We're exactly halfway through the season, and it's shaping up to be another hugely successful one with the only real question at this point being how far they go in the playoffs.
A look at the stats first, followed by the report card:
Nothing to complain about here. This team doesn't walk very much, but it doesn't matter since they hit so well and are 1st in OBP anyway. The defensive efficiency has gone from bad to mediocre, and despite a negative number the zone rating is 5th in the league, as high as I've seen it. Only the right side of the infield is subpar defensively, with Kirkley a 45 and Barker a poor 35.
The player stats:
The grades:
C: (A). Keibert Ruiz has had a renaissance season, making me think I might try to extend him beyond this year. He'll probably ask for too much. Heir apparent Carlos Perez has done OK in a backup role. He's a different type of hitter than Ruiz (draws walks, hits for power, less contact).
1B: (B+). Joe Barker has been streaky this year and right now he's on a hot streak having nearly single-handedly won the last two games. His defense is a problem, but not a big one given the position. He's done just as well as, if not better than, Yordan Alvarez at a fraction of the salary.
2B: (C+). Connor Kirkley has been kind of a disappointment, he was supposed to get on base at nearly a .400 clip with his 70 eye but instead is about .320. He's been adequate, but outplayed by Dane Ayers in a smaller sample size. This position should eventually be prize prospect Jaiden Hardaway's, and something I haven't mentioned is that top-notch OF prospect Dayle Jenkins can also play the position, at about 40-45 D.
SS: (A+). Isaac DeLeon held down the fort with excellent power for the first 6-7 weeks until Ricky Widmar came back and boy did Widmar come back. Despite it being early in his season, he's still hitting over .400 despite going 0 for the last 2 games.
3B: (A+). Bobby Witt Jr is a stealth MVP candidate this year and the player we thought we were getting the year before when he struggled with the Rays and had his season cut short due to injury.
LF: (B-). Judson Fabian is just kind of "there", he hasn't been spectacular but hasn't been bad either. He's getting more expensive and may make room for Jenkins or Victor de Jesus next season.
CF: (B+). Jasson Dominguez has gotten past a couple of IL stints and is blasting HRs left and right again while providing excellent defense. No complaints here.
RF: (A-). Jhon Diaz continues to excel, leading MLB in steals to go with solid hitting and defense.
DH: (A). Nate Clark is on pace to replicate his massive season from last year, which is all I can ask for him as the DH.
Bench: (A). Perez and Ayers as mentioned have been solid contributors, and DeLeon, who played most every day for the first two months, is still a productive bat off the bench. Spencer Torkelson has been the odd man out but has produced when put in the lineup and may take more PT from Fabian over the second half.
Starters: (A-). Christian Little was headed for a 2nd Cy Young before his ruptured finger tendon that will keep him out until mid-late September, so that's a blow. But the others have picked up the slack; Alec Sachais is just as good as he was last year, Shane McClanahan has recovered from his late start to the season to deal again, Blake Money is starting to round back into 2028 form, and Mack Anglin is nastier than ever but has had a bad run of sequencing with most of his runners coming in bunches and inflating his ERA. Jack Leiter should be adequate the rest of the way, too.
Bullpen: (A). The back end of the pen has been great, especially the ageless combo of Alvarado and JDLC. Daniel Espino hasn't been as lights-out as he was last season but overall has still been good, while Jordan Diaz has been solid. The big addition is Andy Aparicio, who's been a best in long relief/multi-inning appearances. He probably goes into the rotation next year to take Mac's place but I almost hate to take him out of this role. The only disappointments have been Evan Godwin (who admittedly has been better lately) and Mike Mooney (who I had high hopes for but has been very inconsistent).