Bargain Bats w/ Barrel Rates Higher than Juan Soto (13.0%)
NONE of these hitters are more valuable than Soto, nor will they ever be. However, for mid and late-round grabs at power potential, these hitters have value. NOTE: League average Barrel Rate for top 200 hitters is 8% and each of these bats swung 5%-10% higher in '23.
Matt Wallner OF, MIN: 18.8% Barrel Rate
Living on the right side of the platoon, Wallner walloped balls over the walls vs. RHP with regularity. His HardHIt% of 48% and the 92 MPH average VELO means Wallner's barrels weren't just squared, they were crushed. Wallner's Elevation% of 21 indicates his ability to continue lifting the ball in 2024. Matt mashed 14 HR in just 213 ABs in 2023, and as the Twin's starting LF, he has potential for 25-30 HR even if he sits vs. most LHP. Wallner is an OF worth snagging in any league. In head-to-head leagues, he's an ideal matchup play that you can sit vs LHP. In AL-Only he could be a steal of an OF to scoop up in mid-rounds.
Jake Bauers 1B, MIL: 18.7% Barrel Rate
Another sneaky slugger with HardHIt% of 48%, Bauers' bat has bomb potential, if he can get ABs. The Brewers signed Rhys Hoskins and Gary Sanchez which will limit both Bauers ABs at 1B and DH. However, if an injury strikes the Milwaukee lineup or the Crew trade Bauers, Jake has jacks in his profile, as evident by his 13% Elevation rate. Difficult to get excited about him on draft day, but he's a barrel bat to monitor, especially if he's dealt mid-season.
Jake Burger 3B, MIA: 16.7% Barrel Rate
Sometimes you just want a Burger. Sure, he strikes out too much (28% K rate) and doesn't exactly reek of athleticism; he's not even slathered in cheese or fried onions. Regardless, his 34 HR in 2023 backed by a fine 49% hard-hit rate and nice 92 MPH average Velo indicated no fluke on the power front. He even cut his strikeout rate by 10% following his move from Chicago to South Beach. Burger's barrel rate should provide solid value on draft day. As other managers reach for lobster tail and avocado toast, go ahead and order Burger in the mid-rounds in Mixed 12-Team leagues to shore up power at the keystone. In NL-Only leagues, Burger should be among the top-5 3B off the board, so grab some fries and enjoy the discount power.
Nolan Gorman 2B/DH STL: 16.5% Barrel Rate
Another free-swinger with 48.5% HardHit and 91 MPH average VELO, Gorman's got plenty of pop in his first-round pedigree bat. Entering his age-24 season, Gorman should supply intriguing power with 2B eligibility, a decent eye (11% Walk Rate) and playing time aplenty. Reports that he has upped his flexibility to overcome nagging back and hamstring woes from 2023 are encouraging. Gorman should be a top-10 2B in Mixed Leagues as he could build on the sturdy foundation of 27 HR (in just 406 ABs) from 2023: he may hit 30 HR and even toss in 10 SBs. Expect him to be a top-5 2B in NL only drafts. He may be worth reaching a round early to secure.
Jack Suwinski OF, PIT: 15.7% Barrel Rate
Jack's jacks were plentiful in 2023, launching 26 HR in just 447 ABs along with a baker's dozen SBs. Suwinski snuck into the hearts of fantasy owners who stuck with him despite early-season doubts as to his ability to keep pummeling baseballs. Underlying numbers suggest 2023 was no fluke, as his 43% HardHit with 90 MPH average VELO paves way to more potential power. 30 HR is within the realm of possibility as Suwinski swings away with his established Elevation rate of 22%. Recent reports that he's worked to improve his approach to LHP may increase at bats, but his platoon splits are something to monitor. Suwinski is a good head-to-head matchup play to lock and load vs RHP. He's an unsexy but potentially profitable OF to be drafted late in Mixed Leagues and targeted among the top 30 OF in NL Only for his HR potential.
Brent Rooker, Jr. OF, OAK: 15.6% Barrel Rate
With a Barrel rate higher than Robert Jr and some guy called Acuña, Rooker rocked whomever rostered him in 2023, delivering 30 dongs in just 463 ABs in 2023. The good: a 49% HardHit and 91.6 MPH average exit VELO suggest the pop is real. The bad: Brent struck out at a 38% clip and his swinging-strike rate 16% revealed gaping holes in his approach. The listless Oakland lineup won't help him much but the ABs will be there for Rooker to swing for the fences. He's still under-radar, so wait and hope he falls to you for some late-round power in Mixed Leagues. In AL-Only, Rooker could be a steal in mid-late rounds for helping your home run supply at OF.
Gary Sanchez: C/DH, MIL: 15.4% Barrel Rate
Sanchez slides into a Brewer lineup in need of pop, looking to occupy sometime at Catcher and some at DH. He hit the ball hard (45%) as often as top catcher Sean Murphy and hopes to benefit from the homer-happy confines of American Family Field. His Elevation rate in 2023 was 16.5%, meaning he skies the ball often. Sanchez homered 19 times in only 240 ABs last season, showing that despite a well-worn suitcase (NYM, MIN and SD in 2023), he was able to lock and load his power, which played despite the less-than-friendly Petco park factor. Sanchez should be a trendy Catcher pick in mid-late rounds in Mixed Leagues and could be a profitible pick in NL-Only to fortify your catcher spot after Murphy, the Contrares bros and Realmuto have gone.
Brandon Belt 1B, Free Agent: 15.0% Barrel Rate
On Tuesday, February 26, Belt claimed he will "definitely" play in 2024. Wherever he catches on, Belt will bring a 40% hard hit rate and an elite 45% Sweet Spot rate. Platoon should have been the only Oliver Stone film made about a first baseman, as Brandon Belt's bat is a conscientious objector to left-handed pitching. Versus RHP, however, all of Belt's 19 HR came against RHP and his OBP of 0.375 vs RHP will play anywhere. Keep an eye on Spring training to see where Belt ends up as he could be a productive 1B if you play the matchups. 15-20 HR could await, if you like that sort of thing. Belt is worth a very last round pick in head-to-head leagues just for match-up purposes. Also, check out Platoon, the Vietnam War era film as it's an important work of cinema (with no connections to 1B mashers).
Jorge Polanco 2B/3B, SEA: 13.8% Barrel Rate
A perennial MI profiled to pop 20 plus HRs, Polanco has the barrel rate to bash the ball along with decent command of the strike zone (10% BB and 25% K). He gets a new start in Seattle in 2024, where he will get plenty of ABs and slot in at starting 2B. Less ABs in '22 and '23 cut down his total HRs, but the 41% HardHIt shows he can still sting the ball when healthy. If Polanco can get north of 450 ABs, a total of 20 HR is doable for 2024. Polanco will likely be available to snag late in your 12-team mixed league draft if you neglected 2B or need to fortify your bench. In AL-Only leagues Jorge just might sneak into the top-10 2B taken and Polanco's power could pay off.
Michael A Taylor OF, Free Agent: 13.5% Barrel Rate
Michael A. Taylor, long admired for his elite defense and great baserunning value, suddenly became a power source in 2023. HIs OBP was abysmal, his batting average .220, but his barrel rate came alive and 21 HRs resulted. While he's always been a more valuable player in reality than fantasy, if Taylor can find an everyday gig, his 2023 ability to elevate (13%) the baseball will be worth a last-round pick. Stashing Taylor with a final pick or snagging him on the waiver wire could lead to the thriftiest 20/20 season in history.
Shea Langeliers C, OAK: 13.3% Barrel Rate
Out in Oakland, Shea shares a profile with his (presumably non-roid) bash brother Rooker. Does this sound familiar? The bad: 29% K rate and a 16% Swinging strike rate suggest Shea's shoddy BA is safe. The good: 44% HardHit% and 91 MPH average exit VELO along with 20% Elevation rate reveals his ability to bash a baseball over the wall. Langeliers is a catcher to covet, because his profile suggests that his 22 HR in 2023 can be replicated, and for cheap. You could do worse than taking a late stab at Shea in 12-Team mixed leagues and consider committing catcher in AL-Only to longball Langeliers with a mid-late round pick.
Eugenio Suarez 3B, ARI: 13.2% Barrel Rate
Southbound Suarez heads to AZ with his 43% Hard Contact rate, bankable barrel rate and typical 20+ HR output. Chase field is an upgrade from the soggy confines of Seattle and should help him continue to exploit his 19% Elevation launch rate. His ABs are likely to be secure due to his steady glove and his ability to take a walk (when he's not striking out). Despite his high K rate, Suarez is a reliable source of power and could be a profitable, if boring, mid-late round pick to cover the hot corner in a 12-Team Mixed league. He rises in NL-Only drafts at 3B, and could be among the top 10 off the board.
Jose Siri OF, TAM: 13.2% Barrel Rate
Much like Keith Gill (Roaring Kitty to YouTubers) touted GameStop, when it comes to Jose Siri, "I like the stock." I could go on for hours about how his bakers-dozen barrel rate is higher than both Juan Soto and Rafael Devers, or rattle on how despite his enormous strikeout rate (36%) that Siri is a reasonable bet to go 20/20 in 2024. His defense keeps him in a Rays lineup that tends to produce playoff teams and his ridiculous physical gifts should lead to homers and steals, perhaps in equal measure. I am not trying to inspire a short squeeze on Siri, nor am I recommending that you draft him beyond the latest of rounds. As for me, I like his stock.
Triston Casas 1B, BOS: 13.1% Barrel Rate
UPDATE: Spring illness appears to have passed and he should report to practice on Wednesday, Feb 28. Listen to Triston's hard hit rate of 47% and you may hear the sound of more homers in 2024. He managed to mash 24 in 429 ABs, with an Elevation rate of 16% that points to more high flies in '24. Standing 6 foot 5 with red splattered all over his StatCast page, a monstrous 50% hard hit rate on Slider, Casas cuts an imposing figure at Fenway. He's demonstrated a keen eye with a 14% BB rate in 2023, pointing to an age 24 '24 season that could provide monstrous value. 30 HR and a .270 BA with decent OBP are all within reach. Reach for Casas at 1B and you may be rewarded.
Edouard Julien 2B, MIN: 13.1% Barrel Rate
How does a 16% BB rate and 16 HR over the course of 338 ABs strike you? Like Julien's hard hit rate of 45% and an OBP of .381 as a rookie, it should hit you where it counts. Dude has an elite 14.3% chase rate, indicating incredible command of the strike zone. His path to 2B has been cleared by the trading of Polanco, and he profiles as a leadoff hitter with some pop. After just one season during which he demonstrated bombastic barrel rate, OBP and a discerning eye on a Twin team where clear ABs await? Julien has climbed to top 20 2B, so draft away in Mixed Team leagues to shore up 2B in mid-late rounds. AL-Only leagues might see him disappear in top 10 2B, so a reach for Julien may be warranted.
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