Weekly Waiver Wire Roundup — June 22, 2026

Dustin May is the add of the week, and it's not particularly close. The Cardinals right-hander posted a 0.00 ERA with 9.0 K/9 across 9.0 innings pitched over the past seven days, backed by a filthy 1.43 FIP and a 32.1% strikeout rate — numbers that scream legitimate breakout, not small-sample noise. With ownership surging from 32% to 58% in a single week, the window to grab him is closing fast. Across all positions, 80 rising signals were detected this week, with catchers and relief pitchers leading the positional chatter while a wave of bat-first middle infielders emerged from near-zero ownership. Here's everything you need to know heading into your waiver runs.

Top 5 Adds of the Week

Dustin May (SP, STL) — 58% Owned (+26% 7d)

May is dominant right now, plain and simple. A 0.00 ERA and 9.0 K/9 over 9.0 innings pitched this week are eye-catching, but the underlying metrics validate the surface stats: a 1.43 FIP and 32.1% strikeout rate suggest this isn't smoke and mirrors. Yes, we're working with a five-game early signal, but the combination of elite swing-and-miss stuff with pinpoint command is exactly what you want to see from a pitcher ramping up workload. Ownership jumped 26 percentage points this week and will likely clear 70% by next Monday — add now or regret it.

Willi Castro (1B,2B,3B,SS,OF, COL) — 40% Owned (+25% 7d)

Castro's multi-position eligibility alone makes him a roster construction dream, but the production is what's driving the 25-point ownership surge. He slashed .357 with 2 home runs and a .450 wOBA over 33 plate appearances this week, while his strikeout rate plummeted from 15.0% over 30 days to just 9.1% over the past seven. The walk rate climbed to 15.2%, and his 43.0% hard-hit rate shows he's making consistently quality contact. Playing in Colorado amplifies the offensive ceiling, and his rising plate discipline signals make this feel sustainable beyond a hot streak.

Kody Clemens (1B,2B,OF, MIN) — 24% Owned (+13% 7d)

Clemens quietly put together one of the most impressive underlying profiles on the wire this week. A .389 wOBA with 2 home runs and a 91.0 mph average exit velocity over 27 plate appearances is noteworthy, but the process matters more: his strikeout rate dropped from 16.0% to 11.1% while his walk rate climbed from 4.7% to 7.4%. That's a hitter refining his approach in real time. At 24% owned, there's still time to act, but the 13-point weekly jump suggests the market is catching on.

Dominic Canzone (OF, SEA) — 18% Owned (+11% 7d)

Canzone may be the most underowned player on this list relative to his production. A .486 wOBA with 2 home runs, a 92.2 mph exit velocity, and just a 4.3% strikeout rate over 23 plate appearances is absurd. That strikeout rate dropped from an already-solid 13.0% over 30 days, and his walk rate ticked up to 8.7%. At only 18% owned, he's available in the vast majority of leagues and profiles as a potential top-50 outfielder if this contact quality holds.

Paul Goldschmidt (1B, NYY) — 17% Owned (+7% 7d)

The veteran first baseman is showing signs of life in pinstripes. Goldschmidt batted .400 with 2 home runs and a .444 wOBA across 28 plate appearances this week, and his strikeout rate cratered from 15.8% to 7.1%. The walk rate held steady at 7.1%, so the improvement is coming from putting more balls in play — and doing damage when he does. His 88.9 mph exit velocity isn't elite, but the combination of contact quality and lineup position in New York makes him a worthwhile addition at 17% ownership, especially in points leagues.

Biggest Risers in Ownership

Dustin May (SP, STL) — +26% to 58%

The biggest mover of the week, and entirely justified. A 1.43 FIP and 32.1% strikeout rate over 9.0 innings pitched leave no room for debate. The ownership spike is the market correctly pricing in ace-level upside.

Willi Castro (1B,2B,3B,SS,OF, COL) — +25% to 40%

A .450 wOBA with declining strikeouts and rising walks across 33 plate appearances backs the surge. The positional versatility adds an extra layer of value that raw stats don't capture. This pickup is data-supported.

Kody Clemens (1B,2B,OF, MIN) — +13% to 24%

Clemens' 91.0 mph exit velocity and improved plate discipline justify the rising interest. The 13-point jump is appropriate given the profile, though there's still room to grow if the power production continues.

Dominic Canzone (OF, SEA) — +11% to 18%

A 4.3% strikeout rate and .486 wOBA at only 18% ownership means the market is still undervaluing Canzone significantly. This should be a 30%+ owned player by next week.

Yoendrys Gómez (SP,RP, MIN) — +9% to 23%

Gómez rounds out the top five ownership risers. His dual eligibility as a starter and reliever gives managers flexibility, and the 9-point jump reflects growing confidence in his role security with the Twins.

Buy Low Candidates

This is where the real alpha lives. These players have underlying metrics that scream incoming production, but ownership hasn't caught up yet. The market is sleeping — act before it wakes up.

Davis Schneider (LF, TOR) — 0% Owned

Schneider's week was absurd by any measure: a .681 wOBA, .444 batting average, 2 home runs, a 101.2 mph average exit velocity, and an 83.3% hard-hit rate. His strikeout rate dropped from 33.3% to 20.0%. He's essentially unowned, which means he's free in every league. The exit velocity and hard-hit numbers are among the best on this entire list — this is your highest-upside zero-cost add.

Victor Caratini (C,1B, MIN) — 3% Owned

Caratini posted a staggering .689 wOBA with a .571 batting average and 2 home runs, backed by a 22.2% walk rate and just an 11.1% strikeout rate. His 90.0 mph exit velocity is solid for a catcher, and the discipline numbers — walks up from 12.2% to 22.2%, strikeouts down from 18.9% to 11.1% — point to an elite approach right now. At 3% owned, he's a near-free catcher upgrade in two-catcher leagues.

Colt Keith (1B,2B,3B, DET) — 9% Owned

Four home runs in a week will get your attention, but Keith's 96.2 mph exit velocity and 64.6% hard-hit rate are the real story. His .514 wOBA jumped from a brutal .289 over 30 days, suggesting the power was always lurking beneath the surface. Multi-position eligibility at 9% ownership makes him a priority add in deeper leagues.

Josh Bell (1B, MIN) — 10% Owned

Bell's .484 wOBA this week dwarfs his .333 mark over the prior 30 days. A .429 batting average with a strikeout rate that plunged from 23.0% to 13.0% over 23 plate appearances signals a genuine approach adjustment. The 56.2% hard-hit rate adds conviction. At 10% ownership, he's a streaming first baseman with upside for more.

Lars Nootbaar (LF, STL) — 5% Owned

Nootbaar's surface stats — .333 average, no home runs, .334 wOBA — don't scream "add me." But underneath, he posted an 87.5% hard-hit rate and a 97.6 mph average exit velocity, both of which are elite. The walk rate remained strong at 13.6% over 22 plate appearances. The power results haven't landed yet, but when you're hitting the ball that hard, they will. This is a textbook buy-low.

Andrew Benintendi (DH, CWS) — 2% Owned

Three home runs, a .559 wOBA, and a 96.5 mph exit velocity with an 83.3% hard-hit rate — and yet Benintendi sits at just 2% owned. His strikeout rate dropped from 23.3% to 17.6%, and the power surge is backed by elite batted-ball quality. Playing for the White Sox depresses his perceived value, but fantasy points don't care about team record.

Jonah Heim (C, ATH) — 1% Owned

Heim exploded for a .613 wOBA with 2 home runs, a .467 average, and a 93.7 mph exit velocity this week. His 42.5% hard-hit rate is modest, but the strikeout rate declined from 21.7% to 18.8%. At 1% owned, he's a speculative add at the game's shallowest position, especially in two-catcher formats.

Spencer Jones (OF, NYY) — 9% Owned

Jones' .154 batting average looks ugly until you see the 100.0% hard-hit rate and 97.3 mph exit velocity. He walked at a 23.5% clip this week (up from 12.1% over 30 days) and launched 1 home run. This is a player with monster raw power hitting the ball incredibly hard but getting unlucky on results. The BABIP correction is coming — get ahead of it.

Miguel Rojas (2B,3B,SS, LAD) — 1% Owned

Rojas didn't strike out a single time this week — a 0.0% K-rate, down from 10.6% — while posting a .580 wOBA, .500 average, and 96.0 mph exit velocity with a 66.7% hard-hit rate. His walk rate surged to 18.2%. This is an early signal on a small sample, but the contact quality and discipline are real. Multi-position eligibility in the Dodgers lineup adds everyday appeal.

J.T. Realmuto (C, PHI) — 17% Owned

Realmuto slugged 2 home runs with a .403 wOBA, 95.8 mph exit velocity, and a 75.0% hard-hit rate. At 17% owned and coming off a down stretch, he's a buy-low at the catcher position with a pedigree that needs no introduction. The batted-ball data suggests the decline was overstated.

Anthony Volpe (SS, NYY) — 5% Owned

Volpe batted .500 this week with a .512 wOBA and a 72.2% hard-hit rate at 91.6 mph exit velocity. His strikeout rate dropped from 19.4% to 15.4%, and walks ticked up from 6.0% to 7.7%. At only 5% owned, the shortstop in the Yankees lineup is significantly undervalued. The power hasn't arrived yet (0 HR this week), but the contact quality says it's imminent.

Nathaniel Lowe (DH, CIN) — 3% Owned

Lowe drew walks at an absurd 40.0% rate this week while cutting his strikeout rate from 20.6% to 6.7%. The .452 wOBA without a home run tells you how valuable that on-base skill is. He's a points league gem at 3% ownership.

Position Scarcity Report

This week's 80 signals painted a clear picture of where the waiver wire is deepest — and where it's running dry.

Catcher (10 signals): The most active position on the wire this week, which is unusual. Victor Caratini, Jonah Heim, Joe Mack, Hunter Feduccia, Jimmy Crooks, Logan O'Hoppe, Brett Sullivan, and Endy Rodríguez all triggered signals. If you've been streaming catchers, this is the week to lock one in. Caratini's .689 wOBA and Heim's .613 wOBA lead the position.

Relief Pitchers (10 signals): Tied for the most signals, the RP position saw broad movement. Closers and high-leverage arms remain premium commodities, and the volume of signals here suggests potential role changes or bullpen shuffling across multiple teams worth monitoring closely.

Outfield (7 signals + additional LF/CF): Outfield was the next most active position group when combining OF, LF, and CF designations (12+ total). Dominic Canzone leads the pack, but deeper adds like Henry Bolte (.426 wOBA, 53.3% hard-hit rate, 90.4 mph EV) and Garrett Mitchell (2 HR, .415 wOBA, 93.5 mph EV) provide viable options in deeper formats.

Starting Pitchers (3 SP + 3 SP/RP + 6 P): Beyond Dustin May, starting pitching signals were relatively quiet on the surface, though the broader "P" category contributed six signals. The wire is thinner here than in recent weeks — if you need arms, May and Yoendrys Gómez are your best bets before they're gone.

First Base/Second Base/Third Base: Infield signals were spread across multi-position eligible players like Willi Castro, Kody Clemens, and Colt Keith, which is actually ideal for fantasy managers — these players solve multiple roster holes simultaneously. Pure shortstop options (2 signals) remain the scarcest commodity on the wire.

Looking Ahead

The Minnesota Twins organization dominated this week's signals — Kody Clemens, Josh Bell, Victor Caratini, Ryan Kreidler, Trevor Larnach, Austin Martin, and Alex Jackson all triggered — suggesting either a favorable schedule stretch or a lineup-wide approach adjustment worth tracking into next week. Monitor whether the catcher surge holds; ten signals at a historically barren position is rare and could signal a wave of value. Finally, watch Davis Schneider and Spencer Jones closely — both have elite exit velocity data at near-zero ownership, and if they sustain even half of this week's production, they'll be next Monday's top adds.