Top 100 Hitters: May You Go Boldly

We’ve officially crossed the early-season threshold, and the chaos of April is giving way to something more meaningful but not necessarily more predictable. This is the part of the season where bold decisions start to separate contenders from pretenders. This year, the youth movement isn’t just knocking on the door, it’s kicking it down. Players like JJ Wetherholt and Kevin McGonigle aren’t waiting their turn. They’re impacting games right now, forcing their way into relevance. At the same time, the influx of international power has added another layer of volatility and opportunity. Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto have wasted no time introducing themselves with authority. The raw power is translating, the adjustments are coming quickly, and the upside is loud. These are not passive additions to rosters as they are bats capable of shifting categories in a hurry. Now, as we move into May, something important is happening. Sample sizes are growing. Playing time is becoming more dependable. Pitchers and hitters alike are showing us who they are, or at least who they are becoming. And with that clarity comes responsibility. This is the time to be aggressive. Our rankings reflect that mindset. You’ll see players pushed up ahead of consensus, veterans dropped more quickly than comfort might allow, and emerging talent given the benefit of belief rather than skepticism. Because waiting for full confirmation in this game often means you’re already too late. Championship teams don’t drift into contention but rather attack it. As the weather warms, so does the urgency. Lean into volatility. Trust the skills. Bet on impact. Let’s get bold.

Rising

• Munetaka Murakami – Some folks might argue this is simply a hot start, and the strikeout tendencies are going to catch up with Murakami. However, a glance under the covers is a dead match for a Kyle Schwarber comparison with potentially more power. Murakami is tied for the league lead in home runs and has the strongest hard hit rates in the majors. There should be no debate at this point that the Chicago White Sox got a steal this offseason. Even with a modest batting average that will struggle to get above .240, the run production and power metrics are going to carry teams. Sure, the strikeout rate is high and might lead to streakiness throughout the season. However, we are playing the long game, and it is time to acknowledge this 40-homer bat.
• Sal Stewart – If you go to Sal Stewart’s Baseball Savant page, two of his top comparable bats are Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge. We should probably just induct him into the Hall of Fame at this point. Kidding aside, Stewart has put up elite barrel rates, exit velocities, and supported those with a strong plate approach. Kick in surprising early steals, and Stewart has delivered impressive fantasy value for his owners. With the luck metrics under control, this looks to be a true breakout in one of the best ballparks for sluggers.
• Ozzie Albies – Maybe Ozzie Albies is finally figuring things out after a few tough seasons. An improved strikeout rate and a little bit of luck have delivered a .320 average with seven homers and a combined 44 runs and RBI so far this season. The approach at the plate has been more aggressive than the last few seasons, and for a guy who is still in his twenties, there is still value to be had. The steals might struggle to hit double digits, but there is life in this bat.

Falling

• Rafael Devers – This one simply does not make sense, but we cannot wait around for him to figure things out. Hitting .211 with two homers and 11 RBI is beyond disappointing. Sure, the ballpark was always going to be a struggle, but we have seen a significant drop in all the power and contact metrics under the covers. The strikeouts are up, and the walks are down, with the luck measures doing little to forgive this slow start. He is certainly pressing and will sort things out to some degree as the season progresses. However, if he continues to be overly patient at the plate, forcing himself to chase late in counts, we are going to see him fall further as the season progresses.
• Austin Riley – It seems like Austin Riley is bound to hit 35 homers each season until we look back and realize it has now been three years since he has been that player. Attending the same classes as Devers, the plate discipline begs questions. I would not be surprised to see a vision issue with the significant drop in pitch recognition and the inability to capitalize on mistakes. Maybe we need to go the Max Muncy route and get some new classes. I think now is the time to move on if somebody in your league still sees long-term value.

Watching

• Ildemaro Vargas – Delivering the best expected batting average in the league at .358 should get you on the watch list, if not better. Vargas is having the best season of his career at 34 years young. Through 24 games, he has a 213 wRC+, delivering a .404 average and six home runs. The savant page makes it plausible that he has figured something out here, but I have to view this as a hot streak and little more. A career 8% HR/FB rate has jumped to over 27% in 2026, supported by a .416 BABIP. Hitting fly balls at a clip below 30% is not a recipe for power metrics and will be indicative of a falloff in those categories soon. Enjoy the hot streak, but Vargas is not likely to break the Top 100 anytime soon.
• Carlos Cortes – It is hard to argue with the results from Carlos Cortes this season. He has arguably been the best outfielder for the Athletics while hitting .386 with four home runs across 26 games. He is solely a platoon bat and a late bloomer at 28-years-old. However, if you are delivering quality of contact and plate discipline numbers in the top 20% of the league, good things will come. This is a guy who deserves to be rostered more while we see if the league will adjust to him.