The calendar has turned to May, and the second full month of baseball is underway. In the first five weeks of the season, several players came out of the gates hot, while others stumbled. From breakout rookies to struggling veterans, these are the biggest surprises and disappointments after month one of the Major League Baseball season.
Surprises
Jordan Walker – St. Louis Cardinals
Coming into the 2026 season, Jordan Walker had a -2.6 WAR in 278 career games. But in 34 games this year, Walker has a 2.2 WAR, the second-highest in the National League.
His advanced metrics tell the full story, as Walker is in the 97th percentile or better in bat speed, hard hit rate, barrel rate, and average exit velocity. He also ranks inside the top 10 in slugging percentage, OPS, RBI, home runs, and total bases.
His defense is still below average, but his offensive output has more than made up for that so far. It took a while, but Jordan Walker’s breakout campaign is officially here.
Kevin McMonigle – Detroit Tigers
Not only has Kevin McMonigle been one of the best rookie hitters in baseball, but he’s been one of the best hitters overall.
Through 35 games, McMonigle is hitting .308 with an .869 OPS, both of which rank inside the top 35 in Major League Baseball. He’s also exuded tremendous plate discipline, ranking in the 94th percentile in chase rate with 20 walks and 20 strikeouts.
Despite being 21 years old, McMonigle’s 2.3 WAR ranks second in the majors, ahead of veterans like Bobby Witt Jr. and Elly De La Cruz. It’s a small sample size, but McMonigle’s career is off to a blistering hot start.
Jose Soriano – Los Angeles Angels
In a league with Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet, it’s Jose Soriano who’s emerged as one of the game’s best pitchers through the first month of the season.
In eight starts, Soriano has already matched the 2.3 WAR he accumulated in 31 starts last season. His 1.74 ERA is the fourth lowest in the American League, a number aided by his 29% strikeout rate.
The Los Angeles Angels have the most losses in baseball, so Soriano’s time in Anaheim may have an expiration date. However, whether he remains an Angel or not, Soriano’s first month of 2026 has been unlike any other.
Disappointments
Brayan Bello – Boston Red Sox
The 2026 season has not been kind to Brayan Bello.
Through seven starts, Bello’s -1.1 WAR is the second-worst mark in baseball. His command has been subpar with a 1.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio, while the eight home runs he’s given up are the eighth most in baseball. Most concerning, however, is the fact that Bello’s barrel rate has skyrocketed from 7.1 percent last year to 12.7 percent in 2026.
In his seven starts, Bello has made it out of the fifth inning twice. If the Boston Red Sox hope to rejoin the playoff race, Bello’s pitching must improve.
Rafael Devers – San Francisco Giants
While Bello’s struggles are frustrating to Red Sox fans, Rafael Devers’ struggles with the San Francisco Giants certainly aren’t.
Devers looks like a shell of his former self, as the multi-time Silver Slugger has a -1.0 WAR through 36 games. His walk rate has dropped from 15.4% to 6.1%, while his hard-hit rate has sunk from 56.1% to 44.2%. Even his 16%-barrel rate, which ranked in the 94th percentile, has plummeted to 7.4%.
The Giants have scored 114 runs in 2026, eight fewer than the next closest team. The Giants need to start hitting, especially in the uber-competitive National League West, and that starts with Devers.
Cal Raleigh – Seattle Mariners
Few people expected Cal Raleigh to hit 60 home runs for a second straight season. Likewise, few people expected his numbers to drop across the board. Unfortunately, the latter is exactly what’s happened.
Through 129 at-bats, Raleigh has a hitting run value of -5. His hard-hit rate has dropped by 19.3%, while his average exit velocity has dropped by 4.6 MPH. He’s still playing elite defense, but his offense is nowhere to be found.
On the season, Raleigh is hitting .180 with a .633 OPS. Those numbers are not good enough for a Seattle Mariners team with World Series aspirations.
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