Nick Kurtz (1B-ATH) continues to hit for pop as he went 1-4 with a walk, a 3-run homer, and an additional run scored against the Yankees on Saturday afternoon. The 22 year-old rookie has mashed as of late and is now hitting .256 with 12 dingers, 31 RBI, and 21 runs scored across his first 179 big-league PA. Kurtz has fanned often at a 32.5% clip while his 9% walk rate doesn't reflect his refined approach and patience. His overall (70%) and in-zone contact rates (79%) aren't good, but Kurtz makes a lot of loud contact as Statcast shows a 47.5% hard-hit rate, 14.5% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 92 mph. A promising start to an MLB career for a guy who was drafted only a year ago (at #4 overall out of Wake Forest).
Jac Caglianone (1B/OF-KC) went 0-4 with 3 punchouts against the Dodgers on Saturday. Outside of the one game in which he ripped both of his homers to date, the 22 year-old rookie has largely struggled so far in the majors, hitting .171 with 2 homers, 4 RBI, and 3 runs scored across 87 PA. He hasn't walked often (4.5%) while striking out at an acceptable 23% clip. Caglianone's swinging-strike rate is high at 13%, but his contact rates aren't bad (76.5% overall, 88% in zone) while he's making a decent bit of loud contact (Statcast shows a 47.5% hard-hit rate, 10% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 89 mph). The issue is an average launch angle of just 4 that's generated a 55.5% groundball rate. Caglianone's average launch angle was 16.3 in Triple-A while he hit more flyballs (32%) and liners (25%) at that level than in the majors so far (26% and 18%, respectively, with the Royals). We very well know that prospect development is not linear, so don't give up on Caglianone as he finds his way.
Casey Mize (SP-DET) earned the W against Minnesota on Saturday afternoon as he allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and a walk while fanning 5 over 6.2 IP. The 28 year-old righty surrendered one round tripper while firing 64 of his 94 pitches for strikes. Mize has put together a solidly productive 2025 campaign to date as he claims a 2.86 ERA, 7.9 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, and 3.94 xFIP through 78.2 IP (14 starts). The significant gap between the ERA and xFIP does indicate that he's benefited from an 85.5% strand rate, but Mize has done a good job of limiting free passes while posting a career-high 11% swinging-strike rate. The opposition's 84% in-zone contact rate is a career low, as is their 77.5% overall contact rate. Meanwhile, Mize's Statcast profile is the strongest of his career with a 40% hard-hit rate, 8.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 89.5 mph. Up next is a start on July 4 in Cleveland against a Guardians lineup that ranks just 25th in the majors in team OPS against RHP with a .686 mark.
Kumar Rocker (SP-TEX) earned a quality start in a no-decision against Seattle on Saturday afternoon, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and a walk while fanning 6 over 6 IP. The 25 year-old righty fired 67 of his 97 offerings for strikes while serving up a big fly. Rocker's 6.13 ERA through his first 39.2 IP (9 starts) of the campaign is ugly, but a 3.76 xFIP, 8.4 K/9, and 2.7 BB/9 are all encouraging. Indeed, a 14% HR/FB, .358 BABIP, and 64% strand rate all indicate that he's run into a bunch of poor luck. Rocker's 11.5% swinging-strike rate is solid while the opposition's 77% overall and 87.5% in-zone contact rates aren't alarming. His undoing has been loud contact as Statcast shows a 49.5% hard-hit rate, 10.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 92 mph. Encouragingly, Rocker has pitched better since returning to the majors on June 15th as he's allowed no more than 2 ER in any of those three outings. He lines up for a start in San Diego against a Padres lineup that ranks 18th in the majors with a team OPS of .712 against RHP.
Quinn Priester (SP-MIL) was electric against the Rockies on Saturday as he fired 7 scoreless IP in which he allowed just 1 hit and 2 walks while racking up 11 punchouts on 95 pitches (65 strikes). The 24 year-old seems to have found his stuff in Milwaukee as he now claims a 3.35 ERA, 7 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, and 3.82 xFIP through 78 IP on the year. He hasn't surrendered more than 3 ER in an outing since May 2nd while, entering Saturday's outing, he'd registered a 2.66 ERA, 8 K/9, 1.3 BB/9, and 3.06 xFIP through his first 4 starts (20.1 IP) in June. A first-round pick back in 2019, Priester is certainly worth adding in fantasy leagues. Up next is a matchup with a Miami lineup that ranks 16th in MLB with a team OPS of .720 against RHP.
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