Every season, players slip through the cracks, go undrafted in fantasy baseball leagues and end up contributing to squads. This piece is designed to identify players with an average draft position (ADP) outside the top 300 players who could help fantasy teams. Obviously, they each have flaws, or they wouldn’t go undrafted. So, the following analysis will focus on what the suggested players can add to fantasy teams.
The All-Undrafted Team
According to FanGraphs, Ryan Jeffers hit 14 homers with a .276 batting average in 335 plate appearances in the regular season in 2023. Jeffers’s .359 BABIP was lucky, and his .233 xBA was less impressive. Still, he hit the ball harder than in the two previous seasons. In addition, Jeffers has clubbed three homers with a .300 batting average and palatable 20.0 K% in 20 plate appearances in spring training.
Every season, players slip through the cracks, go undrafted in fantasy baseball leagues and end up contributing to squads. This piece is designed to identify players with an average draft position (ADP) outside the top 300 players who could help fantasy teams. Obviously, they each have flaws, or they wouldn’t go undrafted. So, the following analysis will focus on what the suggested players can add to fantasy teams.
The All-Undrafted Team
According to FanGraphs, Ryan Jeffers hit 14 homers with a .276 batting average in 335 plate appearances in the regular season in 2023. Jeffers’s .359 BABIP was lucky, and his .233 xBA was less impressive. Still, he hit the ball harder than in the two previous seasons. In addition, Jeffers has clubbed three homers with a .300 batting average and palatable 20.0 K% in 20 plate appearances in spring training.
Josh Bell was an expected stats underperformer last season. The switch-hitter had a .247 batting average and .419 slugging versus a .263 xBA and .457 xSLG. Bell’s 10.0 Barrel% was the second-highest in his career, and he rebounded from an 88.9 mph average exit velocity in 2022 to 90.1 mph in 2023. Regression toward his expected stats would help Bell’s fantasy value immensely, and he should hit in a fantasy-friendly lineup slot, projecting as Miami’s No. 2 hitter at Roster Resource.
Brendan Rodgers missed most of last season while recovering from surgery to repair his shoulder labrum. Fortunately, he made his season debut for the Rockies on July 31. More importantly, after a slow start, Rodgers finished the campaign with a bang. In Rodgers’ final 67 plate appearances in 2023, he had four homers, a 13.4 K%, a .349 batting average and a .388 OBP. Roster Resource is projecting Rodgers to hit cleanup. Finally, Coors Field is still MLB’s most hitter-friendly ballpark.
J.D. Davis was blocked in San Francisco after the Giants signed Matt Chapman. They cut him free, and after joining the Athletics, Davis should not only be an everyday player but could also hit his way into a prominent lineup spot. Unfortunately, Davis had a 7.8-degree launch angle in 2023, effectively undercutting the value of his stellar exit velocity.
Nevertheless, Davis is only one season removed from a 12.3-degree launch angle, 16.2 Barrel%, 55.6 HardHit%, .245 xBA and .472 xSLG. A bounce back to his 2022 batted-ball profile coupled with a favorable lineup spot would make Davis a useful fantasy asset.
Zach Neto was the 13th pick in the 2022 MLB Amateur Draft and made quick work of the minors. He reached the majors after recording 10 homers, eight stolen bases, a .321 batting average, a .410 OBP, 153 wRC+, 8.8 BB% and 20.7 K% in 217 plate appearances.
Neto didn’t light the world on fire for the Angels, but his 89 wRC+ was adequate for a player with such little seasoning in the minors. A .272 BABIP dragged his batting average to .225. Yet, Neto had nine homers, five stolen bases and a 23.4 K%. Neto could flirt with 20 homers and double-digit stolen bases this year, and with a BABIP closer to the league average (.297 in 2023) and a slightly improved strikeout rate, his batting average would be easier to stomach.
Matt Wallner was featured in 4 Fantasy Baseball Deep League Targets earlier this month, and his ADP has climbed only 10 spots. He’s a cheap power source, and readers should check out the linked piece for a deeper dive.
An injury to Anthony DeSclafani has paved the way for Louie Varland to open the 2024 season in Minnesota’s rotation. In 103.0 innings (19 starts in 20 appearances) in Triple-A, he had a 3.50 ERA, 3.48 FIP, 1.24 WHIP, 6.7 BB% and 26.4 K%.
Sadly, homers have killed him in the majors, resulting in a meaningful gap between his 4.40 ERA and 3.90 xFIP in 94.0 innings (15 starts and seven relief appearances). Varland’s 23.7 K% and 5.9 BB% in the majors are encouraging marks, and after a sharp spring, he might be ready to pitch at a level closer to his xFIP than his ERA to this point in The Show.
James McArthur is another holdover from 4 Fantasy Baseball Deep League Draft Targets and still qualifies for this piece despite his ADP skyrocketing over 30 picks since early March. He was lights out in 17 relief appearances spanning 22.1 innings in his second crack at the majors in his rookie season, twirling a 2.01 ERA, 2.50 xFIP, 2.28 SIERA, 0.67 WHIP, 1.3 BB%, 28.7 K%, 34.6 CSW%, 59.3 GB%, 115 Stuff+, 105 Location+ and 109 Pitching+. McArthur has also been outstanding in spring training. He should be favored to lead the Royals in saves but might forfeit some opportunities to veteran lefty Will Smith.
More Expert Fantasy Baseball Draft Advice
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
