It’s been a tough year for Matt Chapman.
In 2018-19 he was a superstar-caliber player, finishing Top 10 in MVP voting each season. But last summer was cut short by a significant injury, in the form of a torn hip labrum that required surgery. He’d return to action in time for the 2021 campaign, but not necessarily full strength.
Indeed, Chapman got off to a slow start. By the end of May he was batting just .203 without much power, resulting in a poor 89 wRC+ mark. His strikeout rate was through the roof, and indeed he led all of MLB in Ks until this week when Joey Gallo passed him.