Oddly enough, X leads the team in XB/H % at 51%. His career high going into this year was 32%. He's also at a career high HR% at 3.8%, previous high was 2.9% in 2016. He currently has 56 xbh which is tied for his career high in 2016. In 2016, he had 652 at bats. This year, he is at 395.
The most fascinating thing is he is now at a career high 9.6% BB rate considering his very slow start.
First 127 PA: 4bb/26k, .308/.339/.558, .348 BAbip, 03.1% BB rate, 20.5% K rate
Last 321 PA: 39bb/50k .269/.364/.498, .290 BAbip, 12.1% BB rate, 15.6% K rate.
Last 151 PA: 22bb/22k .302/.404/.571, .327 BAbip, 14.6% BB rate, 14.6% K rate.
Last 59 PA: 12bb/4k. .326/.458/.543, .333 BAbip, 20.3% BB rate, 6.8% K rate. The K/BB ratio trend is a very encouraging thing to see. The last 59 PA is also when he came back from his Non DL injury that he was concerned about. So far, so good.
His BB rates have gone from 4.9% -> 8.1% -> 8.8%-> 9.6 from 2015 to 2018 respectively. He's also at a career high .357 OBP atm despite hitting .280. In 2015 he was at .320/.355 and in '16 .294/.356.
His line to date actually looks a lot like his Salem line in 2012
2012: 435 PA 384 AB 59 R 116 H 27 doubles 3 triples, 15 HRs, 64 RBI, 43bb/85k, .302/.378/.505
2018: 448 PA 395 AB 58 R 111 H 36 doubles 3 triples, 17 HRs, 77 RBI, 43bb/76k, .281/.357/.516
It's amazing just how much he has improved as a hitter this season in so many facets. He's also hitting right handers much better. His career OPS vs R is .747 while vs L it is .828. This season, he is at .894 vs R and .790 vs L. He's even been better playing defense recently though I'd rather he be at 3rd and Devers at 1st. I think X would be a plus defender at 3rd and that would make him a fringe MVP candidate. It would be quite hard to find a SS who offers more overall value than X though.