Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
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9.
Juan Soto
LF,RF
Juan Soto delivered an impressive 2023 season, overcoming a sluggish start to finish with 35 homers, 109 RBIs, 97 runs, and 12 steals. His outstanding .410 OBP and .519 slugging, highlighted by a stellar 18.6% walk rate, underscore his advanced plate discipline. Despite a slightly higher strikeout rate at 18.2%, Soto remains a top pick, particularly in OBP leagues. Chances are good that the 25-year-old will be playing somewhere other than San Diego before hitting free agency in 2025; however, he is easily a Top-10 draft pick in all fantasy formats.
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10.
Aaron Judge
LF,CF,RF,DH
In 2023, Aaron Judge played 106 games, the least since 2019. Despite this, he delivered impressive stats: a .267/.406/.613 slash line with 37 homers. While remarkable, these figures probably disappointed those who expected more from a Top 5 pick. Statcast ranks Judge at the absolute top of several metrics, including xwOBA, xSLG, avgEV, Barrel%, HardHit%, and BB%. Judge remains an offensive powerhouse, but some health risks put him at a better value as a second-round pick in 12-team leagues.
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39.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
3B,CF
Jazz Chisholm's 2022 season with the Miami Marlins was limited to 97 games due to injuries. Despite this, he showcased his talent with 19 home runs and 22 stolen bases. His advanced metrics indicated struggles, notably with a high strikeout rate over 30% and a drop in walk rate. Chisholm also experienced a decrease in sprint speed, ranking in the 78th percentile, likely impacted by a turf toe injury, which was surgically addressed in October. Looking ahead to 2024, if he stays healthy, Chisholm has the potential to achieve over 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, along with 70-80 RBIs and runs. However, he will no longer be eligible as a second baseman, affecting his versatility in fantasy lineups.
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44.
Gleyber Torres
2B
Gleyber Torres rewarded fantasy managers who took a chance on him in 2023. He hit 25 home runs, stole 13 bases, and scored 90 runs in an offense that lacked Aaron Judge for two-thirds of the season. Now that Juan Soto is in tow, Torres should creep to the century mark in runs, and he no longer comes with the baggage of a bad K%. He reduced his strikeout rate from 22.6 percent to 14.6, and he used that increased contact to raise his batting average to .273 (xBA .283) and his OBP to .347 without losing anything in his slugging. Torres is a Top 10 second baseman in 2024.
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74.
Anthony Volpe
SS
Anthony Volpe's rookie season was less than ideal, though he hit 21 home runs and stole 24 bases. He slashed a miserable .209/.283/.383 and was below average in almost all Statcast hitting categories. Fantasy managers can expect another 20/20 season as well as improved counting stats in 2024, thanks to the lineup changes around him. However, there won't be enough improvement to warrant a draft pick prior to the 12th round.
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142.
Anthony Rizzo
1B
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151.
Giancarlo Stanton
RF,DH
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160.
Alex Verdugo
LF,CF,RF
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203.
DJ LeMahieu
1B,3B
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234.
Austin Wells
C
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244.
Jon Berti
3B,SS
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266.
Jasson Dominguez
CF
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295.
Trent Grisham
CF,DH
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316.
Oswald Peraza
3B
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324.
Oscar Gonzalez
RF
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348.
Jose Trevino
C
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378.
Oswaldo Cabrera
1B,2B,3B,LF,RF
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401.
Everson Pereira
LF
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479.
Ben Rice
C,1B
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484.
Spencer Jones
CF
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616.
Brett Phillips
CF
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621.
Taylor Trammell
LF
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673.
Kevin Smith
SS
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724.
Greg Allen
LF
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745.
Jahmai Jones
LF,RF,DH
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754.
Jorbit Vivas
2B
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