The recent surge of several hitters on the waiver wire has caught the attention of fantasy baseball enthusiasts across the United States. Using a custom leaderboard that weighs hard‑hit rate, zone‑contact rate, swinging‑strike rate and exit‑velocity per 90 feet, the author identified a handful of players who combined elite contact with power potential.
The Metrics That Matter
The leaderboard was built on four key indicators: hard‑hit rate, zone‑contact rate, swinging‑strike rate and EV90. Only hitters with at least 40 plate appearances in May qualified, ensuring a level playing field for those who had enough opportunities to demonstrate their skills.
Among the standouts, Curtis Mead, a 23‑year‑old former top‑40 prospect, posted a .261/.400/.507 line with four homers, 13 RBI and 14 runs in 85 May plate appearances. Coby Mayo impressed with a 58 % hard‑hit rate and a 109.8 mph EV90, while Dylan Crews showed a 90.2 % zone‑contact rate after a quick recall from Triple‑A.
Veteran speedsters such as Jorge Mateo and Michael Massey also turned heads; Mateo hit .347/.384/.454 with three homers and eight RBI, while Massey posted a 41.5 % hard‑hit rate and a 9.3 % swinging‑strike rate that translated into three homers and eight RBI.
Other notable contributors include Vaughn Grissom, whose 50 % hard‑hit rate and 88 % zone‑contact rate coexist with a modest .190/.265/.309 slash, and Justin Foscue, who paired a 47.5 % hard‑hit rate with a .254/.300/.418 line. Bryce Eldridge and Blaze Alexander rounded out the group with strong contact metrics and promising power profiles.
Looking Ahead
The common thread among these players is a blend of high‑quality contact and the ability to translate it into runs, RBI and, in some cases, stolen bases. If they can maintain these levels, they could become pivotal pieces for fantasy lineups and may even attract trade interest as the season progresses.