Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Schanuel, Vásquez, and Beck Shine Early

The excitement of the new MLB season is palpable, and several players are already making waves on the waiver wire, including Nolan Schanuel, Randy Vásquez, and Jordan Beck. Schanuel, drafted 11th overall in 2023, made his major league debut just six weeks later and has quickly established himself as a player to watch. His approach has led to a respectable .259 batting average along with a solid 193/147 K/BB ratio over 1,116 plate appearances. Recently, Schanuel has added bat speed to his game, increasing his average swing speed from 67.5 mph in 2025 to 71 mph this season. In his first four games at Houston’s Daikin Park, he belted two home runs down the right field line, showcasing his potential to thrive in left-handed friendly venues like his home stadium in Anaheim.

While Schanuel’s average bat speed still lags slightly behind last year’s league average of 72.2 mph, the increase is promising. His line-drive rates have been commendable, and he demonstrates the ability to hit to all fields. If he can elevate his average ball in play from 87 mph to around 90 mph, it could translate to an additional 20 points on his batting average. With the Angels positioning him as an everyday player, batting third behind Zach Neto and Mike Trout, Schanuel could be a valuable asset in mixed leagues, with projections of a .280 average and 20 homers not out of reach.

Randy Vásquez also finds himself in the spotlight after an impressive spring. Despite finishing last season with a 3.84 ERA and a modest 14% strikeout rate, he has shown significant improvement this year. In five Cactus League outings, Vásquez averaged 95.6 mph with his fastball, a jump of 2.2 mph from his previous season with the Padres. His regular-season debut was equally impressive, as he delivered six scoreless innings while striking out eight against the Tigers.

Vásquez’s velocity began to rise in the latter half of last season, although he was sent down for three weeks in August. Upon his return, he had refined his cutter, which now features more action and better movement against left-handed hitters. While he may not overpower batters, an uptick in strikeouts and ground balls could keep him relevant in mixed leagues, especially with Petco Park supporting pitchers. Last year, Padres pitchers boasted the lowest BABIP in baseball, which bodes well for Vásquez’s potential to exceed his xERA and FIP.

Meanwhile, Jordan Beck is making headlines with his remarkable bat speed early in the season. In just his first three games, he has recorded two of his hardest swings ever, including a double off the Marlins’ Max Meyer. Beck has exceeded the “fast swing” threshold of 75 mph on 10 of his 18 swings, and five of his nine balls in play have been hard-hit. Last season, he was a mixed-league outfielder, aided by Coors Field, finishing with 16 homers and 19 steals in 148 games. Although he started the season batting sixth or seventh and even sat out one game, there is ample opportunity for him to rise in the lineup if he continues to perform well.

As the Rockies prepare for their first homestand of the season, Beck is a name to consider adding to your roster. Additionally, Emerson Hancock has emerged as a popular pickup after debuting with six hitless innings against the Guardians. However, his velocity has dipped compared to last year, raising some concerns about his long-term viability in the majors.

Joey Wiemer has also made an impression, reaching base in his first ten plate appearances after securing a bench spot with the Nationals. While he brings potential, his swing-and-miss tendencies and lack of base-stealing prowess since 2022 could limit his fantasy appeal. Reynaldo López, meanwhile, could be a name to watch next week after a mechanical adjustment improved his spring velocity. He averaged 94.4 mph with his fastball in his first start against the Royals, a positive sign as he seeks to regain his form from when he was a successful starter for the Braves in 2024.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.