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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.
29 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.
29 weeks ago
Shohei Ohtani Note
Shohei Ohtani photo 20. Shohei Ohtani SP,DH
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.
29 weeks ago
Tyler Glasnow Note
Tyler Glasnow photo 41. 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.
29 weeks ago
Yoshinobu Yamamoto Note
Yoshinobu Yamamoto photo 46. 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.
29 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.
29 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.
29 weeks ago
Evan Phillips Note
Evan Phillips photo 96. 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.
29 weeks ago
Teoscar Hernandez Note
Teoscar Hernandez photo 100. Teoscar Hernandez LF,RF,DH
Teoscar Hernandez appeared in 160 games in his season with Seattle, echoing his typical performance. He notched 26 home runs, tallied 93 RBIs, and scored 70 runs. Excelling in hard hits (90th percentile) and a 13.8% barrel rate, Hernandez is expected to maintain a batting average of around .250. Landing in Los Angeles to bat in the middle of that powerhouse lineup, Hernandez suddenly has extremely high upside in counting stats. Beware of the premium that many fantasy managers will put on all 2024 Dodgers, but at the right price, Hernandez can be a high-end OF3.
29 weeks ago
Max Muncy Note
Max Muncy photo 151. 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?
29 weeks ago
James Outman Note
James Outman photo 153. James Outman 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.
29 weeks ago
Walker Buehler Note
Walker Buehler photo 174. Walker Buehler SP
Walker Buehler missed all of the 2023 following Tommy John surgery. He is a question mark heading into 2024. In 2021, he looked like the dominant pitcher everyone expected him to be, only to crater in 2022 with the injury. The argument for drafting Buehler as an SP3 is that he pitches for the Dodgers (stadium + team = good things) and becomes a free agent after the season. Many pitchers experience a "honeymoon" period following TJ surgery, and it could be a savvy move to grab him in the mid-rounds. The knock against him is that he will turn 30 in July, and his track record has been anything but consistent. It is a dice roll that can pay off for the right price.
29 weeks ago
Tommy Edman Note
Tommy Edman photo 244. Tommy Edman 2B,SS,CF
Gavin Lux Note
Gavin Lux photo 281. Gavin Lux 2B
Emmet Sheehan Note
Emmet Sheehan photo 310. Emmet Sheehan SP
Gavin Stone Note
Gavin Stone photo 315. Gavin Stone SP
Jack Flaherty Note
Jack Flaherty photo 352. Jack Flaherty SP
Michael Kopech Note
Michael Kopech photo 394. Michael Kopech SP,RP
Chris Taylor Note
Chris Taylor photo 408. Chris Taylor 2B,3B,SS,LF,CF
Clayton Kershaw Note
Clayton Kershaw photo 417. Clayton Kershaw SP
Brusdar Graterol Note
Brusdar Graterol photo 472. Brusdar Graterol RP
Daniel Hudson Note
Daniel Hudson photo 479. Daniel Hudson RP
Alex Vesia Note
Alex Vesia photo 524. Alex Vesia RP
Joe Kelly Note
Joe Kelly photo 604. Joe Kelly RP
Dustin May Note
Dustin May photo 617. Dustin May SP
Kike Hernandez Note
Kike Hernandez photo 641. Kike Hernandez 1B,2B,3B,SS,LF,CF
Kevin Kiermaier Note
Kevin Kiermaier photo 666. Kevin Kiermaier CF
Ryan Brasier Note
Ryan Brasier photo 721. Ryan Brasier RP
Blake Treinen Note
Blake Treinen photo 725. Blake Treinen RP
Kyle Hurt Note
Kyle Hurt photo 746. Kyle Hurt RP
J.P. Feyereisen Note
J.P. Feyereisen photo 778. J.P. Feyereisen RP
Connor Brogdon Note
Connor Brogdon photo 861. Connor Brogdon RP
Michael Grove Note
Michael Grove photo 862. Michael Grove SP,RP
Nick Ramirez Note
Nick Ramirez photo 886. Nick Ramirez RP
Andy Pages Note
Andy Pages photo 912. Andy Pages LF,CF,RF
River Ryan Note
River Ryan photo 936. River Ryan SP
Miguel Rojas Note
Miguel Rojas photo 963. Miguel Rojas 2B,3B,SS
Landon Knack Note
Landon Knack photo 1018. Landon Knack SP
Nick Frasso Note
Nick Frasso photo 1036. Nick Frasso SP
Jordan Lyles Note
Jordan Lyles photo 1113. Jordan Lyles SP
Josue De Paula Note
Josue De Paula photo 1132. Josue De Paula RF
Austin Barnes Note
Austin Barnes photo 1155. Austin Barnes C
Brent Honeywell Jr. Note
Brent Honeywell Jr. photo 1179. Brent Honeywell Jr. RP
Anthony Banda Note
Anthony Banda photo 1305. Anthony Banda RP
Jorge Benitez Note
Jorge Benitez photo 1420. Jorge Benitez RP
Zach Logue Note
Zach Logue photo 1460. Zach Logue RP
Hunter Feduccia Note
Hunter Feduccia photo 1556. Hunter Feduccia C
Andre Lipcius Note
Andre Lipcius photo 1688. Andre Lipcius 3B