Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
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19.
Corbin Burnes
SP
Corbin Burnes is in the last year of his contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, and it would be somewhat surprising if he still plays for them at the end of the year. The important thing to note is that his pending free agency makes him an even better draft pick in 2024 than usual. And his "usual" is still elite. Burnes landed at 200 strikeouts in 193 2/3 innings with a 3.39 ERA and microscopic 1.07 WHIP. Hitters struggle to make good contact on Burnes's pitches (avgEV of 86.4), but his K% dropped five percent to 25.5. As the third pitcher in Tier 1, he has the most to gain in 2024 and will make an excellent SP1 in fantasy.
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31.
Gunnar Henderson
3B,SS
Gunnar Henderson had an atrocious start to the 2023 season. He ended April with a .189 batting average and 29 strikeouts in 92 plate appearances, and May wasn't much better. In June, however, the stud prospect version appeared, and fantasy managers everywhere were rewarded for their patience. Henderson should continue his growth in his second full year in the majors, and a powerful Orioles lineup should keep his counting stats up. He is going to cost you, but the rewards could be league-winning.
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57.
Adley Rutschman
C,DH
Adley Rutschman arrived in 2023 in a big way. He slashed .277/.374/.435 and hit 20 home runs, drove in 80, and scored 84 times. The upstart Orioles offense is loaded with weapons, and the 26-year-old should continue to bat at the top of it. He will never steal bases, but he will protect your ratios better than any other catcher on the board. Don't be surprised when he is the first backstop drafted in 2024.
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65.
Grayson Rodriguez
SP
I think it's fair to say that Grayson Rodriguez stumbled onto the scene in 2023. In the first half of the season, the rookie threw 45 1/3 innings and gave up 13 home runs and 21 walks on his way to a 7.35 ERA and a trip back to Triple-A. When he returned, the prospect everyone wanted to see arrived. He allowed only three home runs over his final 76 2/3 innings and finished that half with a 2.58 ERA. The good news is that the 24-year-old's second season should be more in line with the latter half of 2023. With a 94th percentile (97.4 mph) fastball velocity, Rodriguez is best considered an SP3 with an SP2 upside in 2024.
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123.
Anthony Santander
1B,RF,DH
In 2023, Anthony Santander's performance was a blend of pros and cons. While his home run tally dipped and strikeout rate rose, he improved his batting average to .257 and saw an uptick in key statistics. Heading into 2024, the 29-year-old faces more potential risks than gains. With Baltimore's wealth of emerging prospects, Santander's role could be at risk if he doesn't start strong.
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131.
Cedric Mullins II
CF
In 2023, by April's end, Cedric Mullins kicked off the season with 11 stolen bases. However, persistent injuries hampered his performance, resulting in a modest .233/.305/.416 and only 19 steals. If healthy, Mullins has the potential for 30 steals in 2024, but his poor batting may relegate him lower in the lineup of the promising Orioles team. His position may not be as secure as it has been in the past because of the wealth of talent in the Baltimore pipeline.
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152.
Craig Kimbrel
RP
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197.
Ryan Mountcastle
1B,DH
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222.
Jackson Holliday
2B,SS
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267.
Austin Hays
LF,CF
Austin Hays, at 28, is a versatile yet unspectacular outfielder. He delivered 16 home runs, 67 RBIs, 76 runs, and five steals with a .275/.325/.444 batting line last season. Ideal as an OF5, Hays offers a reliable base for your roster without being a priority pick during the draft.
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269.
Kyle Bradish
SP
**The Orioles announced on February 15 that Bradish will open the season on the IL with a UCL sprain** Kyle Bradish had an excellent 2023 campaign. He struck out 168 batters in 168 2/3 innings, with a beautiful 2.83 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. He should come with a bit of a warning for 2024, though. His xERA was 3.82, and a low .270 BABIP added a heavy filter to his Insta-worthy stats. Bradish's four-seam fastball got lit up by batters (.563 SLG), and he will need that to improve to accompany his elite slider, which induced a 36.4 Whiff%. With the injury, fantasy managers in redraft leagues should avoid the 27-year-old, only taking him as a flier in the late rounds.
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302.
Jordan Westburg
2B,3B
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333.
Dean Kremer
SP
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335.
Tyler Wells
SP
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336.
John Means
SP
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360.
Yennier Cano
RP
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372.
Colton Cowser
LF,CF,RF
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407.
Ryan O'Hearn
1B,DH,RF
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440.
Heston Kjerstad
DH,OF
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492.
Jorge Mateo
2B,SS
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520.
Cole Irvin
SP,RP
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587.
Danny Coulombe
RP
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608.
Kyle Stowers
RF
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637.
Coby Mayo
1B,3B
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732.
Dillon Tate
RP
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774.
Connor Norby
2B,LF
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777.
Keegan Akin
RP
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799.
Bryan Baker
RP
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807.
James McCann
C
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811.
Chayce McDermott
SP
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813.
Cionel Perez
RP
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827.
Ramon Urias
1B,2B,3B
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881.
Nick Vespi
RP
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901.
Albert Suarez
RP,SP
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966.
Mike Baumann
RP
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968.
Cade Povich
SP
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993.
Jacob Webb
RP
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1163.
Samuel Basallo
C,1B
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1187.
Yohan Ramirez
RP
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1253.
Bruce Zimmermann
RP
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1257.
Andrew Suarez
RP
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1284.
Justin Armbruester
SP
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1342.
Matt Krook
RP
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1366.
Kaleb Ort
RP
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1381.
Tucker Davidson
RP,SP
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1466.
Jonathan Heasley
RP
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1540.
Michael Perez
C
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1583.
Ryan McKenna
LF,CF,RF
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1598.
Nick Maton
2B,3B
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1642.
Diego Castillo
2B,LF,OF,SS
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1646.
Terrin Vavra
2B,LF,RF
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1697.
Peyton Burdick
RF
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1701.
Livan Soto
2B,3B,SS
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