Fantasy Baseball Player Notes

Corbin Carroll experienced the common sophomore slump after a standout Rookie of the Year campaign, though his performance improved in the second half of the season. Despite this rebound, he fell short of expectations tied to his first-round ADP. Carroll managed to hit 22 home runs (11 in August alone), surpassed his rookie run total with 121 scored (compared to 116 in 2023), and ended just two RBI shy of his debut season's mark. However, his slash line took a notable hit, dropping to .231/.322/.428 from .285/.362/.506. His stolen bases also declined, with 35 steals in 2024 compared to 54 the previous year, even though he played in more games. Carroll's potential as a five-category contributor remains appealing, and his final stats will likely land between his rookie and sophomore campaigns. However, fantasy managers may feel more comfortable selecting him in the second round rather than the first.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. delivered a solid fantasy season in 2024, recording 18 home runs, 75 RBIs, 72 runs scored, and seven stolen bases over 133 games. His .279/.322/.435 slash line aligns closely with his career averages. Notably, Gurriel's 18.3% strikeout rate marked a career best, placing him in the 70th percentile among MLB hitters. However, his 5.2% walk rate remains below league average, potentially limiting his on-base percentage. As he enters his age-31 season, Gurriel is expected to maintain his role as Arizona's primary left fielder, offering consistent power and batting average contributions for fantasy managers.