Fantasy Baseball Draft Busts: Bobby Miller, Elly De La Cruz, Logan Gilbert (2024)

Spring Training is in full swing, marking the true start of fantasy baseball draft season. Each new season brings the hope of a title to every team, the fans, and fantasy baseball managers. However, a gigantic step in achieving that fantasy championship is nailing the draft, and your chances of doing so increase when you find the undervalued players and avoid the ones who are most likely to bust.

Our featured analysts are back today to share who they’ve identified as 2024’s busts. Read on to help you in your upcoming drafts. And here are all of our Fantasy Baseball Draft Expert Sleepers & Busts.

2024 Fantasy Baseball Busts

Bobby Miller (SP – LAD)

“My biggest fantasy bust is Bobby Miller. Currently being drafted in the top 80, Miller is one of many young 2nd and 3rd year pitchers lumped into a tier below the aces of the position. The problem is he’s often going 30-50 places before the next person in is tier. This is a problem when it is a player who tipped pitches in 2023, lacked confidence in his stuff at times and plays for a team that has repeatedly tossed aside scuffling starters for their next guy up. I am an outlier on this but I expect Bobby Miller to not be on the MLB roster at end of season for the Dodgers ”
– Chad Simpson (Fantasy Six Pack)

Logan Gilbert (SP – SEA)

“Though Logan Gilbert raised his K% while lowering his BB%, Gilbert’s upside might be fading. Every pitch he threw had a higher xBA against. His fastball lost spin and became less effective as a put-away pitch, while getting hit hard. Where Gilbert can still be serviceable, the ADP around 65 is something to avoid with the amount of pitcher upside that follows. There legit might 15-20 pitchers going after him that prove to be more valuable.”
– Christopher Welsh (FantasyPros)

Elly De La Cruz (SS, 3B – CIN)

“At just 22, Elly De La Cruz is certainly already one of the most electric young players in the league. He added 13 HR to his 35 SB across 98 games as a rookie in 2023. He has the potential to put up a 20 and 50, respectively, in those categories this year, and that would make him a very valuable fantasy producer. Still, for as high as he’s going in many drafts, De La Cruz is still an unpolished hitter that strikes out a ton (33.7%). He’s also much more likely to be a drain in AVG (.235) than an asset. The ceiling is quite high to be sure, but De La Cruz is no sure thing right now. ”
– Nate Miller (FantasyPros)

“Elly De La Cruz’s elite combination of power and speed is easy to dream about. Sadly, those tools won’t matter if his strikeout rate undermines them. According to FanGraphs, De La Cruz had a 30.3 K% in his first 99 plate appearances in The Show, but a .407 BABIP helped him post a .293 batting average. De La Cruz had a 34.8 K% and .312 BAIP in his final 328 plate appearances for the Reds last year. As a result, his batting average cratered to .216. De La Cruz’s upside is undeniable, but his price is too steep for a profile with his considerable bust potential. ”
– Josh Shepardson (FantasyPros)

“Elly De La Cruz at an ADP of 29 feels like a bust. Don’t get me wrong – I think he is an elite talent with the type of profile that is fun to have on a fantasy team. But I’m not buying that he will perform at his potential across all of 2024. The flashy, fun stuff masks the K% above 30 and an OBP hovering around .300. Additionally, the suspension of Noelvi Marte means that when he does get on base, he’ll be relying on inconsistent hitters like Jeimer Candelario and Spencer Steer behind him to drive him in (after he steals two bases, most likely). Again, to state clearly, I think he’s a great fantasy player who will be worth an ADP of 29 someday. I just don’t think it’s this year.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)