Very early slow start holds, 2026
Apr 13 2026
It can be tempting to cut bait on hitters who have gotten off to slow starts. Resisting the urge to do so often is difficult, since we all want to get off to quick starts in our leagues. But it's a decision that can help you enjoy the ride up when skilled bats turn things around.
Hitters with 30+ PA have posted an average .691 OPS so far in 2026. These sub-.650 OPS bats have posted the highest average exit velocities (EV) so far in 2026:
| Name | Lg | bb% | ct% | SwK% | OPS | EV | LA | Brl% | Chase % |
| Nick Kurtz | AL | 22% | 52% | 14.0% | .612 | 96.7 | 13.2 | 12.5% | 24.7% |
| Fernando Tatis Jr. | NL | 12% | 70% | 12.0% | .612 | 95.0 | 5.1 | 16.3% | 28.9% |
| Tyler Stephenson | NL | 15% | 71% | 11.2% | .636 | 94.9 | 26.8 | 12.0% | 17.0% |
| Pete Alonso | AL | 11% | 65% | 12.3% | .522 | 94.3 | 9.2 | 8.6% | 29.4% |
| Joc Pederson | AL | 10% | 75% | 16.8% | .504 | 94.1 | 24.6 | 0.0% | 33.8% |
| Jac... |
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