The dog days of summer have descended upon Major League Baseball, bringing a heightened sense of urgency as teams battle for postseason berths. With less than seven weeks remaining in the regular season, every game has become critical, and the recent trade deadline saw clubs making significant moves to bolster their rosters.
The Rise of Enrique Hernández
One player who has found himself thrust into the limelight is Enrique Hernández. With Max Muncy's oblique injury sidelining the versatile slugger, Hernández has stepped into a more prominent role at third base. However, Hernández's journey has been anything but smooth, as he has had to battle through vision issues, specifically astigmatism in his right eye. Heading into the All-Star break, he was struggling with a .191/.258/.299 batting line.
Seeking a solution, Hernández turned to his peers for advice regarding his vision problems. "(Maldonado) told me that him and a couple of his teammates needed glasses, and they didn't really know through the spring training test," Hernández recounted. "They went through a more thorough test [to learn they needed glasses]. So I was like, 'All right, I'm gonna try it out.'"
The decision proved beneficial, as eyeglasses helped Hernández improve his contact and chase rates significantly. While Muncy has recently begun a minor-league rehab assignment and is expected to reclaim his spot upon his return, Hernández's contributions have been invaluable during a critical time of the season. Once Muncy returns, Hernández is likely to return to his utility role, where his versatility continues to be an asset for the team.
MJ Melendez's Heroics
Another player making waves is MJ Melendez, who is hitting .205/.267/.403, a performance that sits 28% below league average when adjusted for ballpark conditions. For comparison, the league average for left fielders is .243/.314/.398, making Melendez's .267 on-base percentage a point of concern. Despite these underwhelming stats, Melendez has thrived in clutch situations, ranking sixth in weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) in high-leverage circumstances among 234 hitters with at least 25 such appearances.
One of Melendez's standout moments came during a Royals game against Detroit when, down 2-0 with two outs in the ninth inning, he delivered a go-ahead, pinch-hit, three-run home run. The hit ranks as the third-biggest in baseball this season and the largest non-walk-off hit of the year. "I like to be in those situations. It is do or die and that's a lot of fun," Melendez shared. "I'm going to be ready late in games, whether they need me to hit or play defense. I have to stay as locked in as possible, just like I'm in the game."
Melendez has accounted for three of Kansas City's nine biggest hits by Clutch-Performed Action (CPA) this season, cementing his status as a late-game hero for the Royals.
Margot's Pinch-Hitting Struggles
Meanwhile, Margot has endured a turbulent season, having been on three different teams over the last nine months. He has started in only 52 of his team's 118 games as of Tuesday, leading the league with 31 pinch-hit plate appearances. However, his pinch-hitting performance has been abysmal, evidenced by a .000/.129/.000 line. Margot is 0 for 27 in pinch-hit situations, with four walks and five strikeouts. Prior to 2024, he had only 66 career pinch-hit plate appearances, illustrating his inexperience and struggles in this specific role.
As the regular season nears its conclusion, the performances of players like Hernández, Melendez, and Margot will be scrutinized more than ever. Each at-bat carries the weight of the postseason, and the ability to adapt will shape the final standings. The ongoing drama in Major League Baseball serves as a testament to the unpredictable and thrilling nature of the sport, where every game can rewrite history.