Jackson Holliday (SS-BAL) made his big-league debut against the Red Sox on Wednesday, going 0-4 with an RBI as he manned 2B and batted 9th. Widely regarded as the top prospect in the minors - especially with peers such as Jackson Chourio and Wyatt Langford starting the season in the majors - Holliday is a must add wherever he is available in fantasy. He's still very much a raw talent at age 20, but the 1st overall pick in the 2022 amateur draft possesses a plus-potential hit tool and plus-potential in-game power. He got off to an encouraging start in Triple-A this season, with a .333 average, 2 dingers, 9 RBI, 18 runs scored, and a stolen base across 56 PA, with a robust 21.5% walk rate against just a 14.5% strikeout rate. The in-game power is still developing, but there's enough potential here that he should be universally rostered in fantasy.
Edouard Julien (2B-MIN) supplied most of the offense for the Twins in the club's 3-2 victory over the Dodgers on Wednesday afternoon as he went 3-4 with a pair of solo blasts and an additional run scored out of the leadoff spot. The 24 year-old has seemingly entrenched himself atop the Twins lineup despite a slow start to the season as even after Wednesday's outburst he's hitting just .188 with 3 dingers, 3 RBI, 5 runs scored, and 1 steal through 35 PA, with a lousy 34% strikeout rate. He posted a 31.5% strikeout rate last season as a rookie (408 PA), so strikeouts are most likely just going to be a part of his game, but the walk rate so far in 2024 (8.5%) is low for him given last season's 16% walk rate and his long track record of a keen batting eye and patience in the minors. Encouragingly, his hard-hit rate (47%) and barrel rate (12%) per Statcast were actually pretty solid entering Wednesday's action, so it seems to be just a matter of time - as Wednesday's performance suggests - before he starts producing.
Lourdes Gurriel, Jr. (OF-ARI) had a productive day at the plate against the Rockies on Wednesday as he went 2-5 with a 2B, 2 RBI, and a stolen base. The 30 year-old batted 3rd for the Diamondbacks as he's off to a strong start at the dish with a .308 average, 3 2B, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 10 runs scored, and 2 steals (in 2 attempts) through his first 57 PA of the campaign. Gurriel has trimmed his strikeout rate to just 14% (19.5% career) in that sample size while showing uncharacteristic patience at the plate (9% walk rate in 2024, 6% career). It's certainly a small sample size, but those are encouraging figures, as are a strong Statcast profile which includes a 50% hard-hit rate, 10% barrel rate, and 90.5 mph average exit velocity. Gurriel is simply making plenty of contact (82% contact rate) and hitting the ball hard, a recipe for success.
Jordan Hicks (SP-SF) stayed hot to open up the 2024 campaign as he picked up the W against the Nationals on Wednesday afternoon, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out a pair over 6 IP. The 27 year-old righty fired 51 of his 79 offerings for strikes while serving up a solo homer to Joey Gallo. Hicks' return to a starting role could not have gone much better than it has, as he now owns a 1.00 ERA, 6.5 K/9, 1.5 BB/9, and 3.64 xFIP through three starts (18 IP). The strikeout rate is certainly underwhelming as his swinging-strike rate is sitting under 9% on the campaign, but the stellar walk rate is good to see. An 81% contact rate is pretty average, but an anemic 16% hard-hit rate has been a key to his success so far. The odds are pretty good that he'll keep things rolling in his next start, slated for next Tuesday in Miami against the woeful Marlins.
Bobby Miller (SP-LAD) labored through just 4 innings of work in which he did not factor into the decision against the Twins on Wednesday afternoon, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks while fanning 4. The 25 year-old righty fired 41 of his 73 offerings for strikes while surrendering a homer. Miller has disappointed in the early going of the new campaign as he now owns a 5.40 ERA, 13.9 K/9, 4.6 BB/9, and 2.66 xFIP through his first three starts (11.2 IP). As the gap between the ERA and xFIP suggests, he's endured some misfortune, particularly a .375 BABIP and 25% HR/FB. His BABIP was .277 last season while the HR/FB was just under 11%, so both of those ugly figures so far in 2024 should correct going forward. The control issues are certainly concerning, though, as his BB/9 was just 2.3 last season. It's a small sample size, but Miller's swinging-strike rate is down to under 10% (was 11.5% last season) while his Statcast metrics are all up (47% hard-hit rate, 13.5% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 92.5 mph. He lines up for a "get right" spot at home against the Nationals next Tuesday. If he struggles again, it's time to start worrying.
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