Happy Thursday, everyone! It is an especially happy day for those Fantasy Baseball managers who managed to acquire Reds 3B/SS Elly De La Cruz. After an impressive debut on Tuesday where De La Cruz doubled and walked, he stamped his mark on the MLB on Wednesday by flashing what his upside might be. De La Cruz went 2-4 with his first career home run, showcasing his immense power. The blast recorded an impressive exit velocity of 114.8 mph, soaring an astounding 458 feet, narrowly missing leaving Great American Ballpark. De La Cruz didn't stop there, as he also hit a triple, showcasing his lightning-fast sprint speed, which was clocked at 30.9 feet per second. This sprint speed would rank him first among all players in baseball, edging out Bobby Witt Jr.'s 30.4 feet per second. De La Cruz has one of the most exciting young profiles in Fantasy Baseball and remains likely to be the most exciting prospect we see get called up this season.

Let's now dive into some of the other action from Wednesday:

Joey Wiemer, a former top prospect, had a  big night at the dish on Wednesday going 4 for 4 with a double and two home runs, driving in five runs. Wiemer has been on a tear recently, hitting .378 over his past 11 games. In this span, he has also hit three home runs, stolen four bases, and displayed improved plate discipline with five walks compared to seven strikeouts. Despite his impressive showing, Wiemer is only rostered in 16% of Fantasy leagues, making him a potential under-the-radar addition. We analyzed Wiemer and more on the FBT in 5 podcast here.

Another former top prospect to keep an eye on is Jesus Sanchez, who went 3 for 4 with his sixth home run and four RBI. Sanchez has been hitting the ball hard consistently, evident from his 109.8 mph exit velocity and 445-foot home run in this game. He has now homered in back-to-back games, maintaining a solid batting average of .306. However, Sanchez has struggled against left-handed pitching, so his playing time may be limited in those matchups. Sanchez is 14% rostered. 

Nolan Jones had a noteworthy game, going 2 for 4 with a home run and a stolen base. The highlight of his performance was a mammoth 483-foot home run, exhibiting his raw power. Over the past 11 games, Jones has been swinging a hot bat, hitting .316 with 14 strikeouts and just one walk. He has displayed consistent hard contact, averaging a solid 91.5 mph exit velocity. Jones is rostered in 23% of leagues.

Keep an eye on Ke'Bryan Hayes who continues to make an impact, going 3 for 5 with a triple in his recent outing. Hayes has been on a tear lately, recording 14 hits in his past seven games, including two home runs. His improved performance is something worth monitoring closely. He's currently rostered in 64% of leagues.

We're always looking to help you make a trade here at FBT. These are a few potential sell-high candidates:

Michael Wacha has been on a roll, delivering another outstanding start against the Mariners in his most recent outing.. He tossed six shutout innings, allowing only two hits while issuing one walk and striking out seven. However, his 6.7% home run-to-fly ball ratio (HR/FB) is significantly lower than his previous year's mark of 12.4%. Fantasy managers should be cautious about potential regression in this area. And it's probably best to get out ahead of it by trading him now.

Chris Bassitt continues to deliver strong performances, most recently shutting down Houston. He pitched eight solid innings, allowing only four hits and two earned runs while issuing no walks and striking out five. One notable aspect of Bassitt's performance this season that could have you worried long term is his reduced sinker velocity, down by 1.3 mph compared to last year. It's also important to consider that his underlying metrics, such as a 4.69 FIP and a 4.38 xFIP, suggesting potential regression in his performance. Additionally, Bassitt's reliance on contact could be a concern, particularly given his .209 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) in Toronto, where the turf can lead to lower BABIP figures.

• Pete Alonso left after getting hit by a pitch on his left wrist. X-rays came back negative.
• Aaron Judge won't have a timetable for his toe injury until after this weekend.
• Jazz Chisholm received a positive report from his foot specialist Wednesday, and will begin to ease into baseball activities while traveling with the team on their upcoming road trip.
• Carlos Rodon threw 20 pitches in a live bullpen session Wednesday.
• Willy Adames was activated from the concussion IL and went 2-for-5 with his 10th HR.
• Jose Altuve was back in the lineup Wednesday.
• The A's announced Wednesday that Mason Miller has resumed a throwing program. He's been on the IL since May 11 with a mild UCL sprain in his right elbow.
• Edward Cabrera left his start due to a blister on his right hand. He allowed one run over five innings pitched.
• Pete Fairbanks will begin a rehab assignment at the Florida Complex League on Friday. He's on the IL with left hip inflammation.
• Brandon Lowe will be shut down from baseball activities for 2-3 weeks due to a herniated disc in his back.
• Hunter Renfroe was placed on the paternity list and Jo Adell was recalled.
• Danny Jansen is on track to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A this weekend and could be activated as soon as Tuesday.
• Brice Turang was optioned to Triple-A. Andruw Monasterio started at second base with Willy Adames at short and Owen Miller at third.