Right here we go now! It’s formally the beginning of my large time drafting season as I’m positive lots of you readers are additionally about able to get down and soiled within the draft room. Final Monday we kicked off an industry-wide league on NFBC known as TGFBI or The Nice Fantasy Baseball Invitational. Tuesday night time I had my public sale. For those who haven’t executed an public sale format earlier than I extremely suggest it as I consider personally that is probably the most enjoyable you possibly can have in a draft. I’m two RCLs deep now with solely Perty Perts remaining. I would nonetheless leap in another if Truss wants a final minute fill in and I’m accessible. Then Wednesday we kicked off the Razzball hosted Finest Ball draft RazzSlam VI “Sixpack.” You’ll see loads of perception from many writers on Razzslam. I’ve bought extra drafts after that, however that is the large week for me.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Talking of RCLs, go join some HERE. We even have spots left in certainly one of our best cash leagues, DFSers Nameless, $25 to enter, draft date and time TBD as soon as it fills.
My job with SAGNOF, earlier than we get to video games that depend, is that will help you discover some “steals” within the draft to bolster that stolen base class whereas not limiting your upside throughout the remainder of your batting stats. This week I’m going to provide you a few of my high gamers I’m focusing on in a while within the draft that may assist a workforce proceed to develop the stolen base class whereas kicking in some good totals in different classes as effectively. These are the two+ class guys going after a hundred and fiftieth in a draft that I can’t maintain my tongue in my mouth for. It will enable you in case you are behind the eight ball in runs and steals, or maybe it’s essential to goal some RBIs and steals. Both approach, I’ve bought some guys that will help you.
Final yr this text had some good hits with Jarren Duran, Jordan Westburg, and Zach Neto. Hopefully, we will get you some extra league winners once more this yr.
I’m going to provide you my high of us to focus on with some particular secondary stat totals to pair up with at the least double digit steals. My thresholds for the opposite batting classes are the next:
Runs – 70
Dwelling Runs – 15
RBIs – 70
Batting Common – .270
OBP – .350
Runs and Steals
TJ Friedl, OF: Cincinnati Reds. 2024 Participant Rater 403 – ADP 252
With Matt McLain enjoying most video games at second in line with Terry Francona, Friedl ought to have an virtually on a regular basis position open to him in CF. His OPS fell approach off in 2024, however I attribute most of that to his accidents and I feel a wholesome bounce again may very well be so as Based on my prediction he would really depend for 3 classes. My prediction .259/83/16/60/17.
Zack Gelof, 2B: Oakland Athletics. 2024 Participant Rater 239 – ADP 219
The A’s aren’t going to steer the league in wins, however they definitely improved during the last two years and are transferring to a ballpark that must be rather more hitter pleasant. As for Gelof he may presumably meet 4 of those 5 metrics (batting common isn’t gonna occur) and goes within the fifteenth spherical in a 15 workforce draft. Me likey. My prediction .225/71/19/73/20.
Dwelling Runs and Steals
Tyler Fitzgerald, SS: San Francisco Giants. 2024 Participant Rater 249 – ADP 239
It’s attainable that his Ok-Fee causes an prolonged droop and makes him lose his job, however hey, right here’s one other potential 20/20 man going within the sixteenth spherical. 20/20 is boring although am I proper? Nicely it could be boring solely stealing 3/4th of a base and hitting 3/4 of a house run every week, however it’s nonetheless higher than drafting Ivan Herrera within the sixteenth spherical to be your backup catcher. That’s proper of us his ADP is larger than Fitzgerald’s. Gimme all of the shares of the Mick. My prediction .222/60/20/63/20.
Thairo Estrada, 2B: Colorado Rockies. 2024 Participant Rater 585 – ADP 336
Nicely, Thairo sucked final yr and I had lots of shares of him. For those who take a look at 2022/2023 he averaged 14 homers and 22 stolen bases and didn’t even get previous 120 video games in 2023. In 2024 he didn’t run a lot, however the Giants actually didn’t steal a lot in any respect ending twenty ninth in MLB. He nonetheless hit 9 homers in lower than 400 ABs and that’s whereas coping with wrist accidents that are inclined to make hitting harder. He’ll get a recent begin with the Rockies which at all times goes effectively proper Kris Bryant? Anyhoo… anybody going to hit in Coors is value a glance and I feel Thairo is in for a bounce-back marketing campaign. My prediction .262/60/17/64/12.
RBIs and Steals
George Springer, OF: Toronto Blue Jays. 2024 Participant Rater 198 – ADP 239
Horhay’s finest days are definitely behind him, however for the needs of this text let’s take a look at the great aspect of issues. I count on him to be hitting 4th as he has executed typically this spring. Meaning he’s bought Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Anthony Santander hitting out in entrance of him. Appears to be like like an excellent spot to drive in some runs. He may even run a bit greater than final yr with out a lot in the way in which of run manufacturing hitting behind him. My prediction .242/66/22/77/15.
Jo Adell, OF: Los Angeles Angels. 2024 Participant Rater 236 – ADP 290
Come on! Why wouldn’t you get again in on Adell? His Ok-Fee Improved by over ten % in 2024. His stroll % went up once more, and he’s solely 25 years outdated. Submit-Submit-Submit-Submit hype, nah I’m not gonna say it. Right here’s one other enjoyable proven fact that reveals a breakout may very well be coming. His BABIP was solely .244. His BA and OBP must be approach larger this yr which implies extra probabilities to run. 28.8 Ft/Sec dash pace can be high 75 MLB. The Razzball writers are nonetheless in love with him so why wouldn’t you be? My prediction .236/63/21/77/20.
Batting Common and Steals
Jung Hoo Lee, OF: San Francisco Giants. 2024 Participant Rater 1,210 – ADP 235
After signing Lee to a 6-12 months $113 Million deal in December 2023 the Giants bought little or no return in yr one. He’s solely 26 years younger, and he hadn’t stolen many bases within the KBO previous to coming over. He has a profession .340 BA within the KBO with a .407 OBP. That ought to translate to at the least .275 in MLB over a full season. I’m nonetheless in a wait-and-see mode on him personally, however in the event you want some common with some runs and a pair SBs he’s value a glance. My Prediction .284/70/9/60/11
Steven Kwan, OF: Cleveland Guardians. 2024 Participant Rater 135- ADP 137
I broke my rule trigger he’s going forward of 150 in ADP, however he’s the final word repair to: I drafted Kyle Schwarber (Luis Arraez isn’t serving to you in 5 classes). Gonna get me some luggage, runs, RBIs, Homers, and most significantly stability my BA. My Prediction .289/90/12/63/19
OBP and Steals
Jonathan India, 2B: Kansas Metropolis Royals. 2024 Participant Rater 149 – ADP 245
The person named after the sub-continent that created the Himalayas has a brand new residence in Kansas Metropolis and he ought to discover himself atop the mountain of the lineup. Hitting with Bobby Witt at your again is a superb place to be. So far as India goes he takes loads of walks and also needs to see a lot to hit. For those who bought an OBP league getcha some India. My Prediction .257/80/15/63/13 OBP – .353
Xavier Edwards, SS: Miami Marlins. 2024 Participant Rater 314 – ADP 150
His draft inventory retains rising and I feel it’s comprehensible. I feel all of the projections for him on stolen bases are low. He received’t sustain the identical tempo as 2024. He isn’t a high dash pace man, however he’s effectively above common at 28.4 Ft/Sec. What allowed him to steal a base each 10 plate appearances final yr was he leads off, takes a stroll, hits the ball on the bottom and people balls on the bottom aren’t that includes lots of comfortable contact. This results in a excessive BABIP and probabilities to steal bases. He works for both BA or OBP as does Kwan so seize these guys on both aspect. My Prediction .301/70/1/49/47 OBP – .385
