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Fantasy Baseball Player Notes

2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes

Mookie Betts Note
Mookie Betts photo 4. Mookie Betts 2B,SS,RF
Mookie Betts, at 30, continues to be an elite asset in fantasy baseball with a .307/.408/.579 slash line, 39 homers, 126 runs, and 107 RBIs in 2023. Though his 14 stolen bases are modest, Betts compensates with power and a superb eye, boasting a 13.9% walk rate and an elite 15.4% strikeout rate. He continued to be durable, playing in 152 games with 693 plate appearances. As Betts ages, expect a trade-off of speed for power, yet with a sustained high average. The Dodgers' strong lineup bolsters him, and his multi-position eligibility makes him a dependable, Top-6 fantasy asset.
38 weeks ago
Freddie Freeman Note
Freddie Freeman photo 8. Freddie Freeman 1B
Freddie Freeman has established himself as an irreplaceable cornerstone for the Dodgers, entering 2024 as one of baseball's most consistent and elite performers. At 34, he's defying age-related expectations, showcasing a blend of power, skill, and speed rarely seen at his position. In 2023, Freeman delivered an elite .334 batting average while driving in 101 runs and smashing 28 home runs. He also reached the milestone of 200 hits for the first time in his career. His season was filled with career highs, including 21 stolen bases, 125 runs scored, and 56 doubles, nearing the first 60-double season in the majors since 1936. Heading into 2024, Freddie Freeman isn't just an asset for the Dodgers; he's a fantasy baseball gem, offering a rare mix of average, power, and speed. He should be the first 1B off the board.
38 weeks ago
Shohei Ohtani Note
Shohei Ohtani photo 20. Shohei Ohtani DH,SP
Shohei Ohtani remains a fantasy giant, even if he is only a hitter in 2024. Despite playing for an underwhelming Angels team, he delivered 95 RBIs, 102 runs, 44 homers, and 20 steals in 135 games. His recovery from an elbow injury should mirror Bryce Harper's successful return, indicating minimal impact on his elite performance. Statcast ranks Ohtani in the top 98th percentile for batting run value, leading in barrel percentage, exit velocity, and expected slugging. The only concern is the trend of players underperforming after big free-agent deals, but Ohtani's exceptional skill set makes him a solid addition to fantasy lineups. There is a chance he could slip to the second round, which boosts his value even higher.
38 weeks ago
Tyler Glasnow Note
Tyler Glasnow photo 42. Tyler Glasnow SP
Tyler Glasnow returned with a vengeance in 2023. Upon his return from Tommy John surgery, he threw 120 innings and struck out 162 batters. His 33.4 K% is in the 97th percentile, and his fastball velocity sat in the 96-mph range. His ERA was 3.53, but his xFIP was 2.75, suggesting that he dealt with some bad luck. (And if you know Glasnow, you know that he has dealt with a lot of bad luck in his career.) His WHIP also remained low at 1.08. Now, he joins a burgeoning SuperTeam in the Dodgers, where he will remain for the foreseeable future. He offers so much strikeout upside that it doesn't really matter where he plays. He would be in my Tier 1 of pitchers except for his injury history, which knocks him down ever so slightly.
38 weeks ago
Yoshinobu Yamamoto Note
Yoshinobu Yamamoto photo 47. Yoshinobu Yamamoto SP
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will arrive in MLB with the powerhouse Dodgers in 2024, and while there may be an adjustment period for the 25-year-old, it shouldn't last too long. Yamamoto should come close to 200 strikeouts, though his ERA is projected to be near 4.00. However, as with all pitchers on outstanding teams, he does have slightly more win equity than others. As part of the $1 billion package that Los Angeles dropped on Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani, the former's ADP seems somewhat inflated for a pitcher who has yet to face MLB hitters. He will cost you a sixth-round draft pick, and there may be better value elsewhere that early.
38 weeks ago
Blake Snell Note
Blake Snell photo 63. Blake Snell SP
Blake Snell won the 2023 NL Cy Young Award, but will come with plenty of risk in 2024. As of right now, we don't know where he will be, which is part of the battle, but his 2.25 ERA last year was a mirage. Snell's xERA was 3.77, and xFIP was 3.62. In the positive column, he struck out 234 batters in 180 innings and was one of only 11 qualified starters with an 11 K/9 or higher. If walks drive you crazy, don't even consider the 31-year-old, but if you need strikeouts and plan to have ratio help elsewhere, Snell can be a nice SP2.
38 weeks ago
Bobby Miller Note
Bobby Miller photo 74. Bobby Miller SP
Bobby Miller throws hard. He has a fastball velocity in the 98th percentile (98.9 mph), and the speed did not transfer to a high Whiff%. The 24-year-old started 22 games for the Dodgers, and he should have no issue sliding into their 2024 rotation. And it won't be hard to justify anyone wearing a Dodgers uniform this year. His ERA is projected to sit around 4.00, but the win equity and solid pitching organization give him slightly more upside. If you feel the need for speed, he's your guy. But if you feel the need for strikeouts, he doesn't offer a ton. He slots in as an SP3/4.
38 weeks ago
Will Smith Note
Will Smith photo 76. Will Smith C
Will Smith has become an Ol' Reliable of the catching position in fantasy baseball. He only played in 126 games, which suppressed his home run total (19) to below 20 for the first time since 2020. Smith hits in the middle of the powerful Dodgers lineup, and his counting stats should continue being boosted because of it. His Statcast hitting profile shows that he excels at patience, though his batting average will hover in the .260 range. Smith should be the third catcher off the board somewhere in the early middle rounds.
38 weeks ago
Evan Phillips Note
Evan Phillips photo 98. Evan Phillips RP
Evan Phillips appeared in 62 games for the Dodgers in 2023. He struck out 66 in 61 1/3 innings and finished with a sparkling 2.05 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. While his xFIP of 3.37 suggests he benefited from some luck, his 28.2 K% also says he is good in his role. While it seems appealing to grab the L.A. closer, beware of the "Blowout Wins" issue that sometimes drags down save totals. Still, Phillips isn't going to hurt you as a second closer on your roster.
38 weeks ago
James Outman Note
James Outman photo 153. James Outman LF,CF
In his debut season, James Outman showed early promise before his performance dipped, with a high strikeout rate (31.9%) and modest xBA (.228). While his minor league track record indicates potential for a reduced strikeout rate and a solid OBP, expectations remain cautious for his second year. Outman carries a potential for 20 homers and 15 steals and benefits from playing in a lineup known for its offensive output.
38 weeks ago
Max Muncy Note
Max Muncy photo 154. Max Muncy 3B
Max Muncy will drag down your batting average (career BA .227), and you don't want him in leagues where strikeouts count heavily against you. Those are the two knocks on him, and early drafters are down on him for 2024. Take the discount if it's there. Muncy will bat in the middle of a Top 3 lineup, and he offers a ton of good things to fantasy managers. For instance, he hit 36 home runs last year and is in the 96th percentile in BB% at 14.7. He also scored 95 runs and knocked in 105. If you're looking for a 1B/3B in the 11th round or later, Muncy seems poised to do exactly what he's done every year since he has been with the Dodgers: Get on base and hit home runs. What else do you want?
38 weeks ago
Tommy Edman Note
Tommy Edman photo 245. Tommy Edman 2B,SS,CF,RF
Gavin Lux Note
Gavin Lux photo 277. Gavin Lux 2B,LF,OF
Emmet Sheehan Note
Emmet Sheehan photo 312. Emmet Sheehan SP
Gavin Stone Note
Gavin Stone photo 315. Gavin Stone SP
Michael Conforto Note
Michael Conforto photo 340. Michael Conforto DH,LF,RF
Michael Kopech Note
Michael Kopech photo 382. Michael Kopech RP,SP
Chris Taylor Note
Chris Taylor photo 408. Chris Taylor 2B,3B,LF,SS
Giovanny Gallegos Note
Giovanny Gallegos photo 441. Giovanny Gallegos RP
Brusdar Graterol Note
Brusdar Graterol photo 474. Brusdar Graterol RP
Alex Vesia Note
Alex Vesia photo 548. Alex Vesia RP
Dustin May Note
Dustin May photo 639. Dustin May SP
Ryan Brasier Note
Ryan Brasier photo 738. Ryan Brasier RP,SP
Blake Treinen Note
Blake Treinen photo 742. Blake Treinen RP
Kyle Hurt Note
Kyle Hurt photo 762. Kyle Hurt SP,RP
Connor Brogdon Note
Connor Brogdon photo 873. Connor Brogdon RP
Michael Grove Note
Michael Grove photo 874. Michael Grove SP,RP
Nick Ramirez Note
Nick Ramirez photo 898. Nick Ramirez RP
Andy Pages Note
Andy Pages photo 924. Andy Pages CF,RF
River Ryan Note
River Ryan photo 947. River Ryan SP
Miguel Rojas Note
Miguel Rojas photo 974. Miguel Rojas 2B,3B,SS
Landon Knack Note
Landon Knack photo 1028. Landon Knack SP
Nick Frasso Note
Nick Frasso photo 1046. Nick Frasso SP
Josue De Paula Note
Josue De Paula photo 1140. Josue De Paula OF,RF
Austin Barnes Note
Austin Barnes photo 1162. Austin Barnes C
Anthony Banda Note
Anthony Banda photo 1312. Anthony Banda RP
Hunter Feduccia Note
Hunter Feduccia photo 1561. Hunter Feduccia C
Andre Lipcius Note
Andre Lipcius photo 1693. Andre Lipcius 3B