Seattle Mariners outfielder Kyle Lewis is starting to heat up

The 2020 AL Rookie of the Year got off to a very slow start after missing most of April due to an injury, but he is starting to turn a corner at the right time for the Seattle Mariners. Kyle Lewis went 2-3 yesterday with a clutch home run and is seeing the ball better as of late.

Let’s dive into his recent performances and the advanced metrics which makes me hopeful that it will continue.

Kyle Lewis of the Seattle Mariners has been hot for the past week

Since May 22nd, the second game against the San Diego Padres, he has recorded eight hits and his batting average now sits at .246. In the past week, he has three extra-base hits (one double and two home runs) and has driven in four runs. Although Kyle Lewis isn’t on a red hot tear, eight hits in the past seven days is a good sign for the young 25-year-old.

Lewis was on a cold streak during the middle of May and his batting average dropped to .227. Although his season has been up and down, for the most part, his advanced metrics look a lot better than you might expect.

Kyle Lewis’ positive advanced metrics

• 57th percentile average exit velocity
• 70th percentile xwOBA
• 73rd percentile xSLG
• 79th percentile barrel rate
• 77th percentile walk rate
• 86th percentile chase rate

Kyle Lewis’ negative advanced metrics

• 40th percentile hard-hit rate
• 47th percentile xBA
• 40th percentile K rate
• 13th percentile rate whiff rate

Although I am a little disappointed that his xBA and hard-hit rate aren’t very great, it is good to see success in other areas. Kyle Lewis’ barrel rate, wxOBA, and xSLG are at least in the 70th percentile which is solid.

It’s also interesting to see a very good chase rate, but a terrible whiff rate. To me, that either means he is just missing pitches and might still be trying to figure out his timing. That might also explain his low hard-hit rate and xBA.

For a lot of successful offensive players, a high hard-hit rate usually goes hand in hand with a high xBA. Take Mitch Haniger for example; he is in the 68th percentile for hard-hit rate and in the 73rd percentile for xBA.

All that being said, Kyle Lewis is playing better and fans should be excited.