BPV leaders, May 2025

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.

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