Last post we detailed some breakout dynasty hitters in April. Now we will dive into some buy-low dynasty hitters who should shake off their cold Aprils soon. These April buy-low hitters all have WRC+ under 100 and are showing signs that a slow April is nothing more.
Mark Vientos – 96 wRC+
I rushed to get this post out early to make sure Vientos would still qualify with a sub 100 wRC+. If you aren’t already familiar with his game, Mark Vientos emerged as a breakout slugger in 2024 launching 27 home runs over 454 plate appearances. This power surge was backed by a 46.6% hard-hit rate and 14.1% barrel-rate. However, there seems to be a difference in approach so far in 2025. Vientos’ average bat speed has dipped to 70.0 mph, down from 73.7 mph in 2023 and 71.8 mph in 2024. While this drop may raise concerns, it coincides with clear improvements in his contact rate (68.0% → 72.2%) and strikeout rate (29.7% → 20.2%) year over year. This suggests he may be refining his swing for more consistent contact rather than all-out power. A deeper look at his batted ball profile supports this adjustment:
His oppo% has increased to 30.7% and his pull% has dropped to 34.7%, indicating a shift toward a more balanced approach. Pitchers are attacking Vientos differently as well, increasing their use of sweepers to 15.8%(up from 9.2% in 2024)—a pitch he struggled against last season. His swing adjustments may be an attempt to handle sweepers and sliders more effectively, sacrificing some raw power for improved bat control.
Vientos is locked in as the Mets’ everyday third baseman, hitting behind Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso. With a secure role locking in playing time, bet on Vientos rediscovering his power stroke as he balances the pull/oppo approach.
Nolan Jones – 78 wRC+
Nolan Jones may be available on waivers or free agency in your league, making him a cheap buy-low candidate. After a 20-20 season in 2023 over just 424 plate appearances, Jones entered 2024 with breakout buzz. However, injuries and inconsistent performance limited him to only 79 games with the Rockies.
Now back with the Guardians, Jones is off to a sluggish start in 2025, posting a .276 wOBA and .593 OPS so far in April. Despite the slow production, his underlying metrics hint at the potential for a strong rebound:
- Average EV: 95.2 mph
- Hard-Hit Rate: 59.1%.
- BB%: 14.1%.
Jones’ performance is similar Pavin Smith, the Diamondbacks’ early breakout hitter with a 202 WRC+ in April. Both players are in platoon roles against right-handed pitching, but Jones is hitting the ball harder and has improved his contact rate to 78.8% which would be slightly above league average. His improved contact, discipline, and power suggest better days are ahead if he continues regular playing time.
If Jones maintains this hard-hit rate for a full season, he’ll join an elite tier of hitters like Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Yordan Alvarez. With his past hype as a 20-20 player, improved hard-hit rates, and his position at the top of the Guardians lineup, now is the perfect time to take a low-risk flier on Jones.
Salvador Perez – 77 wRC+
I sold Perez in my home league a few years back anticipating a decline as he aged into his 30s. I’ve regretted it ever since. Year after year, Perez has defied age and has proved he is one of the most reliable bats at the position. Since 2015, Perez has hit 20+ home runs in every full season, with 11 HR during the shortened 2020 season. Looking at his underlying metrics in 2025, Perez appears to have all the skills necessary to maintain success:
So far this season Perez has improved his contact, hard-hit, and barrel-rates, indicating that Perez slow start may just be a blip. Despite slashing just .224/.272.364, Perez remains one of the safest bets at the catcher position. If you are weak at catcher and need an upgrade, now is the perfect time to send out an offer.
Triston Casas – 60 wRC+
Casas is off to a slow start in 2025, slashing .172/.273/.310 on the season. A closer look at his underlying metrics suggests that his struggles may be more about bad luck than declining skill.
Casas’ hard-hit rate and barrel rate are just down compared to his career norms, yet his .197 BABIP is well below his career average of .291, indicating poor fortune on balls in play. Another sign of potential positive regression, is his wOBA (.260) is -0.52 points behind his xwOBA (.312), hinting that he is making solid contact but not getting the results.
While Casas may not have elite upside at first base, his spot in the middle of the Red Sox lineup gives him plenty of opportunity to manufacture runs. At just 25 years old, there’s still room for growth. His power/discipline make him a valuable long-term asset in dynasty formats with even more of a boost in points leagues.
Jake Burger – 48 wRC+
Jake Burger is a DoubleScoop guy, no question about it. While his .180/.211/.326 start in 2025 is discouraging, it is important not to lose faith in his long-term outlook. Power hitters with high K% are often streaky by nature, and Burger fits that mold perfectly. Historically, Burger has been a second-half performer, showing improvements in K%, AVG, OBP, and SLG as the season progresses.
Encouragingly, his underlying metrics such as barrel, hard-hit, and K rates, are consistent with his career norms. Playing in the Rangers’ strong lineup, Burger has ample opportunity to rack up RBI and HR as the season moves forward. If Burger is available on waivers/FA in your league, now is the time to grab him. Remember what Eugenio Suarez has taught us in past seasons… Once the summer heat arrives, let Burger cook.
Honorable Mentions
- Dylan Crews (78 wRC+): Off to a .229/.260/.385 slash line in April, Crews has interesting tools, showing off 97th percentile sprint speed and 73rd percentile bat speed in 2025. He has also managed a 15.7% barrel-rate through April. I believe Crews has enough contact ability to take advantage of his speed/power and can see him as a consistent 20/30 HR/SB threat in the years to come.
- Vinnie Pasquantino (51 wRC+): April has been a challenge for Pasquantino, marked by an increase in K% and a dip in contact rate. Despite this, his bat speed remains strong, and he is pulling the ball in the air more frequently than ever. At just 27 years old, Vinnie P has plenty of bounce-back potential for the rest of 2025. He remains a top-12 dynasty 1B.
- Colt Keith (70 wRC+): Keith is a young hitter with strong zone control and has shown 20+ HR upside in the MiLB. His 2025 BB% (18.1%) ranks among league leaders and is supported by a 90th percentile chase rate (19.3%). Keith, an opposite filed hitter at heart, is quoted in an Athletic article stating his approach: “Through the minor leagues, I’ve always tried to hit line drives to left-center, and that allowed me to pull the ball the right way.” You can see this approach reflected in his hit MLB hit charts. At just 23 years old, Keith has a good foundation of zone/contact skills and will need to adjust his timing for more pull power to unlock 20+ HR power potential.
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