BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~75 pick
CURRENT ADP: ~87 overall
ANALYSIS: NL Rookie of the Year showed why he was the fifth overall pick back in 2018. India hit .269 with an exceptional .376 OBP to go with 21 HR and 12 SB last season. While those numbers are great for a rookie, India has really just scratched the surface of his potential. Having that OBP as a rookie shows that India is a smart hitter who has an understanding of big-league pitching. On top of the walks, India showed his ability to make adjustments throughout the season. He had trouble hitting breaking pitches to start off, as many rookies do, only hitting them hard 15.4% of the time in May. By the time September came around, his hard-hit rate on breaking pitches shot up to 38.1%.
One of the biggest negatives of India revolves around hitting the ball hard. His average exit velocity and hard-hit rate were below average, but I think he can improve those skills in short order. His Barrel % was above average, landing in the 61st percentile, so he is able to make quality contact. Building some strength in the offseason and as he enters his prime will help him hit the ball harder, and playing in Cincinnati will always help get a few balls over the fence that aren’t hit hard.
The simple fact that India won’t have the standard rookie adjustment period in 2022 is reason enough to think his numbers will be better than last season. His OPS in his first months of the season was .683. From June through the end of the season, it was .882. Once India got into the swing of things, he got better and better and didn’t look back.
More Fantasy Baseball Values and Sleepers
Jordan Walker - 2024 Fantasy Baseball Prospects Outlook and Analysis
PROSPECT: Jordan Walker, OF, St. Louis Cardinals ANALYSIS: Yes, Jordan Walker graduated from prospect status last summer, but "should I stash him or drop him" has been a common question over the last several days on social media following his demotion to Triple-A last week. I’ve been asked about Jordan Walker more than any player.... Read More
Cade Povich - 2024 Fantasy Baseball Prospects Outlook and Analysis
PROSPECT: Cade Povich, SP, Baltimore Orioles ERIC CROSS' LATEST PROSPECT RANKING: #13 CALL-UP ETA: May ANALYSIS: You'll have a difficult time finding a pitcher in the minors who has performed better than Cade Povich so far this season. In five starts for Triple-A Norfolk, Povich has recorded a stellar 1.03 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 10.4% walk... Read More
Tyler Black - 2024 Fantasy Baseball Prospects Outlook and Analysis
PROSPECT: Tyler Black, 1B/3B, Milwaukee Brewers ERIC CROSS' LATEST PROSPECT RANKING: #9 CALL-UP ETA: May ANALYSIS: After four home runs in the last 10 days, Tyler Black is now up to five in 25 games this season with a trio of steals and a solid .303/.393/.525 slash line. This coming after a season where he... Read More
Junior Caminero - 2024 Fantasy Baseball Prospects Outlook and Analysis
PROSPECT: Junior Caminero, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays ERIC CROSS' LATEST PROSPECT RANKING: #1 CALL-UP ETA: May ANALYSIS: We have a new top dog in these stash rankings and his name is Junior Caminero. After a quad injury cost him the first few weeks of the season, Caminero is doing his best to make up for... Read More
Jackson Holliday - 2024 Fantasy Baseball Prospects Outlook and Analysis
PROSPECT: Jackson Holliday, 2B/SS, Baltimore Orioles ERIC CROSS' LATEST PROSPECT RANKING: #2 CALL-UP ETA: May ANALYSIS: Well, that didn't go as expected. In his first taste of the Majors, uber-prospect Jackson Holliday struggled immensely to the tune of a .059/.111/.059 slash line and 50% strikeout rate in 36 plate appearances. Jackson Holliday has been demoted... Read More
Joey Loperfido - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 6)
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Formats ROSTERED IN: 13% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Houston Astros have called up outfield prospect Joey Loperfido from Triple-A Sugar Land after the 24-year-old enjoyed a monster start to his 2024 season. It appears the 'Stros have struck gold when they drafted Loperfido in the seventh round of the 2021 MLB... Read More
Hector Neris - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds (Week 4)
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 46% of Leagues ANALYSIS: With the removal of Adbert Alzolay from the closer role for the Cubs after a fourth blown save already in the early going of 2024, an opportunity was created for another reliever to take over the job. Hector Neris was called upon... Read More
Hunter Goodman - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 5)
BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 1% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Colorado Rockies have promoted first base/outfield prospect Hunter Goodman from Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday. Infielder/outfielder Michael Toglia was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. It's been a massive start to the 2024 season for the 24-year-old who has slugged seven... Read More
Garrett Cleavinger - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 3% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Garrett Cleavinger recorded his second save in four days for the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning to nail down the 7-5 victory over the Tigers. Cleavinger has been used as one of the team's closers ever since... Read More
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!