Luis Campusano (C-SD) enjoyed a nice start to the 2024 campaign in the Seoul series with the Dodgers as he went 3-6 with 2 2B, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored. As a 24 year-old rookie, Campusano flashed upside with the Padres last season as he hit .319 with 7 dingers, 30 RBI, and 27 runs scored in 174 PA, with a wRC+ of 134. With a strikeout rate of just 12% and a swinging-strike rate of only 9%, he was certainly not overmatched at the plate and generated a contact rate of nearly 84%. His Statcast profile was neither lousy nor impressive, though, as he recorded a 40.5% hard-hit rate, 8% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 88.5 mph, But in limited action as he fulfilled a part-time role, Campusano flashed some fantasy potential and enters the 2024 season as a candidate to finish within the top 10 at the backstop position for fantasy. For what it's worth, his spring training has been just okay as he's hit .258 with a homer, 4 RBI, 5 runs scored, and a wRC+ of 98 in 33 PA while fanning at a 21% rate and walking just 3% of the time in that small sample size.
Andrew Vaughn (1B-CHW) enters his fourth big league-season as a disappointment from a fantasy standpoint. The soon-to-be 26 year-old was the 3rd overall pick back in 2019 before reaching the majors in 2021. After an understandably sluggish rookie campaign (.235 average, 15 homers, 48 RBI, and 56 runs scored with a wRC+ of 93 in 469 PA), he took a step forward in 2022 (.271 average, 17 dingers, 76 RBI, and 60 runs scored with a wRC+ of 113 over 555 PA). But in 2023, he batted just .258 with 21 homers, 80 RBI, and 67 runs scored over a career-high 615 PA, but his wRC+ came in just above average at 103. Vaughn's contact rate dipped from 81% in 2022 to 78% last season while his strikeout rate climbed from 17.5% to 21% and his walk rate remained steady at 6%. His Statcast metrics were - as usual - solid as he posted a 46.5% hard-hit rate, average exit velocity of 91 mph, and an 8.5% barrel rate. His average launch angle just north of 11 was a career high. But the production just hasn't been there, partly because he paired a 44.5% groundball rate with minus wheels and an aversion to liners (his 19.5% liner rate last season was a career high). Vaughn has had a solid spring (.291, 1 homer, 8 RBI, 7 runs scored, 20.5% strikeout rate, 5% walk rate, and a wRC+ of 99 in 59 PA), so perhaps there's hope that he translates more of that frequent solid contact to more production as he enters his prime but the track record through over 1600 regular-season PA is not exciting.
Jonathan India (2B-CIN) will reportedly pick up regular playing time at 2B with McLain unavailable for the start of the regular season. The 27 year-old's stock has plummeted since he was the NL ROY back in 2021, with both injuries and performance both proving problematic. Most recently, India logged 529 PA in 2023, posting a .244 average, 17 dingers, 61 RBI, 78 runs scored, and a career-high 14 steals (in 16 tries), with a slightly below-average wRC+ of 99. His season truly wasn't bad, as India logged a career-best 8% swinging-strike rate and career-best 79.5% contact rate to go with meh Statcast metrics that include a 38% hard-hit rate, 7.5% barrel rate, and 89.5 mph average exit velocity. There's certainly a chance that the former top-5 draft pick (2018) reestablishes himself as a fantasy contributor (as he was in 2021), but Reds management is clearly more interested in its younger talent as India was set to begin the campaign in a utility role before McLain's injury opened up 2B. For what it's worth, India has enjoyed a solid spring as he's hit .360 with 2 dingers, 2 RBI, 5 runs scored, and 2 steals (in 2 attempts) while fanning at just a 13% clip, and drawing walks at a 10% rate in 30 PA, with a wRC+ of 187 in that small sample size.
Corey Seager (SS-TEX) went 2-2 at the dish while playing 3 innings at SS in a spring training contest with the Royals on Saturday. The 29 year-old had been participating in batting practice for about the previous week, but the game action was his first of the spring as he recovered from offseason sports hernia surgery. The progress is encouraging for his fantasy owners as Seager is coming off of a career year despite playing just 119 games, as he batted .327 with 33 homers, 96 RBI, 88 runs scored, and 2 steals in 536 PA, with a robust wRC+ of 169 for the world champion Rangers. As usual, Seager commanded the plate well with a 9% walk rate and 16.5% strikeout rate while registering a 77% contact rate that is his highest since 2018 and a 12.6% swinging-strike rate that parallels his career average. His Statcast metrics - highlighted by a 53% hard-hit rate, 15.2% barrel rate, and average exit velocity over 93 mph - were among the best of his nine-year career. There's never been doubting Seager's ability to produce as his career-low wRC+ was 106 back in an injury-shortened 2018 campaign, but the big concern is his ability to stay on the field as he's played in more than 150 games only twice since he reached the majors bac in 2015. But as his 2023 campaign indicates, Seager can put up MVP-type numbers even when missing a few weeks' worth of contests.
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Anthony Volpe (SS-NYY) might have disappointed in his rookie campaign, but is a solid post-hype candidate to break out in 2024. Only so much can be gleaned from spring training stats, but he's batting .314 with a homer, 5 RBI, 8 runs scored, and 4 thefts (in 6 attempts) across 55 PA, with an improved 18% strikeout rate, 7.5% walk rate, and a wRC+ of 123. Given the starting role out of spring training last season, he batted just .209, but with 21 homers, 24 steals, 60 RBI, and 62 runs scored in 601 PA, with a well below-average wRC+ of 84. The 28% strikeout rate needs to improve, but his swinging-strike rate (12.5%) wasn't terrible while his contact rate was certainly low at 74%. His Statcast profile wasn't terrible, with a 43% hard-hit rate, 9% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of nearly 90 mph. Volpe has worked to level out his swing this season to general more liners, but that hasn't had the desired result as his liner rate is just 15% so far in spring training. Regardless, Volpe has already displayed his ability to post at least a 20-20 season so the next step will be for him to elevate that average to at least a figure that doesn't hurt fantasy owners, and that's quite possible as the 22 year-old's scouting profile included a plus mark in the contact potential category.
Yoan Moncada (3B-CHW) is reportedly set to begin the 2024 regular season as the club's #2 hitter. Recently recovered from an illness, Moncada returned to spring action, in which he's batted .304 with 3 RBI, 8 runs scored, and 1 steal (in 2 tries) across 55 PA, with a wRC+ of 128; he's fanned 27.5% of the time while walking 14.5% of the time. The 28 year-old is coming off a disappointing 2023 campaign in which he batted .260 with 11 homers, 40 RBI, 39 runs scored, and 1 steal in just 357 PA as injuries again kept him sidelined for a significant chunk of the season. Although there were high expectations for Moncada when he reached the majors back in 2016 with the Red Sox, his career has been erratic as he enjoyed a career year in 2019 (.315 average, 25 homers, 79 RBI, 83 runs scored, and 10 steals, with a wRC+ of 139 across 559 PA) but has otherwise struggled to stay on the field and produce. Since he reached the majors for good in 2017, Moncada has finished the season with a wRC+ north of 100 (average) only 3 times in 7 seasons while fanning a lot (29%) and generating a below-average 72% contact rate in his career. Despite his blazing speed, Moncada's only stolen 31 bags in 3097 PA while his ISO has come in north of .190 only once.
Jorge Soler (OF-SF) is an intriguing fantasy option for 2024 as a high risk-high reward player. Now 32, Soler will play for his fifth big-league club after joining the Giants during the offseason and his career has been a mix of frustrating injury-marred campaigns and excellent productivity when (mostly) healthy. The 2023 campaign was an example of the latter, as he hit .250 with 36 dingers, 75 RBI, and 77 runs scored over 580 PA with the Marlins, with a solid wRC+ of 126. But this follows an injury-shortened 2022 season in which he recorded just a 207 average with 13 homers, 34 RBI, and 32 runs scored over just 306 PA, with a below-average 95 wRC+. But by all accounts he is healthy this spring and therefore primed for another productive season. In 2023, he logged a 24% strikeout that is among his lowest in a season since reaching the majors way back in 2014 while registering excellent Statcast metrics that include a 15% barrel rate, 48% hard-hit rate, and average exit velocity north of 91 mph. His 11% swinging-strike rate was a career low while his 75% contact rate was a career best and he gets added value in OBP and OPS leagues as he will take a walk (11.5% walk rate in 2023). Wrapping up a solid spring (.333, 6 RBI, 2 runs scored, a steal, 14% walk rate, 14% strikeout rate, and a 130 wRC+ across 42 PA), Soler should be a top-30 OF when it's all said and done in 2024.
Starling Marte (OF-NYM) endured a difficult season with the Mets in 2023 as he played just 86 games thanks to a nagging groin issue and migraines. In 341 PA, he batted a career-low .248 with 5 homers, 28 RBI, 38 runs scored, and 24 stolen bases (in 28 attempts), with a career-low RC+ of 76. It was only the second time since he reached the majors back in 2012 that Marte failed to log a wRC+ of 100 (average) or better. Doubtlessly hampered by health issues, Marte posted a strikeout rate just north of 20%, his highest since 2014, while logging a hard-hit rate of only 27% even as his contact rate dipped to only 75%, his lowest figure in that department since 2014. His .076 ISO was easily a career low as his previously low was .104 back in 2017. Although it's likely that the health issues affected his work on the field last season, it's worth noting that Marte's skills may also be declining as he is now in his mid-30s, with 2024 being his age-35 season. He's still clearly capable of swiping bases, but it's unclear whether he offers much else. And his spring training hasn't gone well, as he's hit just .132 with 4 RBI, 2 runs scored, no steals or homers, a 17% strikeout rate, 9.5% walk rate, and a -1 wRC+ in 42 PA.
Chase DeLauter (OF-CLE) has recorded only 28 PA at the Double-A level in his career, but he's opened eyes with an impressive spring training in which he's batted .520 4 dingers, 10 RBI, 9 runs scored, 13% strikeout rate, 17% walk rate, and a 318 wRC+ across 30 PA. The 2022 first-round pick out of James Madison enters his age-22 season with only 242 minor-league PA as injuries limited his work in game action. But he impressed last season, with his largest sample coming in High-A where he batted .366 with 4 homers, 31 RBI, 24 runs scored, and 3 steals (albeit in 6 attempts), with a wRC+ of 164. While his walk rate came in under 6%, he fanned at only a 12.5% clip. With below-average speed, DeLauter is unlikely to do much on the basepaths, but his combination of a plus potential hit tool and plus potential power tool are interesting for fantasy. He's unlikely to break camp with the big club, but could find his way to Cleveland this summer if he stays hot.
Brandon Woodruff (SP-MIL) will not pitch in the majors at all in 2024 as he recovers from surgery on his right (throwing) shoulder. At year after he made only 11 starts because of a shoulder strain before he reinjured the shoulder after returning from a four-month layoff. The 31 year-old was effective in his 67 innings of work last season, recording a 2.28 ERA, 9.9 K/9, 2 BB/9, and 3.63 xFIP. Woodruff's average fastball velocity was down about a half-tick to 95.5 mph last season, but he still posted a solid 12.5% swinging-strike rate and a below-average 75% contact rate, although opposing hitters recorded a 42% hard-hit rate and 89-mph average exit velocity against him, both of which were the highest of his career. The expectation is that Woodruff will be a full go by spring training 2025, so it will be interesting to see how he looks, especially since he is on the wrong side of 30.
Tanner Houck (SP-BOS) has made Boston's Opening Day rotation thanks to an excellent spring training in which he's posted a 2.40 ERA, 9.6 K/9, 1.8 BB/9, and 3.67 xFIP over 15 IP. The 27 year-old was not a fantasy contributor last season as he returned to starting full-time, posting a 5.01 ERA, 8.4 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, and 4.07 xFIP across 21 starts (106 IP). Houck's 68.5% strand rate and 16% HR/FB were both unlucky figures that inflated his ERA, but his control wavered while his Statcast profile - which included a 44% hard-hit rate and average exit velocity just north of 90 mph - wasn't pretty. On the plus side, Houck did limit the opposition to a sub-73% contact rate while posting a solid 13% swinging-strike rate. There's clearly some talent here and the returns in spring training have been encouraging, so one can do worse on a late-round flier.
Max Meyer (SP-MIA) will make the Marlins' Opening Day roster and is likely to open the season as the club's fifth starter with Eury Perez and Edward Cabrera to start the campaign on the IL. The 25 year-old righty is coming off of Tommy John surgery but was a promising prospect who reached the majors in late 2022. Meyer's ascent was all the more impressive since the 2020 draftee (selected third overall out of the University of Minnesota) began his professional career in Double-A in 2021, where he posted a 2.41 ERA, 10.1 K/9, 3.6 BB/9, and 3.61 xFIP in 20 starts(101 IP). After briefly sampling Triple-A to wrap up that campaign, he spent a good chunk of the 2022 season at that level, posting a 3.72 ERA, 10.1 K/9, 3 BB/9, and 3.72 xFIP in 12 starts (58 IP). He made only two big-league starts that year (7 IP, 9 K/9, 3 BB/9, 0.00 ERA, 3.65 xFIP) before undergoing TJS in August. Now healthy, Meyer has an opportunity to claim a rotation spot, although he may not have much of a chance depending on how quickly Cabrera and Perez return to action. In 7 spring training IP, Meyer allowed no earned runs with a 6.4 K/9, 1.3 BB/9, and 3.66 xFIP.
Louie Varland (SP-MIN) will reportedly make the Twins starting rotation out of spring training, and that's an interesting development from a fantasy standpoint. As a 25 year-old last season, Varland posted a 4.63 ERA, 9.4 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, and 3.81 xFIP in 68 IP, with 10 appearances as a starter and another 7 in a relief role. In that sample size, Varland recorded a healthy 12.5% swinging-strike rate while limiting opposing hitters to a 77% contact rate and getting them to chase at a 35.5% rate. Hard contact was, however, a bit of an issue as Statcast shows a 44% hard-hit rate, 11% barrel rate, and 91 mph average exit velocity. If there's good news on the batted ball front, it's that opposing batters didn't rip lots of liners (just 16%) while he generated groundballs at a 44% clip. Armed with a 95-mph average heater, a plus 88-mph slider, and a solid 86-mph change, Varland is worth watching in the early going of the campaign. For what it's worth, in spring training action he's recorded a 4.80 ERA, 8.6 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, and 5.19 xFIP in 15 IP.
MacKenzie Gore (SP-WSH) enters the 2024 season as a breakout candidate on the heels of a solid sophomore campaign with the Nationals in which he compiled a 4.42 ERA, 10 K/9, 3.8 BB/9, and 4.11 xFIP in 136.1 IP (27 starts). Sure none of those figures but the K/9 are impressive, but they all represent progress from his debut with the Padres in 2022 (4.50 ERA, 9.3 K/9, 4.8 BB/9, and 4.42 xFIP across 70 IP (13 starts and 3 relief appearances). Gore's average fastball velocity sat just over 95 mph as he raised his swinging-strike rate from 10.5% to a shade over 12% while trimming his contact rate from 77.5% to just under 75% and maintaining a slightly below-average 35.5% hard-hit rate. The longball was an issue in 2023 (1.78 HR/9 and 18% HR/FB), so that will be something to watch this season along with whether he can tighten up the control just a little bit more. His work in spring training has yielded mixed results, with a 5.87 ERA, 11.2 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, and 3.86 xFIP across 15.1 IP.
Reynaldo Lopez (SP-ATL) is set to start the 2024 campaign as Atlanta's 5th starter, and that's not an exciting development. The 30 year-old righty has posted a 4.73 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, and 2.3 K/BB in 515 career IP as a starter. On the other hand, he's been much more productive since becoming a reliever, logging a 3.01 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 9.6 K/9, and 3.1 K/BB in 164.1 IP as a reliever. The move is especially disappointing for fantasy owners who might have been interested in rostering Lopez for holds in 2024, as he was stellar down the stretch in 2023 after a rough start to the campaign, registering a 1.29 ERA, 11.9 K/9, 4.2 BB/9, anIP after the All-Star break. Indeed, he appear to become a prototypical late-innings arm last season as Lopez recorded a career-high average fastball velocity of 98.5 mph while posting a d 3.59 xFIP in 28 career-best 14.5% swinging-strike rate and as he mainly leaned on his heater (64%) and 88-mph slider (29%). His work in spring training action hasn't exactly been amazing, as he has logged a 2.16 ERA, 7 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, and 4.70 xFIP over 16.2 innings of work.
Emmanuel Clase (RP-CLE) is coming off a campaign in which he racked up a career-high 44 saves but also blew another 12 opportunities. In his age-25 season, Clase also posted a 7.9 K/9 that is the lowest of his career, although his BB/9 of was right around the norm. A 3.22 xFIP was alright, although a 3.45 xFIP does suggest that he enjoyed a little good luck along the way, particularly in the form of a 7% HR/FB, although his 60.5% strand rate seems unlucky and was easily a career low. However, Clase's groundball rate came in at a career-low 55% (62% career) while his swinging-strike rate tumbled from a stellar 17% in 2021-2022 to a still solid but less spectacular 13.5% last year. With an elevated contact rate (75% in 2023, 73% career) and a career worst Statcast line of a 37.5% hard-hit rate, average exit velocity of 88.5 mph, and 5% barrel rate, Clase was still good but not as stellar as he was in 2021-2022. He's still a solid closer with a pretty strong hold on his role, but fantasy owners should watch to see if he can rebound this year. For the spring, he has recorded a 6.43 ERA, 15.4 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, and 2.89 xFIP over 7 IP.
