MLB Insight – Top 3 Hitters Rebounding in May

The month of April is a crapshoot in Major League Baseball. Albert Pujols hit .346 with 14 homers and 32 RBIs in April of 2006 and then .217 with 0 home runs and just 4 RBIs in April of 2012.

Rockies’ shortstop Trevor Story exploded with 10 bombs and 20 RBIs in his rookie year before which he was unknown outside of Denver.

No one knows what April will bring each season, but wisdom does tell us one thing about April results – don’t write off a season by May 1.

Today I will detail 3 very good hitters that critics were quick to write off after slow starts but have rebounded with outstanding offensive numbers in the month of May.

Let’s take a look.

Kris Bryant – Chicago Cubs – 3B

The 27-year-old third baseman Kris Bryant is now in his 5th full season with the Cubs and is on pace for the highest power numbers in his career.

After an injury-shortened 2018 in which Bryant hit a lackluster .272/13/52, the righty hit just .230 with 3 long balls. Critics were jumping all over Bryant, proclaiming his career to be a bust.

Bryant has bounced back in a major way with tremendous production in the first 3 weeks of May. Here are the splits.

Month	AVG	HR	RBI	R	SB
Mar/Apr	.230	3	13	18	1
May	.338	8	19	20	0

Don’t count this guy out. It was just 3 years ago Kris Bryant was placing his MVP trophy on the shelf next to his Rookie of the Year.

Ryan Braun – Milwaukee Brewers – OF

35-years-old and still raking in the middle of the Brewers’ lineup, it appeared Ryan Braun may have hit a wall in April.

It was tough for Brewers’ manager Craig Counsell to keep Braun in the middle of the order with an average below the Mendoza line in April. Braun is now hitting a cool .275 thanks to a .411 average in the month of May.

Month	AVG	HR	RBI	R	SB
Mar/Apr	.196	5	16	11	1
May	.411	4	14	12	3

Braun’s May power numbers are not spectacular, but that .411 average is doing wonders for the Brewers’ offense. Milwaukee played at a 55% clip in April but has now won 60% of their May contests.

Rafael Devers – Boston Red Sox – 3B

The 22-year-old Red Sox infielder Rafael Devers is entering his sophomore season in the MLB. He hit just .240 in his rookie season but hit manage to put 21 balls out and drive in 66.

After a rough month of April in which he never once flashed his power, critics were ready to say I told you so after labeling Devers as “average” in his prospect reviews.

The youngster has bounced back with a powerful month of May. Look at this.

Month	AVG	HR	RBI	R	SB
Mar/Apr	.294	0	8	15	4
May	.355	5	18	17	2

Not only has Devers increased his batting average while hitting 5 dingers, but he has a chance to drive in 3 times the runs in May that he managed in April.

Despite weighing 237 lbs, Devers has already swiped 6 bags in 2019, way up from the 5 he stole all of last season.

If Devers manages to steal 20 bases in a season, he will move up into the echelon of All-Star caliber players.