Fantasy Baseball Player Notes

Steven Kwan's 2024 season was shortened by injuries, restricting him to 122 games, but he remained highly productive when on the field. He took a step forward in power, launching 14 home runs while scoring 83 runs as a key piece atop Cleveland's lineup. Fantasy managers drafting the 27-year-old will be looking for a repeat of his stellar .292/.368/.425 slash line. While he may not be the flashiest player, Kwan's disciplined approach-rarely striking out or chasing bad pitches-makes him a model of consistency at the plate.

Lane Thomas saw a dip in power from his 2023 campaign, but he compensated with speed, swiping 32 bases while still delivering 15 home runs. Slated to hit in the heart of Cleveland's lineup, he has the potential to reach a 20-homer, 25-steal season. That combination makes him a valuable target in AL-only and deeper mixed leagues.

Nolan Jones entered 2024 with plenty of hype, making him a popular early-round draft pick. Unfortunately, that excitement didn't translate into results. Limited to just 79 games due to injury, he struggled to build on his impressive rookie campaign, managing only three home runs and five stolen bases after posting a 20/20 season in 2023. His slash line took a significant hit, falling from .297/.389/.542 to .227/.321/.320, and he contributed just 28 runs and 28 RBIs. Outside of Luis Robert, Jones was arguably the biggest fantasy disappointment of the year. Looking ahead, a reasonable expectation is production somewhere between his stellar rookie numbers and his 2024 struggles-perhaps a 15/15 season. However, drafting him based on his 2023 breakout could set you up for disappointment.