Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
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1.
Bobby Witt Jr.
KC
Bobby Witt Jr. showed up for his second season and made strides across the board. The 24-year-old played in 158 games and hit 30 home runs. He also stole 49 bases, scored 97 runs, drove in 96, and slashed .276/.319/.495. The sole knock against Witt is the team he plays for, but that seems like splitting hairs, considering he almost managed to go 100/100 anyway. Witt should be the first shortstop off the board in 2024, and if he's not someone else's, he should be yours.
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2.
Trea Turner
PHI
Trea Turner struggled in his first season in Philadelphia, leading to the infamous game where his own mother booed him. He eventually turned it around and ended the season, slashing .266/.320/.459 with 102 runs, 76 RBIs, 26 home runs, and 30 stolen bases. Turner's baserunning value remains in the 99th percentile, according to Statcast, and many of his underlying metrics suggest improvement in the 2024 season. At this point, however, Turner's ADP is in the first round in NFBC leagues, and there may be better value elsewhere at shortstop this year.
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3.
Francisco Lindor
NYM
Francisco Lindor had the quietest 31-homer season in recent memory. He also stole 31 bases, scored 108 runs, and drove in 98. To put this in perspective, among shortstops who played 20 games at the position, Lindor's ranks are as follows: Home runs (2nd), runs (1st), RBI (1st), and stolen bases (7th). His incredible fantasy year was buried under the Mets' real-life struggles and underperformance, but make no mistake about it. Lindor is a Top 5 shortstop who is perceived as much lower. Take advantage of the discount if it is available in your leagues.
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4.
Mookie Betts
LAD
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.
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5.
Corey Seager
TEX
Corey Seager had an outstanding 2023. His rankings in the American League in batting categories were a batting average of .327 (2nd), OBP of .390 (3rd), SLG of .623 (2nd), and OPS of 1.103 (2nd). Seager's power was on full display, as he smashed 33 home runs, tying him for 5th in the AL, and he led the league in doubles with 42. Even with slight regression in store, the 29-year-old offers exceptional power numbers from a tough position and should be a Top 3 shortstop off the board.
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6.
Gunnar Henderson
BAL
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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7.
Bo Bichette
TOR
Bo Bichette had a down year in 2023, which kept him in line with more than one of his Blue Jays teammates. He batted .306, albeit with an inflated .355 BABIP, and hit 20 home runs. However, he scored only 69 runs and knocked in 73. He only swiped five bags in a year when stolen bases went up across the board. Since counting stats in the lineup are dependent on production around him, Bichette should see a bounceback in 2024 and land somewhere in the 90/90 range. The 25-year-old will help with batting average and could end up a steal in the fourth round, but the allure of him having first-round value is no more.
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8.
Elly De La Cruz
CIN
Elly De La Cruz might be the most exciting and riskiest player on the board. He has a ton of potential that he occasionally flashed in his rookie season. For instance, he stole 35 bases in only 98 games and is in the 100th percentile in sprint speed at 30.5. He also hit the ball hard... when he hit it. His K%, Whiff%, and Chase% are all in the "highly undesirable" range, which drove his OBP down to .300. The primary question for fantasy managers is: When do you believe he will figure out major league pitching? De La Cruz's minor league stats suggest that day will come, and as part of Cincinnati's wave of the future, the 21-year-old will have a very long leash to figure things out in 2024. If you want his potential on your fantasy team, you will have to grab him earlier than you probably want. I'd stay away from him until the fifth round in 2024.
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9.
CJ Abrams
WSH
CJ Abrams showed remarkable progress in the 2023 season. At just 23, Abrams became a significant asset for fantasy baseball managers, especially for his speed on the bases. In the 2023 regular season, Abrams showcased his potential by hitting .245 with 18 home runs and 64 RBIs over 563 at-bats. His OPS stood at .712. Abrams' real value, however, lies in his base-stealing abilities. He swiped 47 bases, ranking 3rd in the NL, and this aspect of his game will be particularly valuable in fantasy leagues where stolen bases are a premium. Heading into the 2024 season, fantasy managers should consider Abrams a high-upside player, particularly for stolen bases and runs scored, with potential for batting average and power growth. His youth and displayed talent suggests that he could continue to develop into an even more impactful player in the coming years.
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10.
Oneil Cruz
PIT
Oneil Cruz suffered another ankle injury in 2023, which limited him to only nine games, though he did steal three bases in that small sample. Cruz has all the talent in the world, but recurrent ankle injuries pose a risk going forward. He will be 25 years old during the 2024 season, so there is still plenty of time for the former top prospect to turn his career around. The question is whether or not you're willing to pay the cost to take that chance.
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11.
Nico Hoerner
CHC
Nico Hoerner impressed in 2023 with a .283 batting average and 43 stolen bases, highlighting his speed and versatility. Earning a Rawlings NL Gold Glove, he excelled defensively while being a consistent offensive contributor, scoring 98 runs and amassing 175 hits. His ability to consistently reach base reflected in 688 plate appearances, and his prowess on the basepaths make him a valuable fantasy asset. Going into 2024, Hoerner is poised to continue his multi-category contributions, with a particular emphasis on stolen bases and runs, making him a solid pick in fantasy baseball.
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12.
Xander Bogaerts
SD
Xander Bogaerts signed an 11-year contract with the Padres to join what looked like a deep lineup but turned out to be disappointing. The 31-year-old had 19 home runs and 19 stolen bases (a career-high), but his other counting stats took a hit. He slashed .285/.350/.440, but his expected slash numbers were .255/.318/.401. Those red flags should steer fantasy managers off the shortstop until later rounds at the earliest. With news he will gain second-base eligibility in 2024, his value gets a slight boost, but only if he falls to you.
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13.
Ha-Seong Kim
SD
Entering the 2024 season, Ha-Seong Kim has established himself as a valuable asset for fantasy baseball managers. At 28 years old, Kim's versatility on the field is evident with his multi-positional eligibility. His performance in 2023 was impressive, as he racked up 84 runs, 140 hits, 17 home runs, and an exceptional 38 stolen bases, ranking fifth in the NL for steals. This was a significant increase from his 12 stolen bases in 2022. Kim had 626 plate appearances and 538 at-bats during the season, highlighting his consistent presence in the lineup. His advanced metrics indicate an increased comfort at the plate, reflected in his improved walk and strikeout rates and his on-base plus slugging (OPS) reaching .749. Kim's blend of speed, improving power, and position versatility make him a strong asset for fantasy teams. His growth at the plate and on the field suggests the potential for an even more impactful 2024 season.
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14.
Dansby Swanson
CHC
Dansby Swanson took the step back everyone expected in 2023 after signing his massive free-agent contract with the Cubs. His power numbers held steady, hitting 22 home runs, but his batting average dropped to .244. He scored 81 runs and knocked in 80, though his nine stolen bases were disappointing. Swanson still played in 147 games, so his availability remains a strong plus for those who wait on shortstop. He is one of those "no hurt, no help" fantasy players worth his ADP in the 116 range.
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15.
Anthony Volpe
NYY
Anthony Volpe's rookie season was less than ideal, though he hit 21 home runs and stole 24 bases. He slashed a miserable .209/.283/.383 and was below average in almost all Statcast hitting categories. Fantasy managers can expect another 20/20 season as well as improved counting stats in 2024, thanks to the lineup changes around him. However, there won't be enough improvement to warrant a draft pick prior to the 12th round.
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16.
Thairo Estrada
SF
Thairo Estrada played in 120 games last season for the Giants, and he took a step back in many of the hitting metrics. His BB% went from 6.1 to 4.2, and his K% went from 16.5 to 22.6. He managed a .271 batting average, though an unsustainable .331 BABIP boosted this. His numbers will probably land in between these two seasons, but he doesn't offer much in the way of upside.
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17.
Willy Adames
MIL
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18.
Trevor Story
BOS
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19.
Ezequiel Tovar
COL
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20.
Carlos Correa
MIN
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21.
Jeremy Pena
HOU
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22.
Jackson Holliday
BAL
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23.
J.P. Crawford
SEA
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24.
Maikel Garcia
KC
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25.
Tommy Edman
STL
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26.
Luis Rengifo
LAA
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27.
Zach Neto
LAA
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28.
Vaughn Grissom
BOS
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29.
Tim Anderson
MIA
The good news for Tim Anderson is that it almost assuredly cannot get worse. In his age-30 season, across 123 games, Anderson set career lows in home runs (1), RBI (25), and ISO (.051). He had the eighth-lowest oWAR (-0.4) among batters who played over 100 games. He could bounce back in 2024, but his underlying metrics do not suggest he belongs on rosters in traditional 5x5, 12-team leagues. Hard pass.
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30.
Matt McLain
CIN
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31.
Junior Caminero
TB
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32.
Jackson Merrill
SD
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33.
Jordan Lawlar
ARI
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34.
Masyn Winn
STL
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35.
Amed Rosario
TB
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36.
Ceddanne Rafaela
BOS
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37.
Orlando Arcia
ATL
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38.
Ezequiel Duran
TEX
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39.
Brice Turang
MIL
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40.
Javier Baez
DET
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41.
Chris Taylor
LAD
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42.
Jon Berti
NYY
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43.
Geraldo Perdomo
ARI
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44.
Jose Caballero
TB
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45.
Zach McKinstry
DET
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46.
Jorge Mateo
BAL
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47.
Liover Peguero
PIT
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48.
Marco Luciano
SF
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49.
Brayan Rocchio
CLE
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50.
Mauricio Dubon
HOU
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51.
Oswald Peraza
NYY
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52.
Adalberto Mondesi
FA
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53.
Colson Montgomery
CWS
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54.
Kyle Farmer
MIN
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55.
Gio Urshela
DET
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56.
Paul DeJong
CWS
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57.
Kike Hernandez
LAD
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58.
Darell Hernaiz
OAK
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59.
Taylor Walls
TB
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60.
Brooks Lee
MIN
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61.
Gabriel Arias
CLE
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62.
Oswaldo Cabrera
NYY
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63.
Blaze Alexander
ARI
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64.
Tyler Wade
SD
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65.
Orelvis Martinez
TOR
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66.
Nick Ahmed
SF
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67.
Tyler Freeman
CLE
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68.
Andruw Monasterio
MIL
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69.
Carson Williams
TB
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70.
Nicky Lopez
CWS
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71.
Garrett Hampson
KC
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72.
Nick Gonzales
PIT
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73.
Santiago Espinal
CIN
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74.
Miguel Rojas
LAD
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75.
Luisangel Acuna
NYM
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76.
Brandon Crawford
STL
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77.
Matt Shaw
CHC
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78.
Edmundo Sosa
PHI
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79.
Dylan Moore
SEA
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80.
Luis Garcia
FA
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81.
Brady House
WSH
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82.
Ernie Clement
TOR
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83.
Casey Schmitt
SF
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84.
Adael Amador
COL
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85.
Marcelo Mayer
BOS
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86.
Nick Allen
OAK
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87.
Elvis Andrus
FA
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88.
Aledmys Diaz
OAK
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89.
Joey Wendle
NYM
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90.
Josh H. Smith
TEX
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91.
Juan Brito
CLE
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92.
Ryan Walker
FA
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93.
Rodolfo Castro
PHI
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94.
Braden Shewmake
CWS
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95.
Austin Martin
MIN
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96.
Jacob Amaya
HOU
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97.
Osleivis Basabe
TB
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98.
Ildemaro Vargas
WSH
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99.
Zack Short
NYM
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100.
Addison Barger
TOR
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101.
Ryan Bliss
SEA
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102.
Alan Trejo
COL
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103.
Jett Williams
NYM
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104.
Harold Castro
FA
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105.
Pablo Reyes
BOS
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106.
Tyler Fitzgerald
SF
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107.
David Fletcher
ATL
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108.
Kyren Paris
LAA
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109.
Jose Rodriguez
PHI
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110.
Nasim Nunez
WSH
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111.
Kevin Newman
ARI
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112.
Yu Chang
TB
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113.
Tucupita Marcano
SD
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114.
Christian Arroyo
MIL
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115.
Andrew Velazquez
ATL
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116.
Leury Garcia
ATL
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117.
Jose Barrero
TEX
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118.
Kevin Smith
NYY
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119.
Jeter Downs
NYY
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120.
Grae Kessinger
HOU
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121.
Greg Jones
COL
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122.
Luke Williams
ATL
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123.
Diego Castillo
MIN
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124.
Alika Williams
PIT
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125.
Julio Carreras
COL
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126.
Angel Martinez
CLE
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127.
David Hamilton
BOS
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128.
Otto Lopez
MIA
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129.
Ryan Kreidler
DET
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130.
Jose Iglesias
NYM
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131.
Jose Tena
CLE
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132.
Livan Soto
CIN
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133.
Vinny Capra
MIL
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134.
Ehire Adrianza
LAA
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135.
Jonathan Ornelas
TEX
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136.
Mason McCoy
SD
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137.
Eddys Leonard
DET
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138.
Daniel Schneemann
CLE
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139.
Tristan Gray
MIA
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140.
David Bote
CHC
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141.
Alejo Lopez
ATL
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142.
Didi Gregorius
FA
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143.
Erik Gonzalez
CIN
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144.
Phillip Evans
ATL
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145.
Chris Owings
LAD
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146.
Ryan Vilade
DET
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147.
Logan Davidson
OAK
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148.
Brett Pope
FA
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