has up slightly to almost 88% while they've made a lot of loud contact, with Statcast showing a 48.5% hard-hit rate and average exit velo of 92 mph. The damage has been limited by a career-low launch angle of 8, which has generated a career-high 54% groundball rate. Up next is a true litmus test when the Dodgers visit town next weekend.
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