When the season began, many analysts circled a trio of young hitters — Xavier Edwards, Liam Hicks and Caleb Durbin — as potential breakout candidates. The author had flagged all three for elite contact skills and disciplined approaches, but early results suggested Durbin would struggle to translate that promise into production.
The Mechanics Behind the Surge
Edwards, who managed just four home runs in his first three seasons, has already matched that total in 43 games this year, while his batting average climbs to .318 and his on‑base percentage sits at .406. Hicks, who lacked power a year ago, has added nine homers and trimmed his strikeout rate to 8.2%, posting a .295 average with a .527 slugging percentage.
The turnaround isn’t a fluke of luck; it stems from subtle mechanical tweaks. Edwards shifted from a pure left‑handed stance to a more balanced setup, raising his ideal attack angle and boosting his pull rate. Hicks opened his stance by roughly 16 degrees, a change that has increased his in‑air pull rate and helped him make more solid contact.
What This Means for the Club
These adjustments have turned both players into impact hitters, a development that reverberates beyond their personal stat lines. The article notes that Geraldo Perdomo’s strong .290 average, 20 home runs and 27 stolen bases placed him fourth in the NL MVP conversation behind Shohei Ohtani, underscoring a broader surge in offensive talent.