RADIO
The spring season has begun and now that we're several games in, it's worth taking a look around the leagues (Cactus and Grapefruit) to see which batters have started off this preseason hot and who has started off cold. Make sure you check out the version of this article that looks at pitchers who have started hot or cold, too.
Some of the players discussed below have been hyped up for one reason or another, and perhaps they are backing up that hype (or not) with their spring performance so far. Of course, it's a limited sample size, so don't take too much stock into it.
Don't brush it off altogether either. For fantasy purposes, a hot spring could lead to an ADP that begins to creep up, so to be the most prepared manager in your draft(s), it's best to have your finger on the pulse to make sure you're in the know. Before we get into it, also note that the data discussed below is based on games played through March 5. Bon appetit!
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A Tasty Appetizer
Checking the leaderboard to see who has collected the most hits, we see a youngster and two veterans with 10 hits apiece:
Owen Caissie - Chicago Cubs
Left-handed hitting Owen Caissie had a nice season in Double-A in 2023 and he's carried that momentum into the spring. The Cubs' third overall prospect (MLB 47th overall) is now 10-for-18 (.556) with three doubles, one home run, six RBI, five runs scored, and a 3:4 BB:K. The walks have contributed to his .619 OBP (13-for-21), which is fifth best in the spring season, and he's currently riding a six-game hit streak.
Caissie was a Cubs Organizational All-Star and Hitting Prospect of the Year in 2023. The Cubs are set in the outfield for now, so there's no clear path to playing time, but he's certainly a player to keep an eye on, especially in dynasty leagues.
(Update: Caissie was 0-for-2 with a K on Wednesday)
Owen Caissie is going to be a problem👀 pic.twitter.com/S8Wc9baCgZ
— The Call Up | An MLB Prospect Podcast (@The_CallUpPod) March 1, 2024
Ketel Marte has a hit in each of his spring games, now seven straight games, including three multi-hit games. The 2019 All-Star is now 10-for-18 (.556) with two doubles, a triple, three runs scored, and a 2:5 BB:K. The switch-hitter has also been hit by a pitch, which puts his OBP at .619 (13-for-21).
Marte had a hit in 16 straight postseason games in 2023 before going 0-for-2 (with three walks) in the final game of the World Series, so it looks like he hasn't missed a beat. Last year's NLCS MVP projects for another productive season at the plate, although, as far as second baseman go, you can find others who will steal many more than the eight stolen by Marte last season.
Well, this is a pleasant sight to see. A once-heralded prospect, Jimenez hasn't quite lived up to the hype as numerous injuries have caused him to miss time. Just going down the injury list, it sounds like you're reading an anatomy book -- groin, heel, leg, appendix, hamstring, elbow, ankle, knee, pectoral, foot, hip... but here he is in the spring, reportedly healthy and ready to hit.
The powerful righty is 10-for-20 (.500) with two doubles, seven RBI, a run scored, and a 0:2 BB:K. The fact that he has struck out just twice is a good sign as well and reinforces the average; however, zero home runs is a smidge concerning.
His Barrel% fell to a career-low 9.3% last season, which is still a good number, but it's light for a hitter like Jimenez. Regardless, the White Sox will take whatever production they can get at this point. If you're looking for another reason to buy for fantasy, he's in a contract year.
(Update: Jimenez was 2-for-2 with a HR, a walk, two RBI, and three runs scored on Wednesday)
Hot Stuff Coming Through!
There are currently 10 players tied atop the leaderboard with three home runs. Amongst them are some of the hottest names and contenders for Rookie of the Year:
Wyatt Langford - Texas Rangers
Langford was the fourth overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, and despite having just 200 minor league plate appearances, it's apparent that the powerful young hitter is ready for the Show. Langford is 6-for-17 (.353) so far in the spring and three of his six hits have left the yard. He's also knocked in seven and scored five times.
Get used to seeing this from Wyatt Langford!
Two homers today for @MLBPipeline's No. 6 prospect.
🎥: @Rangers pic.twitter.com/Q9XFpPQcfN
— MLB (@MLB) March 2, 2024
Langford is one of the few prospects discussed here that is currently very fantasy-relevant. Langford is going off of draft boards at 154 overall, projects as the Rangers DH and eighth-spot hitter, and currently has the third-best odds to win Rookie of the Year in the AL at +480. His hot start simply backs up what everyone in the Rangers organization saw when they progressed him so quickly.
(Update: Langford was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and a walk on Wednesday)
Colton Cowser - Baltimore Orioles
In a still-loaded farm system even after the graduations of Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Grayson Rodriguez, Cowser is another name you should know. The O's third-ranked prospect right now is the 19th-ranked prospect in all of baseball, and he's tied for the spring home run lead with three.
He's not all-or-nothing though, as he's also collected three singles and is now 6-for-15 (.400). The left-handed hitter has also walked three times and been hit by a pitch twice, bringing his OBP to .550 (11-for-20). Cowser has even chipped in a stolen base. His odds to win ROY stand at +3500.
James Wood - Washington Nationals
Nats prospect James Wood has come out swinging this spring as well. As with Cowser and Langford, the 6-foot-6 lefty has three homers this spring to go along with six singles, making him 9-for-19 (.474). He's also shown incredible patience, drawing six walks to just four strikeouts, putting his OBP at .600 (15-for-25).
James Wood so far this spring...
25 PA, .474/.600/.947, 3 HR, SB, 6/4 BB/Kpic.twitter.com/sQFPEUIkHx
— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) March 5, 2024
He's also stolen a base, which he's certainly capable of. He stole 18 across two levels of the minors last year. Wood is Washington's second-ranked prospect and 14th overall, but he doesn't have a clear path to playing time. Playing like this, he may force the Nationals' hand at some point in 2024, though.
(Update: Wood was 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and a run scored on Wednesday)
Henry Davis - Pittsburgh Pirates
Taken with the No.1 overall pick in the 2021 draft, Davis' 2023 certainly didn't live up to expectations. After being called up in June, he tallied a .213-7-24-27-3 line with a .287 wOBA and 76 wRC+. He took strides in the offseason in regards to his swing though and it appears to be paying dividends.
Davis now has three home runs in the spring, all three of them coming in three consecutive games, and he's now 6-for-15 (.400) with eight RBI, four runs scored, and a 2:3 BB:K.
Davis' issue right now is that he's not currently eligible at the catcher position for fantasy as he spent nearly all of 2023 in right field, and Pirates manager Derek Shelton recently confirmed veteran Yasmani Grandal would be the team's main catcher.
At some point, Davis should be eligible at catcher, which should increase his value. With his pedigree, he could be an impactful player. The strong spring start suggests his first full year in the bigs will be much better than last year's debut.
(Update: Henry was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts on Wednesday)
Forrest Wall - Atlanta Braves
We won't spend too much time on Wall as he's not going to be an everyday player; however, if that were to change, you'd have a very intriguing player. Not only does he have three spring home runs, but I recently analyzed stolen bases per plate appearances in 2023, and guess who topped the list? You guessed it, Forrest Wall. So it seems the speedy Wall also has some pop in his bat. File that nugget away and remember it when pertinent.
An Amuse Bouche
Below are some other notable players from around spring training before we get into the cold starts:
Nicky Lopez - Chicago White Sox
Doubles leader (5) is 6-for-14 (.429) and is projected to be the White Sox second baseman.
Zach McKinstry - Detroit Tigers
The OBP leader (.647) has eight walks to one strikeout, plus he's 3-for-9 with a HR and four RBI. He's not projected for a starting role, but he does have multi-positional eligibility, which could make him intriguing in deep (really deep) leagues.
Evan Carter - the current odds favorite for AL Rookie of the Year (+280) is hitting .389 (7-for-18) and smacked two home runs on Tuesday.
Evan Carter - Texas Rangers (2)* pic.twitter.com/XUvyIq6hmL
— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) March 5, 2024
Gonna Need A Cocktail!
Jarred Kelenic - Atlanta Braves
When the Braves traded for Kelenic, there was talk of a platoon situation, but with the departure of Vaughn Grissom, left field seemingly became his alone. After making some strides last season as a hitter, there was some hope Kelenic would begin to live up to the hype he once had as a prospect. The rough start to his spring may throw some cold water on that hope.
The lefty has started 1-for-18 (.056) with three walks and four strikeouts. You'd love to see a strong spring so he can build some confidence heading into the season. Then again, last season he was scorching in the spring and cooled as the season went on. Maybe (hopefully) it will be the opposite this year.
Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
After missing significant time last season due to injury and playing his final game on August 22, Angels fans, fantasy managers, and heck, any fan of baseball would want to see the future Hall of Famer shake the rust off early. That hasn't happened, however, as the 32-year-old has begun the spring 3-for-18 (.167) with eight strikeouts (38.1%). While on the field last season, Trout had a wRC+ of 134, 34% better than the average player, but that was his lowest number since his debut season in 2011. Hopefully, he'll get rolling soon.
(Update: Trout was 1-for-3 with a HR, four RBI, and a run scored on Wednesday)
Luis Arraez - Miami Marlins
Okay, okay, the sky is not falling for the 26-year-old two-time batting champ, but it was the last name I thought I'd see near the bottom of the batting average leaderboard. The second baseman is 1-for-13 (.077) to start the spring. Expect him to turn it around, but for someone who lacks power and whose fantasy relevance comes from his hit production, a prolonged slump from the 2x All-Star could depress his value further.
(Update: Arraez was 0-for-3 on Wednesday)
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