Early-season numbers present an interesting glimpse into how we view player performance, since the year is young and those are the only games we are working with.
When players start on a hot stretch, it’s easy to get excited. On the flip side, slow starts might make us put too much emphasis on a player’s true talent level. What maybe goes more unnoticed is when players start slowly and turn their seasons around.
Here are 10 players who have rounded into form after sluggish starts.
The following numbers are entering Friday’s games.
Fernando Tatis Jr., OF, Padres
Through May 29: .652 OPS, 0 HR, 0.5 WAR (per FanGraphs in 55 G)
Since then: .890 OPS, 15 HR, 2.9 WAR in 72 G
Much was made, obviously, about Tatis not homering in his first 55 games of the season. Since crushing his first home run 451 feet on May 30, Tatis has looked much more like himself. He’s hit 15 home runs in his last 72 games, including a pair in Tuesday’s memorable performance against the Mets (he also robbed a grand slam in that game). Not coincidentally, the Padres' season has turned around as Tatis has gotten going, a welcomed development for a San Diego club vying for a Wild Card appearance.
Bryson Stott, INF, Phillies
Through end of May: .644 OPS, 6 HR, 0.6 WAR in 53 G
Since then: .835 OPS, 3 HR, 2.9 WAR in 69 G
Truthfully, Stott’s turnaround really began after a sluggish first month of the season. What’s been fascinating about Stott’s season is the incremental improvements he’s made in each passing month as the year has progressed. After posting a .534 OPS in March/April, Stott has improved his OPS in each month, with his best month of the season (and arguably his career) coming in August. Stott has a .937 OPS this month with a ridiculous 18-to-4 walk-to-strikeout ratio.
Alex Bregman, 3B, Cubs
Through end of June: .689 OPS, 7 HR, 1.5 WAR in 84 G
Since then: .868 OPS, 9 HR, 1.7 WAR in 41 G
Bregman was the Cubs’ big offseason addition and his introduction to the club started on a slow note. After slumping (for his standards) through roughly half of the season, Bregman caught fire in July and has been one of baseball’s top players since that point. Amidst his torrid stretch of late was a three-homer game against the Nationals on Aug. 12, the first such performance in his career. If Bregman keeps this up, the Cubs are going to boast one of the toughest offenses to face in October.
Caleb Durbin, 3B, Red Sox
Through end of May: .530 OPS, 1 HR, -0.3 WAR in 52 G
Since then: .859 OPS, 11 HR, 2.7 WAR in 68 G
As Kyle Harrison carved up hitters through the first two months of the season and Durbin struggled, it was hard to not jump to conclusions that the Red Sox had lost the trade. Instead, Durbin caught fire around a similar time as the entire Boston club did and has played a pivotal role in the Red Sox jumping into a Wild Card spot. Durbin has been one of baseball’s best players since June, boasting a top-10 WAR along with 11 homers and 12 stolen bases.
Steven Kwan, OF, Guardians
Through end of June: .575 OPS, 1 HR, 0.3 WAR in 78 G
Since then: .937 OPS, 1 HR, 2.3 WAR in 40 G
Kwan has been such a consistently good player in the Majors that it was downright shocking to see him struggle through the end of June. Then, Kwan abruptly turned his season around and has been the second-best player by WAR since July 1, only trailing Pete Crow-Armstrong in that department. He’s posted a ludicrous .370/.473/.464 slash line despite hitting just one home run during that time, and has walked 27 times compared to just 16 strikeouts.
Trevor Rogers, LHP, Orioles
Through first 10 starts: 6.84 ERA, 4.83 FIP, 0.4 WAR in 48 2/3 innings
Since June (13 starts): 2.45 ERA, 2.85 FIP, 2.3 WAR in 77 innings (entering Friday’s start)
Rogers was downright dominant in 18 starts last season, posting a 1.81 ERA in 109 2/3 innings -- it was one of 22 pitching seasons in the Wild Card era (since 1995) of a sub-two ERA in at least 100 innings. There were obvious signs of some regression coming (very few pitchers can truly pitch at that level), but Rogers experienced a downswing in an extreme way. After posting a 6.84 ERA in his first 10 starts though, he’s flipped the script with 2.45 ERA in his last 13 starts.
Eury Pérez, RHP, Marlins
Through first 10 starts: 5.33 ERA, 5.18 FIP, 0.2 WAR in 52 1/3 innings
Since then (12 starts): 1.66 ERA, 2.57 FIP, 2.4 WAR in 70 1/3 innings
Pérez has always possessed incredible stuff and talent, which made the beginning to his season so surprising. To the 23-year-old’s credit -- yes, he’s still that young -- Pérez righted the ship in a hurry and has been one of the best pitchers in the entire sport since his rough first 10 starts. Since making his 11th start on May 22, he has a 1.66 ERA that is second in the Majors only to Jacob Misiorowski’s 1.65 mark (among pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched). The underlying metrics agree that he’s pitched like an ace.
Noah Cameron, LHP, Royals
Through first 19 starts: 5.27 ERA, 4.14 FIP, 1.3 WAR in 100 2/3 innings
Since then (5 outings): 1.19 ERA, 2.08 FIP, in 1.4 WAR in 37 2/3 innings (entering Friday’s start)
Cameron had an excellent rookie season in 2025, posting a 2.99 ERA in 138 1/3 innings and finishing fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. After a tough start to the season from a run prevention standpoint -- ERA indicators suggested he was rather unlucky -- the left-hander has been remarkable over his last five outings, allowing just five earned runs in 37 2/3 innings (1.19 ERA). He threw a one-hit shutout against the Angels on Aug. 16 and has three other outings of seven-plus innings and no more than one run allowed.
Brandon Pfaadt, RHP, D-backs
Through first 13 outings: 5.92 ERA, 5.43 FIP, -0.2 WAR in 38 innings
Since then (10 starts): 1.79 ERA, 3.09 FIP, 1.6 WAR in 60 1/3 innings
What a wild year it’s been for Pfaadt. He pitched poorly enough through his first three starts that he was bumped to the bullpen to make space for the return of Merrill Kelly. When he struggled in his time in the pen, he was optioned to the Minors, where he spent the better part of June pitching. Something changed upon his return though: he’s sporting a 1.79 ERA in 10 outings, tied for the second-lowest mark among any pitcher with 50 innings since June 30. Before allowing five runs in his latest start in Boston, Pfaadt had nine straight starts of five-plus innings and two-or-fewer runs since returning from the Minors.
Kyle Leahy, RHP, Cardinals
Through first 14 starts: 4.63 ERA, 4.35 FIP, 0.6 WAR in 70 innings
Since then (10 starts): 1.38 ERA, 2.42 FIP, 1.8 WAR in 52 1/3 innings
Leahy was serviceable through his first 14 starts, but his production since that point has been remarkable. Since his 15th start on June 23, Leahy’s 1.38 ERA ranks second-best among pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched. The Cardinals right-hander has 54 strikeouts compared to just 16 walks in 52 1/3 innings of work. After excelling in a relief role last year, he’s made an impressive transition to the rotation.