Joey Votto was known for many things, including frequently destroying the Cubs at Wrigley Field. But when I think about him as a hitter, there's one collective thought that comes to mind: the guy was just so good at working an at bat toward either a walk or a line drive.
Throughout his career, he's actually been exactly average, with a 99 wRC+ that's a few base hits away from reaching triple digits. However, he's fluctuated between a near-All-Star and a light-hitting platoon threat, with no real pattern to follow.
Crow-Armstrong's 4.5% walk rate, the fifth-worst mark among 145 qualifiers for the batting title, surely played some role as pitchers adjusted and began to retire him with more regularity. Crow-Armstrong hit .265/.302/.544 during the season's first half, providing an outstanding 25 home runs and 27 stolen bases (in 31 attempts).
Biggio, 31 in April, would be entering his eighth season as a big leaguer if he makes the Astros' roster. A fifth-round pick by the Blue Jays in 2016, he turned in impressive performances for Toronto in his first two years with the club, slashing .240/.368/.430 with a wRC+ of 118 and 4.0 fWAR in 159 games between the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Drafted in the 12th round of the 2021 draft out of Dayton, Tirotta was an under-the-radar type of prospect for the first few seasons in the organization. Immediately after being drafted, he hit a home run in 119 plate appearances in Single-A to end the 2021 season. The 2022 season was mainly spent in High-A, where he slashed .219/.314/.368 with six home runs in 283 plate appearances, hitting an additional home run on a rehab assignment.
Born in a Montréal suburb, Pitre attended Félix-Leclerc Secondary School and went undrafted in his first season of eligibility. Honouring his commitment to the University of Kentucky, the middle infielder appeared in just 11 games in his freshman season. He got more playing time in 2023, slashing .318/.440/.413 with a home run in 281 plate appearances for a 104 wRC+.
Speed is definitely a major component of his game as Cook has earned a scouting scale of 80 for his speed grade ahead of the 2025 MLB Draft. The Blue Jays would select the promising outfield prospect in the third round that year, No. 81 overall. But more importantly, he wants to show Toronto that his game isn't just about speed and that he could be a complete player. As per The Athletic, Cook would love to be "more like Byron Buxton" when he fully develops and matures, but that of course is still quite a ways away.
Hoerner is a staple of the Cubs' elite defense, winning his second Gold Glove Award in 2025. He totalled 14 outs above average (OAA) and a fielding run value of 12, both of which were twice as high as any other second baseman in the game. His ability to play shortstop at a high level adds even more value and has other teams eyeing him as a trade target.
The Phillies have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent outfielder Adolis Garcia, reports Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com. It's still pending a physical. He'll earn a guaranteed $10MM on the contract, per the report. Garcia is represented by Octagon. Garcia was non-tendered by the Rangers last month. He'd been projected for a $12.1MM salary in 2026, his final year of arbitration, per MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz.
He continued to struggle making contact which resulted in a .213 walk rate, and struck out a ton with a strikeout rate sitting at a mammoth 35%. His walk rate was still outstanding, though it was a career low 14.9%. The result - a batting average of .213 but an OBP of a respectable .343. The power also saw a minor uptick as he hit a career high 7 homers, and an ISO of .129.
Cody finished his junior year in college hitting .331/.430/.623 in 58 games. He was the top player on his team, and one of the strongest producers in the SoCon. With solid production in the Cape Cod league where he hit .261/.333/.449 the Braves saw enough and picked him in the third round. Cody's stay in the complex was short and he made 26 starts after being drafted. In Augusta, Cody would hit .372/.412/.488 in 10 games which gave him a 163 wRC+.
There were some solid expectations for Owen as the Braves were able to agree to terms with him and sign him for $150K following the draft. Any time you have that kind of payout to a player later in the draft it indicates the teams willingness to bank on their scouting, and it's safe to assume Owen made a lot of people happy with his 2025 performance.
A stint in Triple-A allowed Baldwin to reset his swing and regain confidence, so when he returned to the White Sox on July 19, he looked prepared to establish himself as a more reliable option. Since then, Baldwin has found a rhythm at the bottom of the lineup, while taking on regular work at third base and in the outfield.
