When considering OBP/points formats, many more players come into play. Players like Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. get an even bigger boost in OBP. At the same time, some players, like Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez take a bit of a hit in OBP/points leagues.
Some improvements in value or decreases in value vary in magnitude, so discussing early-round picks like the ones listed above or even Kyle Schwarber is not necessary. In this article, I will highlight six hitters who go a little later in “standard” drafts and who have increased value in OBP/points leagues.
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Hitters to Target in OBP/Points Leagues
Seiya Suzuki (OF – CHC)
Seiya Suzuki battled injuries early last season but finished with a solid sophomore season for the Cubs, hitting .285 with 20 home runs and six stolen bases. He improved his walk rate to 10.1% after a 9.4% walk rate in 2022. The improvement in his walk rate while also playing in more games upped his OBP to .357. Suzuki’s second half, once healthy, was even better as he racked up a .372 OBP. Suzuki’s second half may be more of a player than we previously saw. An OBP of .360 or better could lead to a monster season in OBP/points formats.
Edouard Julien (2B – MIN)
Edouard Julien struck out a wapping 31.4% of the time in his rookie season, leading to a .263 batting average and 16 home runs. That is not a bad line but his OBP skills are awe-inspiring for someone who strikes out so much and walks 15.7% of the time. The outstanding walk rate led to a .381 OBP. In Julien’s four previous minor league stops, he walked over 18% at each stop with an OBP of .397 or higher. With Jorge Polanco now in Seattle, Julien should see regular playing time and could be one of the biggest OBP standouts later in drafts.
Nolan Schanuel (1B – LAA)
If you are looking for a late-round OBP monster, Nolan Schanuel should be your guy. His power was disappointing in 29 games with the Angels as he only hit one home run but his plate discipline was beyond impressive. Schanuel struck out 14.4% of the time while walking 15.2%. This resulted in a .402 OBP to go with his .375 batting average. Sure, it’s a small sample, but his plate discipline has also been a trait he had in college. Schanuel’s bat is still developing as we have seen more power this spring, which correlated with all the walks and could make him an OBP/points breakout this season.
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