Looking for a late-round lift in batting average (AVG) and/or on-base percentage (OBP)? The players below should be on your radar. As everyone knows, a high AVG usually translates to a high OBP. However, there will be some OBP-specific options included as well. No one should expect any hitter in the following group to contribute across the board but each could bring solid value considering current average draft position (ADP) trends around the industry.
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- 2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit
- Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings
- Fantasy Baseball Projections
2024 Sleepers for OBP
On-Base Percentage
Brandon Marsh took significant steps forward during his third season in the bigs, particularly with his plate discipline. His strikeout rate (30.5%) is still on the high side but it did improve while his walk rate (12.5%) more than doubled from 2022. Marsh also improved his contact rates, which lifted his AVG out of the .240s and into the .270s. He’s finished with double-digit homers and steals, though barely, in each of the last two seasons. Now, with a more patient approach, Marsh should also be able to maintain a mid-.300s OBP.
Nolan Schanuel has just 229 professional plate appearances since being selected with the 11th pick in last summer’s MLB Draft. After just 22 games in the minor-league ranks, the former Florida Atlantic star, who put up an OBP over .500 in college, debuted for the Angels on August 18 last year. Schanuel immediately went on a 10-game hitting streak and recorded a .275 AVG with a .402 OBP over 29 games down the stretch, finishing with a 15.2 BB% in his first taste of the big leagues.
Schanuel is projected to be the everyday first baseman for the Halos. He profiles as a top-of-the-order bat that could set the table for Mike Trout. There’s not much power or speed to see here but Schanuel is a no-risk source of OBP and runs with definite potential in the AVG department.
Only five players in the league with at least 400 plate appearances bested Ryan Noda’s 15.6 BB% last season. He struck out a ton (34.3%) and hit just .229, but for those in OBP leagues, his .364 mark with 16 homers to boot certainly gave him some value in deeper formats. As he did in 2023, Noda will likely sit quite a bit against lefties this year. Still, he recorded 495 plate appearances as a rookie and could often hit from the leadoff spot. Expect a bit of pop, some runs and an excellent OBP from Noda.
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Nate Miller is a featured writer at FantasyPros and a 9-year veteran of the fantasy sports industry. For more from Nate, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @Miller_RotoDad.