Overview
- He produced a four‑hit game that included a 444‑foot home run on May 30 in St. Louis, the most visible sign of a late‑May hot streak.
- Underlying metrics improved sharply in May, with his strikeout rate falling from about 29.7% to 21.3%, whiff rate dropping, walk rate rising to roughly 10.7%, and hard‑hit rate climbing to about 53.8%.
- In mid‑May he was fined for making a vulgar remark to a fan, issued an apology, and has not been suspended by MLB.
- He remains an elite defender, having won a Gold Glove last year and leading baseball with a 13 Fielding Run Value, and manager Craig Counsell has kept him in prominent lineup spots.
- Signed to a six‑year, $115 million extension entering 2026 and coming off a streaky 2025, the primary question now is whether May’s approach changes will hold over a full season and return him to All‑Star form.