2026 Stats
AVG
.259
HR
0
RBI
8
R
11
SB
5
Rest-of-Season Projections
2026 Fantasy Outlook
Waldschmidt was underrated in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft and he remains underrated heading into 2026, despited being at least 40 percent better than the average hitter in each league he's played in. The No. 31 overall pick out of Kentucky has big-time bat speed and plus foot speed, and he is starting to look like a potential option in center field, where he played the majority of his games at Double-A. Waldschmidt slashed .309/.423/.498 with nine home runs, 19 steals, a 15 percent walk rate and a 17.7 percent strikeout rate in 66 games at Double-A, and as a righty hitter, he'll get a chance to play every day in the majors. He took advantage of the hitter-friendly environments at Amarillo and Hillsboro (.990 home OPS, .787 road OPS), but his patient approach and low strikeout rates still portend a high floor. He isn't on the 40-man roster, but the Diamondbacks depth chart makes it clear that Waldschmidt could spend the majority of his age-23 season in the majors. There could be some growing pains as a rookie, but long term, Waldschmidt could be a five-category contributor in fantasy while hitting in the top third of Arizona's lineup. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a one-year contract with the Diamondbacks in May of 2026.
Adjustments needed before call-up
The Diamondbacks want Waldschmidt to show improvement against breaking pitches at Triple-A Reno before calling him back up to the majors, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Analysis
Waldschmidt enjoyed some initial success upon being promoted to the big leagues May 8, but pitchers adjusted to him over the last few weeks, and his strikeouts piled up. The outfielder posted 56.2 percent whiff rate against breaking balls and a 32.8 percent overall strikeout rate in 33 games for Arizona before he was optioned to Reno on Monday. Specifically, Diamondbacks hitting coach Joe Mather noted that Waldschmidt struggled with the higher spin rates of MLB pitches, and the organization wants to ensure that the 23-year-old is better prepared to handle breaking pitches before he gets his next appointment to the big leagues. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo added that he wants Waldschmidt to improve at controlling counts and not swing at "pitcher's pitches" as he makes his return to Reno.
Waldschmidt enjoyed some initial success upon being promoted to the big leagues May 8, but pitchers adjusted to him over the last few weeks, and his strikeouts piled up. The outfielder posted 56.2 percent whiff rate against breaking balls and a 32.8 percent overall strikeout rate in 33 games for Arizona before he was optioned to Reno on Monday. Specifically, Diamondbacks hitting coach Joe Mather noted that Waldschmidt struggled with the higher spin rates of MLB pitches, and the organization wants to ensure that the 23-year-old is better prepared to handle breaking pitches before he gets his next appointment to the big leagues. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo added that he wants Waldschmidt to improve at controlling counts and not swing at "pitcher's pitches" as he makes his return to Reno.
Batting Stats
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2026 MLB Game Log
2026
Minor League Game Log
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Batting Order Slot Breakdown
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
3
6
1
1
12
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
1
2
1
4
Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2024
+50%
OPS vs LHP
2026
+50%
OPS vs LHP
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024vs Left | .889 | 32 | 0 | 3 | .345 |
| Since 2024vs Right | .594 | 89 | 0 | 5 | .229 |
| 2026vs Left | .889 | 32 | 0 | 3 | .345 |
| 2026vs Right | .594 | 89 | 0 | 5 | .229 |
| 2025vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2024
+104%
OPS at Home
2026
+104%
OPS at Home
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024Home | .920 | 56 | 0 | 6 | .377 |
| Since 2024Away | .451 | 65 | 0 | 2 | .153 |
| 2026Home | .920 | 56 | 0 | 6 | .377 |
| 2026Away | .451 | 65 | 0 | 2 | .153 |
| 2025Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Minor League Left/Right Batting Splits (AAA)
Since 2024
+14%
OPS vs LHP
2026
+14%
OPS vs LHP
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024vs Left | .977 | 54 | 2 | 6 | .333 |
| Since 2024vs Right | .855 | 103 | 2 | 16 | .267 |
| 2026vs Left | .802 | 54 | 2 | 6 | .333 |
| 2026vs Right | .703 | 103 | 2 | 16 | .267 |
| 2025vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Stat Review
How does Ryan Waldschmidt compare to other hitters?
This section compares his stats with all batting seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 400 plate appearances)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
BB/K
0.20BB Rate
6.6%K Rate
33.1%BABIP
.403ISO
.098AVG
.259OBP
.314SLG
.357OPS
.671wOBA
.299Exit Velocity
85.1 mphHard Hit Rate
30.6%Barrels/PA
3.3%Expected BA
.292Expected SLG
.442Sprint Speed
26.7 ft/secGround Ball %
30.6%Line Drive %
30.6%Fly Ball %
38.9%Prospect Rankings History
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2025 Fantasy Outlook
Waldschmidt is a strong target in dynasty first-year player drafts, especially relative to where he went in real life (No. 31 overall) to the Diamondbacks. He dealt with inopportune injuries as an amateur that led to him being lightly recruited in high school and playing only four games in the Cape Cod League before tearing his left ACL. He made up for as a junior for Kentucky, showcasing all the tools that matter for fantasy, including plus power, a great combination of contact ability and strong swing decisions, and improving speed that has a chance to be another plus tool. Waldschmidt slashed .333/.469/.610 with 14 home runs, 25 steals and a 16.5 percent strikeout rate in 59 games as a junior and slashed .273/.485/.318 with zero homers, four steals, 15 walks and nine strikeouts in 14 games at Single-A before a hamstring strain ended his year. He's just an OK defender in left field, but if he reaches his realistic ceiling as a hitter, he'll have no trouble playing every day. If he were to miss time again in 2025, the injury-prone tag might start to be applied, especially given how hard he plays.
More Fantasy News
Officially optioned back to minors
The Diamondbacks optioned Waldschmidt to Triple-A Reno on Monday.
Analysis
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Appears headed back to Triple-A
The Diamondbacks are expected to option Waldschmidt to Triple-A Reno prior to Monday's game against the Angels, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Analysis
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Sitting amid cold spell
Waldschmidt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.
Analysis
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Getting breather Thursday
Waldschmidt is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest in Miami.
Analysis
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Not in Monday's lineup
Waldschmidt is not in the Diamondbacks' starting lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Analysis
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