Whether it’s moonshot home runs, clutch base hits, or multi-hit games that just won’t quit, these dawgs have been on absolute fire. We’re breaking down the hottest players at the plate from the past week—guys who’ve been raking, slugging, and turning heads with every swing. Let’s take a look at who tore it up and made noise last week around the league, in no particular order.
Jordan Beck, OF – Colorado Rockies
Last Week’s Line: .389/.455/1.222/1.677, 5 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 1 SB
I guess a dip back to Triple-A did this man some good! And what makes this week really stand out is that it wasn’t all at Coors. In fact, Kaufmann – while maintaining the third highest park factor – is actually one of the stingiest parks in which to hit home runs, and Beck smoked three there last week. His Statcast page doesn’t qualify just yet, but when it does, he’ll be 90th percentile in average exit velocity, barrel% %, and xSLG.
Andy Pages, OF – Los Angeles Dodgers
Last Week’s Line: .650/.650/1.250/1.900, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 1 SB
Pages did all his damage in five games, but he crammed a man’s week into those games. Six extra base hits (3 HR, 3 doubles), 11 RBIs/runs combined, and even swiped a bag. And what a series at home against Pittsburgh, whose pitching (Pages faced Falter, Keller, and Skenes) has been really damn decent so far. I don’tlove the profile on the year, however, the profile doesn’t fill the stat sheets.
Eugenio Suarez, 3B – Arizona Diamondbacks
Last Week’s Line: .400/.500/1.050/1.550, 4 HR, 5 RBI, 9 R, 0 SB
Suarez is just about as streaky as they come (mired in a 5/32 slump entering the week), but he’s still a sweetheart. Want proof? I personally sat next to some rousers in Cleveland last year that absolutely gave it to Eugenio, who just laughed it off (in contrast to Willson Contreras, who Friday night I watched Section 139 be a huge baby and have a fan ejected for saying mean things to him.) Anyway, I digress. All of his production really came from one game (Saturday against the Braves), but so what? Only the 19th player in MLB history to hit four bombs in a game. Kudos.
Jorge Polanco, 2B – San Francisco Giants
Last Week’s Line: .471/.550/1.294/1.844, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R, 0 SB
Despite playing in the absolute worst park in the bigs for hitters(90 park factor), Polanco continues to thrive this season. And he’s not just doing it on the road either (.386/.404/.773 in T-Mobile). He doesn’t play everyday, but that should change soon. Big series at home against the Marlins to close the week bolstered these numbers. He didn’t (and doesn’t) walk much, but who cares when he’s swinging the bat and hitting the cover off the ball (13.3 barrels/PA% – good for 6th in MLB).
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF – Chicago Cubs
Last Week’s Line: .421/.421/.842/1.263, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 4 R, 4 SB
I’ve never been a huge fan of PCA, but my Cubs brethren absolutely adore him – his energy, his production, and his impact on the team. Despite a mediocre batted-ball profile (which is going to catch up to him eventually), he continued to produce this week. 13 RBI/runs combined, four steals (up to 12on the season – pacing the league along with Oniel Cruz), and a slugging percent of .842 land him in my features for the second time this season.
Oneil Cruz, SS/OF – Pittsburgh Pirates
Last Week’s Line: .333/.400/.704/1.104, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R, 2 SB
Did someone say Oniel Cruz? And for the second week in a row? HOT DAMN. Buddy is butter, and has been raking at the plate for two straight weeks. I’m not sure they convinced him to leave Los Angeles after he went in and made himself at home at Angel and Dodger Stadiums, respectively. And if you’ve read my stuff before, you know I swoon over the raw power (100th percentile in exit velocity and bat speed). Guess what? He absolutely murdered baseballs again last week, with five balls above 105 MPH – 108.1, 110.9, 116.6, 118.3, and 119.6 (including a 463-foot NUKE).
Noelvi Marte, 3B – Cincinnati Reds
Last Week’s Line: .400/.444/.720/1.164, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 R, 3 SB
Marte said he’s regaining his confidence at the plate, and it’s starting to show. He’s always had the prospect pedigree and track record in the minors, but he just hadn’t put it together at this level. Until now. Is this the breakout? IDK, but he’s been really good lately. Statcast doesn’t love him yet, but that could be changing as well. His strikeouts are down, his bat speed is 80th percentile, and the expected numbers (BA, SLG, xwOBA) are tracking up. Yes, I know – Coors. But he dominated there, so I’m good with it.
Trevor Larnach, OF – Minnesota Twins
Last Week’s Line: .364/.440/.818/1.258, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R, 0 SB
Great week from Trevor, who’s another player on the list this week who’s starting to make good on the pedigree promise. He played in all six of Minnesota’s games, feasting on the White Sox and Angels (but hey – who doesn’t these days). A self-stated focus on swing mechanics and improved contact has provided him the opportunity for regular playing time. I don’t know if it’s a consistent thing (pulling the ball less, for instance), and it’s most likely more a function of the teams he played, but he still put up feature-worthy numbers this week.
Agustin Ramirez, C – Miami Marlins
Last Week’s Line: .474/.524/1.158/1.682, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 4 R, 1 SB
WOAHHHH OHHHHH OHHHHH, OHHHH OH. HANGING TOUGH! Get it? New Kids on the Block? Because Aggie is the new kid? Nevermind. He came out of the gate smashing, and kept it rolling through the weekend in T-Mobile, where he batted third or cleanup in each game. Blood-red Statcast (DNQ, just yet), his expected numbers are off the charts. And he’s hit everything they’ve thrown at him – four-seamers and breaking stuff (just not the slow-ball). We all know he won’t keep it up, but ma,n it would be fun if he did.
Teoscar Hernandez, OF – Los Angeles Dodgers
Last Week’s Line: .381/.381/.905/1.286, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 0 SB
Nice recovery from a stomach bug that zapped him for most of last week. He and Mook are eating at the same spots (raises eyebrow)? Anyway, Teo opened the week mashing at Wrigley, and kept it rolling against the Pirates at home to close out the slate. He didn’t walk once (in fact, he’s walked only three times in 101 ABs), but he didn’t need to. Teo hit the ball, the ball goes far, and the Dodgers score runs. It’s a simple recipe. 14 RBIs and runs combined, two home runs, and two bag pilfers land him squarely in my features.
