Melton Making Moves
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Jacob Melton #29 of the Tampa Bay Rays bats during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Mets at Clover Park on March 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
(Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images Jacob Melton was acquired by the Rays as the centerpiece in the Brandon Lowe trade. He brings a high-impact toolset: fringe 70 power, plus defense across all three outfield spots (including center field), and above-average speed. Through his first 15 games with Triple-A Durham, that hasn’t translated to production.
Melton is currently running a 74 wRC+. Why would someone with a strong track record of upper-minors performance be struggling in AAA? There are a few reasons for this.
First, it’s likely just random variance in a small sample. It’s not even May yet, there’s no need to be concerned. Another reason is that Melton is currently undergoing an adjustment to his approach, so his early struggles may be less about regression and more about recalibration.
Damage on contact In order to get the most out of his profile as a power hitter, Melton needs to ensure he’s consistently hitting the ball at optimal angles. He has seen year-over-year improvement in his SLG on contact (SLGcon), measured per “BBE” (Batted Ball Event, e. g.