2025 Stats
AVG
.157
HR
0
RBI
7
R
7
SB
7
2026 Projections
2026 Fantasy Outlook
A big, athletic 6-foot-3 outfielder with plus speed and burgeoning power, Melton was dealt to the Rays from Houston this offseason in the three-team deal that sent Mike Burrows to the Astros. Melton has a fantasy-friendly game, although he could sit against lefties for most of his rookie season. He is an above-average defender in all three outfield spots, which greatly appealed to the Rays. Melton slashed .286/.389/.556 with six home runs and 12 steals in 150 plate appearances at Triple-A and made his big-league debut June 1, only to suffer a serious ankle sprain less than two weeks later that wiped out the rest of his June and most of his July. Melton shuttled back and forth between Triple-A and the majors a couple more times while compiling seven steals, a .157/.234/.186 slash line and 37.2 percent strikeout rate in 78 MLB plate appearances in 2025. His contact rate shrank from 80.8 percent at Triple-A to 66.4 percent in the majors, while his swinging-strike rate spiked from a career-best 8.2 percent to 15.3 percent. He may never hit for a sky high average and we should assume a platoon indefinitely, but Melton still has 20/30 upside in fantasy. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a one-year contract with the Astros in June of 2025. Traded to the Rays in December of 2025.
Shipped to Tampa Bay
The Rays acquired Melton and Anderson Brito from the Astros on Friday in a three-team trade that sent Mike Burrows to the Astros and Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum and Mason Montgomery to the Pirates, Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report.
Analysis
Melton was one of Houston's top prospects, and the 25-year-old got his first taste of MLB action last season, appearing in 32 games for the Astros. The outfielder slashed .157/.234/.186 with one triple, seven RBI, seven runs scored, seven stolen bases and a 6:29 BB:K across 78 big-league plate appearances. He figures to initially slot into Tampa Bay's outfield mix behind Chandler Simpson, Cedric Mullins, Josh Lowe and potentially even Jake Fraley.
Melton was one of Houston's top prospects, and the 25-year-old got his first taste of MLB action last season, appearing in 32 games for the Astros. The outfielder slashed .157/.234/.186 with one triple, seven RBI, seven runs scored, seven stolen bases and a 6:29 BB:K across 78 big-league plate appearances. He figures to initially slot into Tampa Bay's outfield mix behind Chandler Simpson, Cedric Mullins, Josh Lowe and potentially even Jake Fraley.
Batting Stats
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2025 MLB Game Log
2025
Minor League Game Log
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Batting Order Slot Breakdown
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
2
2
4
12
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
2
Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2023
+28%
OPS vs RHP
2025
+28%
OPS vs RHP
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2023vs Left | .343 | 15 | 0 | 1 | .143 | ||||
| Since 2023vs Right | .438 | 62 | 0 | 6 | .161 | ||||
| 2025vs Left | .343 | 15 | 0 | 1 | .143 | ||||
| 2025vs Right | .438 | 62 | 0 | 6 | .161 | ||||
| 2024vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2024vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2023vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2023vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
| Minor League Splits→ | View Minor League Split Stats | ||||||||
Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2023
+48%
OPS at Home
2025
+48%
OPS at Home
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2023Home | .488 | 42 | 0 | 5 | .200 | ||||
| Since 2023Away | .329 | 35 | 0 | 2 | .100 | ||||
| 2025Home | .488 | 42 | 0 | 5 | .200 | ||||
| 2025Away | .329 | 35 | 0 | 2 | .100 | ||||
| 2024Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2024Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2023Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2023Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Stat Review
How does Jacob Melton compare to other hitters?
This section compares his stats with all batting seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 400 plate appearances)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
BB/K
0.21BB Rate
7.8%K Rate
37.7%BABIP
.268ISO
.029AVG
.157OBP
.234SLG
.186OPS
.419wOBA
.200Exit Velocity
88.1 mphHard Hit Rate
36.6%Barrels/PA
2.6%Expected BA
.178Expected SLG
.274Sprint Speed
27.3 ft/secGround Ball %
80.5%Line Drive %
7.3%Fly Ball %
12.2%Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Batting Stats
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Additional Stats
Games By Position
Defensive Stats
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Batted Ball Stats
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Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2025
2024
Melton may not be quite ready for primetime, but he'll likely get a shot as a regular in Houston's outfield sometime this season. Known best for his ability to play quality outfield defense in all three spots, Melton has good size (6-foot-3, 208 pounds) and is a plus runner with a chance to hit 20-plus home runs in a season, but his hit tool still needs refinement. He slashed .260/.314/.405 with five home runs, 11 steals, a 25 percent strikeout rate and a 6.8 percent walk rate in 47 games of Pacific Coast League action, which was well below league average (78 wRC+). On the season, he hit .253 with 15 home runs and 30 steals in 105 games split between Double-A and Triple-A. Melton's ability to steal 20-plus bases in a season is his main fantasy appeal in 2025, but he could develop into a more well-rounded fantasy outfielder in 2026 and 2027, and his defense should keep buying him opportunities amid early-career struggles.
More Fantasy News
Recalled to start in finale
The Astros recalled Melton from Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday. He'll start in center field and bat ninth in the season finale versus the Angels.
Analysis
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Heads back to Triple-A
The Astros optioned Melton to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis
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Losing out on playing time
Melton is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.
Analysis
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Idle against lefty
Melton is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Analysis
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Sitting against righty
Melton is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Might be moved to Rays
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports the Astros, Pirates and Rays are negotiating a three-team trade that would send Melton to Tampa Bay.
Analysis
The 25-year-old outfielder is one of Houston's top prospects and received his first taste of the majors in 2025, batting .157 with a 37.7 percent strikeout rate in 77 plate appearances. Melton wouldn't exactly have a clearer path to playing time in Tampa Bay since Cedric Mullins recently signed a one-year deal with the Rays, and they already have a fair amount of young outfield talent.
The 25-year-old outfielder is one of Houston's top prospects and received his first taste of the majors in 2025, batting .157 with a 37.7 percent strikeout rate in 77 plate appearances. Melton wouldn't exactly have a clearer path to playing time in Tampa Bay since Cedric Mullins recently signed a one-year deal with the Rays, and they already have a fair amount of young outfield talent.