“Boring” Bats to Buy – May 12th, 2026
Brandon Marsh OF PHI
The perennial “boring” OF to draft, Marsh is lighting up the league in 2026, to the tune of .382 OBP and .353 BA through his first 144 PAs. Backing up the numbers is a sea of red highlighted by a 43.5% Sweet Spot percentage and a 48% Hard Hit rate. The homers are unlikely to surge to 20 on the year, but the rest of his numbers should stay solid with sustainable contact numbers and a 72nd percentile whiff rate. In a free-swinging age of feast or famine, the not-so-sexy Marsh might be worth dealing an average SP for if you’re seeking OF help.
Josh Jung 3B TEX
Another name that wasn’t super appealing on draft day, Jung is impacting the baseball with great authority thus far through 152 PAs. His 5 homers are backed by 41% Sweet Spot Rate along with a 34% Squared Up Rate, both of which have translated to a .907 OPS. He’s likely not a .900 OPS guy for the long haul, but the numbers point to a solid floor and higher than expected ceiling for the Ranger, making him a nice name to target in trades by dangling somebody like Mackenzie Gore or comparable SP.
Miguel Vargas 3B CHW
What’s going on with Vargas on the Southside? He’s playing loose and letting loose on the league in 2026, with 9 dingers and 6 SB through his initial 172 PAs. The surge is supported by StatCast crimson, take your pick: 15.9% Barrel Rate, 16% BB Rate and sweet 41.6% Sweet Spot Rate. Vargas is only 26 and with assured ABs, he makes for a nice corner infielder in ’26. If you have SP to spare, consider offering up your Mitch Keller or equivalent for the sudden Southside smasher.
Dillon Dingler C DET
The stats aren’t super eye-catching for the Dingler (just .739 OPS with his 6 HR and shocking .299 OBP), but under the hood, there’s a ton of red. His 96th percentile Sweet Spot percentage paired with a 50.5 Hard Hit Rate indicate that Dillon’s doing damage when he makes contact. What about the eye? He has a tolerable K Rate of 18% but he’s only walking at a 5% Rate which makes him a bit of a noodle-scratcher. If you’re desperate for power at Catcher, don’t dismiss Dingler, as xBA is almost .300 and his xSLG of .563 expresses numeric optimism.
Spencer Torkelson 1B DET
The sweetest thing? Torkelson’s Sweet Spot Rating is in the 100th Percentile. His Chase Rate of 18.5% keeps his eye on the prize, leading to a 14.6% BB Rate. His .211 BA won’t turn too many heads the right way, but suspend your disbelief in Spencer: A 15.9% Barrel Rate suggests good things to come for the 26-year old who clobbered 31 HR last year in the quietest way possible. But remember, stats count whether they happen now, later or both. Take a chance on Torkelson if 1B is a trouble spot for you, he may be worth whatever SP is the flavor of the month.
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