Willie Calhoun and Bligh Madris Fantasy Baseball Updates - Ben Rosener’s MLB Beat

June 23, 2023

Ben Rosener looks at the fantasy baseball impact of the New York Yankees placing outfielder Willie Calhoun on the injured list and the Houston Astros calling up Bligh Madris from Triple-A.

Major League Baseball’s regular season is here, and with it comes the daily influx of baseball news that fantasy managers missed in the winter months. Lineup news, actual games happening, constant waiver wire moves, pitching assignments, and bullpen usage.

This column aims to cover any fantasy baseball news, big or small, and how it pertains to your fantasy team. Spring training or the regular season, it's covered here.

Has a player who's usually been hitting in the middle of a lineup suddenly batting eighth or ninth for an extended period? The fantasy implications will be covered here. The same goes for injuries and injured placements and whether or not you should consider picking up a player who was recently called up. Basically, any kernel of fantasy news and its relevance to fantasy managers could be covered here. Today, the news of the day is the fantasy impact of the New York Yankees placing outfielder Willie Calhoun on the injured list and the Houston Astros reportedly calling up infielder and outfielder Bligh Madris from Triple-A.

Fantasy Baseball Impact Of Willie Calhoun Being Placed On The 10-Day Injured List

Per a tweet from the team’s official Twitter account on Thursday night, the New York Yankees placed outfielder Willie Calhoun on the 10-day injured list. Per the Yankees tweet, the injured list placement is due to a left quad strain.

Calhoun has logged 149 plate appearances for the Yankees so far, providing solid production for the American League East franchise. In those 149 plate appearances, he’s batting .239 with a .309  on-base percentage, five home runs, and a 96 wRC+.

The former Texas Ranger has seen the bulk of his playing time come as the designated hitter this season, though he’s also seen time in both outfield corners. Overall, his appearances by position this year in the Majors are as follows:

• Designated Hitter: 26
• Right Field: 9
• Left Filed: 3

Though it’s worth noting he’s only appeared as a designated hitter in two of his last 12 appearances for New York. Calhoun has also primarily hit only against right-handed pitching. Just 10 of his plate appearances have come versus left-handed pitchers.

Fantasy-wise, with Calhoun on the injured list, it would seem to solidify Jake Bauers’ role moving forward. Or at the very least continue to help his efforts in terms of playing regularly. The 27-year-old, who has split time between the outfield corners, is batting .231 with a .315 on-base percentage, six home runs, and a pair of stolen bases in 124 plate appearances this season, though he’s also sporting a decidedly very good .360 xwOBA so far.

Additionally, per the team’s tweet, the Yankees called up infielder and outfielder Oswaldo Cabrera to take Calhoun’s place on the active roster.

Cabrera hit .190 with a .238 on-base percentage, four home runs, and five stolen bases in 182 plate appearances for New York this season. Capable of playing all over the diamond with at least four starts each in left field (30 appearances), right field (21 appearances) and at third base (eight appearances), second base (four appearances), and shortstop (four appearances) the 24-year-old could be worth a look in deep leagues with his ability to chip in with home runs and stolen bases if his batting average and on-base percentage production is more in line with his 2022 metrics.

As a rookie last season, the 24-year-old batted .247 with a .312 on-base percentage, six home runs, and three stolen bases over the course of 171 plate appearances for the Yankees.

Fantasy Baseball Impact Of Bligh Madris Reportedly Called Up From Triple-A

The Houston Astros will reportedly call up infielder and outfield Blighs Madris, per a tweet from The Athletic’s Chandler Rome on Thursday.

Madris, who can play left field, right field, and first base, made his Major League debut last season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, hitting .177 with a .244 on-base percentage, a home run, and a pair of stolen bases in 123 plate appearances for the National League Central club. More recently, the 27-year-old has hit .249 with a .363 on-base percentage, 10 home runs, and 10 stolen bases in 281 plate appearances for Houston’s Triple-A affiliate this season.

The former Pirate will give the Astros some additional depth at both corner outfield spots and at first base, though it’s possible he could see some additional opportunities in the outfield or at designated hitter with Yordan Alvarez still on the injured list. If he can carve out something resembling a regular role in Houston, Madris could have some fantasy upside in deeper leagues, though with the potential for more given his recent performance at Triple-A.

Madris has routinely reached base at a quality rate in the minors and has chipped in with solid power numbers, though the 10 stolen bases he’s accumulated so far at Triple-A would be a career-best for the 27-year-old, regardless of level. If he can continue to contribute decent power and on-base numbers while contributing some steals, there’s certainly the fantasy potential to be more than a deeper league option.

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