Want to hit more homers? This metric links some of MLB's biggest power surges in '26

Whether these guys eat their Wheaties every morning, pound pregame breakfast burritos or mix in some wake-up push-ups, they’re doing something right, and it’s leading to quite a power surge.

Only 21 batters who qualified -- at least 2.1 plate appearances per team game played in both 2025 and 2026 -- have hit more home runs through the first half of this season than they did in all of last year. Nine of those players are also among the small group (34 total) who have improved their average bat speed by at least one full mile per hour in 2026. Seven of the other 12 increased their average bat speed by at least some margin.

The top of the MLB-wide bat speed leaderboard boasts some of the game’s most prolific pop, whether they’re 30-plus-homer players or young names turning heads with tape-measure long balls. Junior Caminero, Oneil Cruz, Jac Caglianone, Kyle Schwarber and James Wood are all among the top 11.

Other players among the group with plus-1-mph swing speed include Caminero, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Mike Trout or Nick Kurtz, who are all having excellent seasons but simply put up big numbers in 2025 that would be hard to match in just half of a season.

Sure, there are other signs of power and production, like barrel rate, hard-hit rate (95 mph exit velocity or higher), launch angle or an improved approach. But bat speed is undeniably a frequent indicator of long-ball likelihood.

Let’s shed light on those hitters enjoying breakout campaigns, a group that features several first-time All-Stars, including the newly crowned Home Run Derby champion. Here’s how they’ve gotten it done in 2026.

Jordan Walker, OF, Cardinals

2025 (111 G): 6 HR, 78.1 mph avg. bat speed

2026 (93 G): 22 HR, 79.2 mph avg. bat speed

Walker’s breakout at age 24 has been one of baseball’s best stories, finally reaching the lofty potential he showed as a prospect. He’s always been a fast swinger but has gotten even faster this year to go along with consistently elite exit velocities and barrel rates.

He’s also getting the ball in the air at a career-best (by a wide margin) 58.4% rate. That’ll help get more balls over the fence, as the first-time All-Star gave us quite the show in Monday’s Derby.

Liam Hicks, C/1B, Marlins

2025 (119 G): 6 HR, 67.4 mph avg. bat speed

2026 (85 G): 13 HR, 68.5 mph avg. bat speed

The Marlins are one of baseball’s hottest teams, and Hicks is a driving force for them. His bat speed is still in the bottom-eighth percentile, though the tick up is clearly helping, considering his .822 OPS.

Hicks does not make particularly hard contact with an average exit velocity in the sixth percentile, but he squares the ball up constantly and is pulling it in the air almost 5% more frequently this year.

Dillon Dingler, C, Tigers

2025 (126 G): 13 HR, 71.7 mph avg. bat speed

2026 (87 G): 19 HR, 72.0 mph avg. bat speed

Dingler, a Gold Glove winner as one of MLB’s best defensive catchers, has now blossomed into an All-Star as a serious power threat. His bat speed hasn’t made a huge increase, but he’s working on career-highs in barrel rate, pulled airball percentage and in-zone contact rate.

Dingler has been especially good against breaking balls this year. Nine of his homers are against the pitch type to go along with a .406 xwOBA.

Miguel Vargas, 3B, White Sox

2025 (138 G): 16 HR, 70.6 mph avg. bat speed

2026 (94 G): 21 HR, 74.1 mph avg. bat speed

No player who has qualified in both 2025 and 2026 added more bat speed than Vargas’ 3.5 mph bump. That’s part of an across-the-board improvement for the 26-year-old, as one quick look at his Baseball Savant page should open some eyes (hint: there’s A LOT of red).

Vargas’ approach at the plate last year bordered on elite, with chase, whiff, strikeout and walk rates all in the 70th percentile or higher. His jump from subpar bat speed to well above average this year has helped him tack on hard contact, leading to big-time results and an All-Star nod (which he made good on with a mammoth homer in the Midsummer Classic).

Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Yankees

2025 (146 G): 10 HR, 72.6 mph avg. bat speed

2026 (68 G): 15 HR, 71.4 mph avg. bat speed

Sometimes, baseball is weird. Goldschmidt is swinging slower, hitting the ball hard less frequently and hitting it on the ground more than he has since 2017. And yet, the 38-year-old is having a great year.

Luis García Jr., 1B, Nationals

2025 (139 G): 16 HR, 72.4 mph avg. bat speed

2026 (90 G): 20 HR, 73.6 mph avg. bat speed

Baseball’s top three hitters by wRC+ since June 1? Pete Crow-Armstrong (231), Yordan Alvarez (191) and … Luis García Jr. (191). García has quietly looked quite good under the hood since 2024. But this is a new high, with better contact across the board fueling his breakout.

He’s pulling the ball slightly more frequently, but his swing decisions and contact rates are similar to 2025. Some extra oomph on his cuts has clearly led to extra thump.

Cam Smith, OF, Astros

2025 (134 G): 9 HR, 74.5 mph avg. bat speed

2026 (96 G): 12 HR, 77.4 mph avg. bat speed

Smith is second only to Vargas in year-over-year bat speed increase, and the results are beginning to show.

While he hasn’t quite reached the prospect ceiling that made him the headliner in last year’s Kyle Tucker trade between the Cubs and Astros, Smith’s .340 xwOBA clears his .312 actual on-base percentage. He’s hitting the ball harder much more consistently than he did in his rookie campaign.

Ben Rice, 1B, Yankees

2025 (138 G): 26 HR, 73.4 mph avg. bat speed

2026 (91 G): 29 HR, 72.6 mph avg. bat speed

Rice was a Statcast darling last year, and now, the expected statistics are bearing out actual results. Despite a decrease, he’s still above league average in bat speed. A slower June didn’t do much to dampen his excellent season, which earned him his first All-Star honors.

JJ Bleday, OF, Reds

2025 (98 G): 14 HR, 71.7 mph avg. bat speed

2026 (67 G): 16 HR, 73.8 mph avg. bat speed

The former No. 4 overall pick in 2019 has enjoyed a resurgence with the Reds. Bleday and his vastly improved bat speed hit the All-Star break with career-highs in barrel rate, average exit velocity and hard-hit rate.

Meanwhile, a 30.1% pulled airball rate (17th in MLB) is helping turn those improvements into dingers.

Others who have already hit more home runs in 2026: Casey Schmitt, Giants (+7 HR, +0.9 mph bat speed); Jacob Young, Nationals (+6 HR, +1.1 mph); José Caballero, Yankees (+5 HR, -0.2 mph); Ty France, Padres (+4 HR, +0.9 mph); Brandon Marsh, Phillies (+4 HR, +0.1 mph); Mauricio Dubón, Braves (+3 HR, +0.7 mph); Xavier Edwards, Marlins (+3 HR, +1.6 mph); Brayan Rocchio, Guardians (+3 HR, +0.1 mph); Chase Meidroth, White Sox (+2 HR, -0.4 mph); Daylen Lile, Nationals (+1 HR, +1.6 mph); CJ Abrams, Nationals (+1 HR, +0.4 mph); Tyler Freeman, Rockies (+1 HR, -0.9 mph)