Baseball is truly a great game. On a nightly basis, we see many things of interest. To say that there are surprises would be an understatement. There’s never a shortage of excitement and things to note, so let’s take a look at some items that caught my attention.
Abrams Rides a Hot Streak
Everyone is busy talking about Juan Soto making his return to Yankee Stadium this weekend, but instead, let’s a go few teams back. While trading a player like Soto is never easy, the Washington Nationals did their best to receive a potentially franchise altering return.
One of those players was CJ Abrams. The dynamic shortstop is presumably staying out of the casinos and it’s evident in his success. Through 32 games this season, Abrams is hitting .317 with six home runs, 16 RBI, 20 runs scored, and nine stolen bases. With a career high .23O ISO, there’s a lot to like with his power and speed combination. With a career high barrel rate of 10.9%, Abrams is set up for a career year as his .314 xBA backs up his success.
A New Addition is Finding His Groove
To be clear, it was never supposed to be a 1 for 1 replacement. Whether we are trying to compare Isaac Paredes to either Kyle Tucker or Alex Bregman, it’s simply not fair to Parades. However, the third baseman also was placed in a position to succeed in Houston with, notably, favorable left field dimensions.
It’s interesting to note that all six of Paredes home runs have come at home, and there are noticeable differences between his .277 home batting average and .239 mark on the road. His RBI’s have also followed suit, 15 to four, but the overall body of work has been solid. Paredes had a walk off home run earlier this week. He’s a key part of the Astros lineup and they need him to continue taking advantage of his surroundings. Just temper your expectations though as a 4.8% barrel rate will only take him so far despite his 18.6 degree average launch angle.
A Top Prospect Arrives
And now the Los Angeles Dodgers just need to give Dalton Rushing consistent playing time. The Dodgers did promote Rushing earlier this week, but at least for now, they appear unwilling to commit to playing him more than two or maybe three times a week. Ultimately, if Rushing hits, he’ll find his way into the lineup more, but it likely will have to come in the outfield.
On Thursday, Rushing got off to a good start by going 2-4 with a walk and three runs scored in his debut. Granted, the Dodgers scored 19 runs against the Athletics, but it’s still a pretty good start. After hitting 26 home runs with 85 RBI in 114 minor league games last year, Rushing has little left to prove. He continued that success by hitting .308 with five home runs and 17 RBI in Triple-A this year prior to his promotion.
It Starts at the Top
The upside and the tools are ever present with Jackson Holliday. The problem though, is that his major league debut last season didn’t exactly go smoothly. In 60 games, Holliday hit just .189 while striking out 33% of the time. Despite those struggles, minor league success was much easier to find for the former first overall pick.
Things are going better for Holliday this season as he’s hitting .250 while bringing his strikeout rate down to 23.5%. With a .129 ISO, that part of his game is still developing, but he does have four home runs and 12 RBI. Despite success stealing bases in the minor leagues, Holliday is still at just two so far in 2025, but that’s another part of his game that should come with time. It’s important to remember that he’s still just 21 years old.
While it’s been just four games so far, it’s also interesting to see Holliday being moved to the leadoff spot. It could be an interesting, next, progression in his major league career.
Lowe Returns in a Big Way
Injuries have been an issue for Josh Lowe thus far in his career. That was the case, once again in 2025 as Lowe was injured on Opening Day. The good news, is that the outfielder returned to action on Thursday and promptly went deep.
Overall, Lowe went 3 for 5 with three runs scored, so it’s clear that he was, at least for one day, able to shake the rust off. Strikeouts will be a concern for the outfielder, 31.8% last year, but if healthy, there is a solid power/speed base. In 2023, Lowe hit 20 home runs in 135 games while also stealing 32 bases. Last year, that dropped to 10 home runs and 25 stolen bases in 106 games, but we are working with a solid skill set. It will also be interesting to see Lowe take advantage of his temporary home park.
An Emergence in the Bronx
Behind Max Fried and Carlos Rodon, it’s the clear that the New York Yankees need starting pitching. It was a slow start to the season for Will Warren, but it’s become clear that the right-hander is finding his groove.
Through nine starts, Warren’s ERA is down to 4.61 but his 3.24 FIP paints a much more optimistic picture and is also more indicative of his performance as of late. The right-hander is striking out 11 batters per nine innings, and his biggest obstacle is to limit his walks which are currently at 3.73 per nine innings.
In Warren’s three starts in May, his ERA sits at 3.18 with opposing hitters batting just .224 against him. The better news, is that he’s walked just five batters in 17 innings.
deGrom Turns Back the Clock
Whether we want to talk about his start on Thursday or his performance all season, both apply to Jacob deGrom. Being healthy has been huge for the right-hander, but it’s also undeniable how talented he is.
Against the Astros, deGrom scattered five hits and one walk while not allowing a run and striking out seven. Perhaps the bigger story is that the right-hander pitched eight innings. Through nine starts so far this season, deGrom has a 2.29 ERA while striking out a batter per inning and walking about two.
At 97.3 miles per hour, his average fastball velocity is down a little from its peak, but I think it’s a good thing overall for deGrom. His stuff is still top notch and there’s no reason for him to over exert himself.
Strider Returns
So far, the 2025 season hasn’t gone according to plan for the Atlanta Braves. It was a beyond difficult start to the season, but they have worked their way back to a .500 record at 22-22. While they are six games behind the Mets for the division, they are only three back in the Wild Card. To say that there is plenty of baseball left to be played is an understatement.
In the upcoming week, Spencer Strider will be returning, and that is a huge development for the Braves and the top of their rotation. The fact that it wasn’t an arm injury that forced Strider to the sidelines is even better.
