MLB⚾️June Rookie Batter Power Rankings💪
This time, I would like to look at batters eligible for Rookie of the Year in a ranking format based on a wRC+ comparison limited to the month of June. Players who have not yet reached the required plate appearances are also included.
One of the benefits a team receives for winning the Rookie of the Year award is PPI (subject to certain conditions). Roughly explained, this means obtaining an additional draft pick after the first-round pick.
I have previously summarized PPI, so please refer to this if you would like to learn more↓
*Results are from 6/1 to 6/28.
🥇Esmerlyn Valdez (Pirates) wRC+ 218
Games: 10 / At-bats: 26 / Plate appearances: 27
Hits: 9 / 1B: 3 / 2B: 3 / 3B: 0 / HR: 3
Runs: 6 / RBI: 5 / BB: 1 / SO: 9 / GIDP: 1
SB: 0 / CS: 0
BB%: 3.7% / K%: 33.3%
AVG .346 / OBP .370 / SLG .808 / OPS 1.178
BABIP .429 / wRAA 3.8 / wOBA .494
The strikeout rate for the first half of 2026 is very high at 40.0%, indicating issues with contact. However, it was 33.3% in June. The BABIP is high at .429, and with a wRAA of 3.8 and a wOBA of .494, it is expected that his performance will stabilize in the future.
🥈Sam Antonacci (White Sox) wRC+ 162
Games: 22 / At-bats: 81 / Plate appearances: 96
Hits: 26 / 1B: 18 / 2B: 5 / 3B: 0 / HR: 3
Runs: 18 / RBI: 9 / BB: 10 / SO: 14 / GIDP: 0
SB: 3 / CS: 0
BB%: 10.4% / K%: 14.6%
AVG: .321 / OBP .427 / SLG .494 / OPS .921
BABIP .359 / wRAA 7.1 / wOBA .408
His strikeout rate for the first half of the season is low at 15.1%, and his on-base percentage in June was .427, with a high walk rate of 10.4%. His batting average was .225 through April, but it has steadily risen month by month to .296 in May and .321 in June. He has recorded 11 stolen bases in 63 games, contributing to the team with his speed.
🥉Bryce Eldridge (Giants) wRC+ 160
Games: 23 / At-bats: 82 / Plate appearances: 96
Hits: 25 / 1B: 16 / 2B: 5 / 3B: 0 / HR: 4
Runs: 14 / RBI: 12 / BB: 14 / SO: 22 / GIDP: 0
SB: 0 / CS: 0
BB%: 14.6% / K%: 22.9%
AVG: .305 / OBP .406 / SLG .512 / OPS .918
BABIP .375 / wRAA 6.6 / wOBA .402
His walk rate in June was 14.6% and his on-base percentage was .406, both at high levels. In June, he recorded a .305 batting average, .918 OPS, and 160 wRC+, showing a major leap in his hitting compared to May.
④TJ Rumfield (Rockies) wRC+ 160
Games: 24 / At-bats: 88 / Plate appearances: 101
Hits: 28 / 1B: 14 / 2B: 8 / 3B: 1 / HR: 5
Runs: 13 / RBI: 17 / BB: 10 / SO: 14 / GIDP: 1
SB: 0 / CS: 0
BB%: 9.9% / K%: 13.9%
AVG .318 / OBP .396 / SLG .602 / OPS .998
BABIP .329 / wRAA 8.8 / wOBA .425
His wRC+ was 94 in March/April, but it has steadily increased month by month to 136 in May and 160 in June. His strikeout rate so far has been kept low at 14.6%, maintaining highly reliable plate appearances. In June, he recorded an ISO of .284 and a wRAA of 8.8, contributing significantly to the team's scoring through extra-base hits.
⑤Kazuma Okamoto (Blue Jays) wRC+ 157
Games: 24 / At-bats: 88 / Plate appearances: 98
Hits: 26 / 1B: 15 / 2B: 4 / 3B: 0 / HR: 7
Runs: 15 / RBI: 20 / BB: 8 / SO: 31 / GIDP: 1
SB: 0 / CS: 0
BB%: 8.2% / K%: 31.6%
AVG .295 / OBP .357 / SLG .580 / OPS .937
BABIP .373 / wRAA 6.5 / wOBA .399
His ISO in June was .284, and his power has improved month by month. His wRC+ was 90 in March/April, which was below average, but it improved dramatically to 114 in May and 157 in June, increasing his value as a core hitter in the lineup. His strikeout rate for the season is high at 32.1%, and he continues to face challenges with contact.
6. A.J. Ewing (Mets) wRC+ 147
Games: 25 / At-bats: 84 / Plate appearances: 95
Hits: 26 / 1B: 16 / 2B: 7 / 3B: 0 / HR: 3
Runs: 9 / RBI: 13 / Walks: 10 / Strikeouts: 18 / GIDP: 1
Stolen bases: 4 / Caught stealing: 2
Walk rate: 10.5% / Strikeout rate: 18.9%
AVG .310 / OBP .379 / SLG .500 / OPS .879 BABIP .359 / wRAA 5.0 / wOBA .382
While his strikeout rate was 32.4% in May, it improved significantly to 18.9% in June, showing better bat-to-ball skills. His ISO was a low .079 in May but rose to .190 in June, indicating a major improvement in his power-hitting ability. He recorded 8 stolen bases by the end of June, showing his presence on the basepaths as well.
7. Kevin McGonigle (Tigers) wRC+ 143
Games: 23 / At-bats: 85 / Plate appearances: 104
Hits: 23 / 1B: 14 / 2B: 6 / 3B: 0 / HR: 3
Runs: 15 / RBI: 7 / Walks: 19 / Strikeouts: 13 / GIDP: 1
Stolen bases: 2 / Caught stealing: 0
Walk rate: 18.3% / Strikeout rate: 12.5%
AVG .271 / OBP .404 / SLG .447 / OPS .851 BABIP .290 / wRAA 5.3 / wOBA .380
His walk rate is high at 15.1% for the first half of the season, and he recorded 18.3% in June alone. His strikeout rate for the first half of the season was kept low at 13.4%, demonstrating his excellent ability to make contact. He posted an OBP of .394 in the first half of the season, reaching base at a high rate.
8. Victor Bericoto (Giants) wRC+ 140
Games: 11 / At-bats: 27 / Plate appearances: 28
Hits: 7 / 1B: 4 / 2B: 0 / 3B: 0 / HR: 3
Runs: 3 / RBI: 4 / Walks: 1 / Strikeouts: 8 / GIDP: 0
Stolen bases: 0 / Caught stealing: 1
Walk rate: 3.6% / Strikeout rate: 28.6%
AVG .259 / OBP .286 / SLG .593 / OPS .878 BABIP .250 / wRAA 1.3 / wOBA .372
He hit 3 home runs in June alone, contributing as a source of runs for the team. From May to June, he significantly improved his numbers across the board: batting average (.200 to .259), on-base percentage (.200 to .286), and slugging percentage (.200 to .593).
9. Cole Carrigg (Rockies) wRC+ 139
Games: 17 / At-bats: 56 / Plate appearances: 69
Hits: 15 / 1B: 8 / 2B: 3 / 3B: 1 / HR: 3
Runs: 11 / RBI: 11 / Walks: 10 / Strikeouts: 14 / GIDP: 1
Stolen bases: 2 / Caught stealing: 1
Walk rate: 14.5% / Strikeout rate: 20.3%
AVG .268 / OBP .388 / SLG .518 / OPS .906 BABIP .308 / wRAA 4.3 / wOBA .394
With a high walk rate of 14.5%, he maintained a high on-base percentage while hitting for power, appearing in 17 games in June and hitting 3 home runs.
10. Brandon Valenzuela (Blue Jays) wRC+ 136
Games: 14 / At-bats: 45 / Plate appearances: 51
Hits: 12 / 1B: 6 / 2B: 3 / 3B: 0 / HR: 3
Runs: 4 / RBI: 9 / Walks: 5 / Strikeouts: 16 / GIDP: 1
Stolen bases: 0 / Caught stealing: 0
Walk rate: 9.8% / Strikeout rate: 31.4%
AVG .267 / OBP .333 / SLG .533 / OPS .867 BABIP .333 / wRAA 2.1 / wOBA .369
His ISO reached .267 in June, a significant increase from his .150 early in the season. While his wRC+ was 61 in March/April, it rose to 125 in May and 136 in June, showing an improvement in his run-creation ability to a level well above average.
11. Tyler Callihan (Pirates) wRC+ 134
Games: 18 / At-bats: 51 / Plate appearances: 59
Hits: 13 / 1B: 7 / 2B: 1 / 3B: 2 / HR: 3
Runs: 8 / RBI: 11 / Walks: 6 / Strikeouts: 20 / GIDP: 0
Stolen bases: 1 / Caught stealing: 0
Walk rate: 10.2% / Strikeout rate: 33.9%
AVG .255 / OBP .339 / SLG .529 / OPS .868 BABIP .345 / wRAA 2.5 / wOBA .369
In May, he recorded an extremely high walk rate of 40.0% and an OBP of .600. He showed stable plate discipline in May without striking out once, but his strikeout rate rose to 33.9% from June onwards as his playing time increased. There are issues with his contact. Even in June alone, his slugging percentage was a high .529, maintaining a certain level of power.
12. Henry Bolte (Athletics) wRC+ 130
Games: 24 / At-bats: 82 / Plate appearances: 96
Hits: 25 / 1B: 19 / 2B: 4 / 3B: 0 / HR: 2
Runs: 10 / RBI: 8 / Walks: 8 / Strikeouts: 31 / GIDP: 1
Stolen bases: 6 / Caught stealing: 1
Walk rate: 8.3% / Strikeout rate: 32.3%
AVG .305 / OBP .389 / SLG .427 / OPS .816 BABIP .460 / wRAA 3.7 / wOBA .365
Recorded 10 stolen bases between May and June, contributing to the team with his speed. His batting average improved from .288 in May to .305 in June, maintaining good form. His ISO in June was .122, a significant increase from .038 in May.
13. Tristan Peters (White Sox) wRC+ 130
Games: 22 / At-bats: 66 / Plate appearances: 73
Hits: 18 / 1B: 7 / 2B: 8 / 3B: 1 / HR: 2
Runs: 10 / RBI: 16 / Walks: 5 / Strikeouts: 11 / GIDP: 0
Stolen bases: 1 / Caught stealing: 1
Walk rate: 6.8% / Strikeout rate: 15.1%
AVG .273 / OBP .329 / SLG .515 / OPS .844 BABIP .296 / wRAA 2.5 / wOBA .360
His strikeout rate was 25.0% in March/April, but dropped to 14.8% in May and 15.1% in June. His contact ability has stabilized. While his ISO was at a low level of .045 in March/April, it rose to .184 in May and .242 in June, showing growth in power. He recorded a slugging percentage of .515 in June, demonstrating more powerful hitting as the months go by.
That is all for this time.
There are more rookie players who have surged in June, aren't there?😊
I look forward to their future performances.