Let's continue our monthly look back at the batters who posted the best skills during the prior month.
These were the most skilled batters during May in descending order of BPV (min 50+ PA):
Player | Lg | Pos | bb% | ct% | xPX | Spd | EV | LA | Brl% | BPV |
Ohtani-H, Shohei | NL | DH | 17% | 71% | 205 | 107 | 96.7 | 15.5 | 27.5% | 171 |
Judge, Aaron | AL | RF | 21% | 72% | 196 | 112 | 95.7 | 17.6 | 24.7% | 170 |
Raleigh, Cal | AL | C | 18% | 66% | 218 | 106 | 94.0 | 28.5 | 27.4% | 157 |
Ramirez, Jose | AL | 3B | 12% | 89% | 141 | 128 | 90.0 | 18.8 | 8.9% | 124 |
Schwarber, Kyle | NL | DH | 16% | 70% | 172 | 82 | 94.8 | 16.4 | 19.2% | 121 |
Marte, Ketel | NL | 2B | 15% | 85% | 142 | 84 | 90.7 | 10.1 | 17.6% | 117 |
Vargas, Miguel | AL | 3B | 9% | 83% | 159 | 74 | 90.3 | 27.1 | 15.5% | 117 |
Ward, Taylor | AL | LF | 9% | 65% | 188 | 111 | 91.6 | 20.9 | 22.2% | 115 |
Benson, Will | NL | RF | 8% | 77% | 236 | 107 | 95.2 | 13.7 | 20.5% | 114 |
Clemens, Kody | AL | 1B | 9% | 70% | 211 | 99 | 95.2 | 11.1 | 17.1% | 105 |
Suzuki, Seiya | NL | DH | 8% | 74% | 128 | 78 | 93.6 | 13.6 | 18.1% | 104 |
McNeil, Jeff | NL | 2B | 18% | 87% | 70 | 111 | 87.6 | 15.9 | 3.6% | 103 |
Laureano, Ramon | AL | LF | 10% | 73% | 149 | 118 | 90.2 | 13.7 | 17.6% | 101 |
Moreno, Gabriel | NL | C | 4% | 83% | 119 | 129 | 92.2 | 10.1 | 9.2% | 99 |
Bellinger, Cody | AL | CF | 11% | 86% | 150 | 109 | 89.7 | 21.6 | 13.3% | 98 |
Player | Lg | Pos | bb% | ct% | xPX | Spd | EV | LA | Brl% | BPV |
Goldschmidt, Paul | AL | 1B | 11% | 89% | 87 | 114 | 91.5 | 15.5 | 7.4% | 97 |
Wilson, Jacob | AL | SS | 10% | 92% | 58 | 108 | 86.8 | 7.1 | 3.1% | 95 |
Moncada, Yoan | AL | 3B | 8% | 69% | 169 | 118 | 92.3 | 15.7 | 20.8% | 94 |
Tucker, Kyle | NL | RF | 17% | 86% | 102 | 143 | 91.4 | 17.6 | 10.2% | 94 |
Smith, Will | NL | C | 18% | 84% | 123 | 106 | 92.1 | 17.3 | 11.1% | 93 |
Paredes, Isaac | AL | 3B | 11% | 83% | 104 | 101 | 86.8 | 23.3 | 5.7% | 92 |
Caminero, Junior | AL | 3B | 3% | 82% | 74 | 78 | 90.2 | 8.5 | 9.6% | 92 |
Bregman, Alex | AL | 3B | 13% | 79% | 99 | 77 | 90.8 | 21.5 | 8.8% | 90 |
Santana, Carlos | AL | 1B | 19% | 79% | 97 | 95 | 89.6 | 14.2 | 7.8% | 90 |
Devers, Rafael | AL | DH | 19% | 77% | 79 | 82 | 92.9 | 10.3 | 8.6% | 89 |
Witt Jr., Bobby | AL | SS | 8% | 76% | 156 | 142 | 94.8 | 19.2 | 15.9% | 86 |
Dubon, Mauricio | AL | 2B | 2% | 96% | 31 | 111 | 86.1 | 8.7 | 0.0% | 86 |
Burleson, Alec | NL | DH | 6% | 84% | 107 | 82 | 92.3 | 17.9 | 12.5% | 85 |
Bader, Harrison | AL | CF | 8% | 83% | 48 | 104 | 87.6 | 4.4 | 7.8% | 84 |
Freeman, Freddie | NL | 1B | 12% | 77% | 134 | 111 | 91.0 | 14.7 | 10.8% | 84 |
Player | Lg | Pos | bb% | ct% | xPX | Spd | EV | LA | Brl% | BPV |
Springer, George | AL | RF | 15% | 70% | 174 | 90 | 91.2 | 13.9 | 26.2% | 83 |
Bichette, Bo | AL | SS | 9% | 80% | 121 | 79 | 92.1 | 7.7 | 14.1% | 83 |
Gurriel Jr., Lourdes | NL | LF | 8% | 82% | 86 | 128 | 88.2 | 11.5 | 9.5% | 83 |
Wood, James | NL | LF | 14% | 68% | 142 | 99 | 93.9 | 6.1 | 18.9% | 83 |
Pederson, Joc | AL | DH | 21% | 83% | 130 | 93 | 90.1 | 17.5 | 12.5% | 81 |
Varsho, Daulton | AL | CF | 3% | 67% | 179 | 100 | 88.0 | 23.3 | 16.7% | 81 |
Sheets, Gavin | NL | DH | 5% | 76% | 130 | 96 | 93.1 | 13.1 | 15.7% | 81 |
Arraez, Luis | NL | 1B | 4% | 97% | 16 | 112 | 82.0 | 13.4 | 0.0% | 81 |
Baty, Brett | NL | 3B | 5% | 77% | 193 | 127 | 90.5 | 10.4 | 18.8% | 81 |
Lowe, Brandon | AL | 2B | 9% | 72% | 137 | 96 | 92.4 | 16.3 | 11.4% | 81 |
Muncy, Max | NL | 3B | 17% | 80% | 88 | 80 | 92.1 | 23.3 | 11.9% | 80 |
Crow-Armstrong, Pete | NL | CF | 4% | 68% | 139 | 118 | 87.6 | 27.7 | 15.8% | 80 |
Baldwin, Drake | NL | C | 4% | 90% | 77 | 91 | 91.7 | 3.3 | 8.2% | 80 |
Toro, Abraham | AL | 3B | 83% | 97 | 105 | 88.7 | 14.7 | 6.7% | 79 | |
Lowe, Josh | AL | RF | 10% | 79% | 93 | 108 | 90.3 | 14.0 | 9.5% | 79 |
Player | Lg | Pos | bb% | ct% | xPX | Spd | EV | LA | Brl% | BPV |
Ramos, Heliot | NL | LF | 7% | 74% | 103 | 147 | 91.7 | 3.3 | 14.1% | 78 |
Adell, Jo | AL | CF | 9% | 76% | 147 | 87 | 91.2 | 8.8 | 11.8% | 77 |
Garcia Jr., Luis | NL | 2B | 4% | 85% | 181 | 70 | 92.6 | 11.2 | 13.0% | 77 |
Tena, Jose | NL | 3B | 13% | 79% | 76 | 104 | 89.3 | -2.4 | 7.1% | 77 |
Cronenworth, Jake | NL | 2B | 17% | 75% | 82 | 124 | 89.6 | 17.4 | 6.1% | 76 |
Garcia, Maikel | AL | 3B | 9% | 83% | 104 | 138 | 88.3 | 9.1 | 6.7% | 76 |
Guerrero Jr., Vladimir | AL | 1B | 19% | 84% | 108 | 114 | 92.5 | 6.2 | 15.9% | 75 |
Machado, Manny | NL | 3B | 12% | 81% | 91 | 89 | 92.8 | 17.8 | 11.4% | 75 |
Schneemann, Daniel | AL | 2B | 15% | 78% | 107 | 99 | 85.2 | 7.3 | 10.2% | 74 |
Keith, Colt | AL | 2B | 6% | 77% | 107 | 114 | 90.5 | 9.1 | 11.1% | 74 |
Pena, Jeremy | AL | SS | 4% | 87% | 58 | 122 | 86.6 | 8.7 | 4.1% | 74 |
Soto, Juan | NL | RF | 18% | 77% | 142 | 71 | 93.7 | 7.8 | 24.7% | 73 |
Torkelson, Spencer | AL | 1B | 13% | 73% | 114 | 76 | 89.7 | 21.2 | 11.6% | 72 |
Torres, Gleyber | AL | 2B | 19% | 83% | 129 | 82 | 91.4 | 16.5 | 16.4% | 72 |
Barger, Addison | AL | 3B | 12% | 75% | 118 | 87 | 95.9 | 14.5 | 13.4% | 71 |
Isbel, Kyle | AL | CF | 3% | 85% | 77 | 140 | 82.5 | 9.3 | 3.6% | 70 |
Here is a closer look at several skilled batters in each league whose top May skills should warrant your attention.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Addison Barger (3B/RF, TOR) had a bigger May that you might have realized (.292 BA, 4 HR, 12 RBI, .887 OPS in 100 PA). Those results were driven by electric batted ball quality: 95.9 mph EV, 14.5 LA, 13.4% Brl%. He didn't show a haphazard approach at the plate to get there (12% bb%, 75% ct%, 0.45 Eye). Barger is a strong hold.
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Kody Clemens (2B/RF/1B, MIN) was a difference-maker for his fantasy managers in May (.281 BA, 5 HR, 12 RBI, 1.001 OPS in 66 PA). He's another batter whose big May was backed by just as big batted ball components: 95.2 mph EV, 11.1 LA, 17.1% Brl%. His modest bat-to-ball acumen (70% ct%) will keep him inconsistent, but he remains a good short-term hold.
Paul Goldschmidt (1B, NYY) is having a resurgent 2025 season, and it was fueled by a really big May (.315 BA, 4 HR, 15 RBI, .904 OPS in 102 PA). His plate discipline was elite (11% bb%, 89% ct%, 0.90 Eye), he hit the ball hard (91.5 mph EV), and lofted it at an above-average clip (15.5 LA).
Alejandro Kirk (C, TOR) interestingly showed the best combination of contact and exit velocity in the game in May. His plate skills were pristine (13% bb%, 94% ct%, 2.50 Eye), and most of his contact was very hard (93.7 mph EV). With a little more loft (11.2 LA), Kirk could turn that hard contact into more homers (1 HR in May).
Wyatt Langford (LF, TEX) did not deliver much value on the surface in May (.189 BA, 5 HR, 11 RBI, .624 OPS in 120 PA). But his poor May wasn't that bad, since his batted ball characteristics remained excellent: 93.1 mph EV, 15.1 LA, 15.1% Brl%. Langford's pitch recognition was good as well (12% bb%).
Royce Lewis (3B/DH, MIN) has struggled since his return from the injured list (.138 BA, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .427 OPS in 71 PA). However, those marks were driven by a tiny 15% h% more than a lack of skill. His approach at the plate was solid (9% bb%, 83% ct%, 0.55 Eye), he made hard contact at an above-average rate (90.1 mph EV), and he hit the ball in the air at a good clip (16.1 LA). Lewis is an excellent buy-low target.
Cal Raleigh (C/DH, SEA) went on a power binge in May (12 HR, 1.169 OPS in 114 PA). His collection of batted ball components was some of the best in the majors: 94.0 mph EV, 28.5 LA, 27.4% Brl%. Those skills were duplicated in his elite 218 xPX. Raleigh also displayed excellent pitch recognition (18% bb%). There's no reason to sell high here.
Miguel Vargas (3B/1B/LF, CHW) has value due to his dual IF/OF eligibility in most leagues. His bat added value for his fantasy managers in May (.263 BA, 7 HR, 17 RBI, .899 OPS in 111 PA). He showed solid thump (90.3 mph EV) and had a steep uppercut in his swing (27.1 LA), which helped him barrel the ball regularly (15.5% Brl%). In addition, Vargas made a lot of overall contact (83% ct%), which led him to a .309 xBA in May.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Drake Baldwin (C, ATL) is another batter who paired elite contact (90% ct%) and exit velocity (91.7 mph EV) in May. Those attributes fueled Baldwin's stats that month: .389 BA, 1.003 OPS in 56 PA. For his power to develop, he'll need to get the ball off the ground more (3.3 LA, 51/24/24 G/L/F).
Will Benson (RF, CIN) was a find for managers who scooped him off their waiver wires in May: .278 BA, 5 HR, 14 RBI, .950 OPS in 62 PA. His chronically-shaky plate skills were playable in May (8% bb%, 77% ct%, 0.42 Eye). Further, Benson's hit attributes were excellent: 95.2 mph EV, 20.5% Brl%. He's very inconsistent, but he's a great fill-in bat when he's hot.
Alec Burleson (1B/RF/DH, STL) is carrying a modest stat line through May (.278 BA, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 3 SB, .727 OPS in 161 PA). Burleson's bat started to boom in May, though: .303 BA, 4 HR, 10 RBI, .888 OPS in 70 PA. He paired his regular high-contact approach (84% ct%) with plenty of lofted hard contact: 92.3 mph EV, 17.9 LA, 12.5% Brl%. Don't be surprised if he shows a lot more power in June.
Luis García Jr. (2B, WAS) did not deliver noticeable numbers in May (.264 BA, 3 HR, 17 RBI, .766 OPS in 95 PA). But his batted ball characteristics featured tons of hard-hits (92.6 mph EV) and barrels (13.0% Brl%). He also made contact at an elite level (85% ct%). He's another batter who is shaping himself up for a big June.
Gabriel Moreno (C, ARI) had a slow start to the season, but his underlying indicators suggested he could be due for a surge. Sure enough, it happened in May: .321 BA, 4 HR, 11 RBI, .931 OPS in 82 PA. His hard contact rate (92.2 mph EV) and overall contact level (83% ct%) were some of the best in MLB during May.
Lars Nootbaar (LF, STL) has converted his multi-category raw tools into production to this point in 2025 (8 HR, 4 SB in .757 OPS). While his production declined in May (.665 OPS), his combination of May exit velocity (93.0 mph) and loft (18.0 LA) gives him the tools for a big June.