Brian Entrekin | Fri, Mar 1st 2024, 6:21am EST

5 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values to Target for Stolen Bases (2024)

As fantasy baseball drafts go on, each draft pick helps round out the team. Positions are filled, and certain players are drafted due to the need for specific stats. I draft a lot of steals in the earlier rounds; steals are also a stat that you can find later in drafts.

Last season, we saw the steal boom with the new rules. The increase in steals makes it even more important to lock up steals on draft day to stay caught up in the category. If you need to catch up, you can find steals on the waiver wire, but you may have to overspend.

When looking for values in steals, there are some strong options in the middle of the drafts and some shots you can take late. The later you get in the draft, playing time may be a concern, but most of the players discussed in this article are locked into an Opening Day role. I chose players with FantasyPros consensus ADPs after 200, so round 16 or later in 12-team leagues. Check out some of the stolen base values I’ll target this draft season.

Best Values for Steals

Jarren Duran (OF – BOS) ADP: 208

Last season, Duran finally played over 100 games and ended up stealing 24 bases in 102 games. He missed some time due to injury and played in different parts of the Red Sox batting order. Duran enters the 2024 season as Boston’s primary center fielder and is expected to lead off daily. If Duran can stay healthy, he should play at least 140 games, hopefully more, and if he does, then Duran should be in line for 30+ stolen bases with vital counting stats as well. There are only so many 30+ stolen base players, as you get later in drafts.

Ezequiel Tovar (SS – COL) ADP:210

Tovar had a decent rookie season in 2023, hitting 15 home runs and stealing 11 bases. The 11 steals were lower than expectations (at least my expectations) as we saw more speed throughout the minors. He stole 17 bases in 2022 while stealing over 20 in the minors in the previous two seasons. Tovar should be more comfortable entering his sophomore season in Colorado, and entering his age 22 season should help as well. I would not be surprised if Tovar steals 20+ bases once again which is solid for a late-round SS or MI option.

Trevor Story (SS – BOS) ADP: 225

Story returned early from injury last season, potentially leading to a lackluster stat line. It’s a stat line that may be pushing him down draft boards. Hopefully, a year removed from his elbow injury means we get more of the Story we knew in previous seasons; the Trevor Story that was a 20/20 player. Projections have Story as a 20/20 player, and hitting in the middle of the Boston batting order playing every day should lead to plenty of chances for 20+ stolen bases.

Maikel Garcia (3B – KC) ADP: 281

Garcia seems to be one of the most straightforward late-round stolen base players to target on draft day. He stole 23 bases over 123 games last year for the Royals. He enters 2024 as the primary third baseman, and there is a chance that he may become the leadoff hitter as well. Playing an entire season already gives Garcia a chance at 30+ steals, but leading off, he may have a chance at 40 steals. Garcia also hits for average and should score many runs as well. Don’t sleep on Garcia come draft day.

Jon Berti (2B,3B,SS,OF – MIA) ADP: 344

We all know Berti is a stolen base machine when he gets playing time. At least that’s the thought, as he stole 41 bases in 2022 over 102 games but only 16 over 133 games last season. He only had 20 more plate appearances last season, so the type of playing time was likely not ideal. Berti is currently in a platoon similar to the beginning of other seasons. If an injury or two occur, Berti could walk into a regular role, opening the door to all the stolen bases your team could require. Not bad for a last-round pick.

More Fantasy Baseball Draft Targets

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