Fantasy Baseball Player Notes

Julio Rodriguez's performance across the months is a rollercoaster worth noting. From April through October, his batting averages fluctuated as follows: .256, .274, .206, .375, .234, and .328. J-Rod possesses undeniable five-category potential; however, his production in 2024 showed some decline compared to the previous year. His home runs dropped from 32 to 20, while his runs and RBIs dipped to 76 and 68, respectively. Fantasy managers were also let down by a reduction in stolen bases, going from 37 to 24. Rodriguez's approach at the plate left room for improvement, as evidenced by a 25.4% strikeout rate, a mere 6.2% walk rate, and an alarming 37.4% chase rate. On the bright side, his slash line-.273/.325/.409-was consistent with his 2023 numbers. While Rodriguez might spark debates on draft day, his immense upside keeps him firmly in OF1 territory. Just brace yourself for the potential highs and lows throughout the season.

Randy Arozarena's 20/20 season last year was far from inspiring. His strikeout rate, already high at 23.9%, climbed to 26.1%, while his walk rate dipped from 11.3%. On top of that, his Barrel % fell significantly from 12.3% to 8.3%, contributing to a disappointing .219/.332/.388 slash line. His overall production suffered as well, with just 77 runs scored and 60 RBIs. To make matters worse for fantasy managers, Arozarena now plays in Seattle-a team with one of the league's weakest lineups and a notoriously pitcher-friendly ballpark. Don't let his name recognition push you into drafting him too early; he profiles more realistically as a low-end OF3 or even an OF4.