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Mike Barner looks at three fantasy baseball players who could provide value in stolen bases in the later rounds of 2024 drafts.
Stolen bases had become increasingly difficult to find in fantasy baseball. Major League Baseball then made rule changes last season that made it more advantageous for players to run. It led to a total of 3,503 stolen bases across the league, which was over a thousand steals more than the season prior.
Ronald Acuna Jr. led the way with 73 stolen bases last season. There were three players who stole at least 50 bases. In total, 18 players registered at least 30 steals.
For those who miss out on the elite base stealers in the early rounds of their drafts, let’s focus on some players who will be available later on who could still provide a boost in the category.
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Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees
Volpe has been one of the stars of the Yankees’ farm system. A first-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, he had made his way to Double-A for the 2022 season. He didn’t hit for a high average, but his .348 OBP helped him be on base often enough to utilize his speed. He attempted 49 stolen bases over 110 games, which he turned into 43 steals.
Volpe was eventually elevated to Triple-A that same season, stealing five bases over 22 games. He hit just .229 at the level and generated a .312 OBP, which didn’t exactly leave him with many opportunities to run.
Despite his underwhelming numbers during his brief stint at Triple-A, Volpe won the starting shortstop job for the Yankees in spring training last year. He was one of the few players on the team who stayed healthy, playing in a total of 159 games.
Volpe finished his rookie campaign by batting .209 with a .283 OBP and a .290 wOBA. Even with how infrequently he got on base, he attempted 29 stolen bases and was successful on 24 of those attempts.
With a full season in the majors under his belt, the Yankees hope that Volpe will be able to get on base more frequently this season. He should hit toward the bottom of their lineup, so there isn’t a ton of pressure on him to perform. Even if he makes a slight improvement and gets his OBP over .300, he could approach 30 stolen bases with his sprint speed ranked in the 79th percentile in baseball. He has been available later in drafts with his current ADP of 129 on Yahoo.
Jackson Chourio, Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers traded away Corbin Burnes during the offseason, which isn’t going to help them win games. They didn’t make many improvements on offense with their most notable signing being Rhys Hoskins. They will be relying on several young hitters this season, with Chourio being one of the most intriguing ones.
It has been a quick rise through the minors for Chourio, who mostly played at Double-A in 2023. Across 122 games at that level, he stole 42 bases on 51 attempts. He did a good job of making contact, recording just an 18.4 percent strikeout rate that helped propel him to a .358 wOBA.
With their eye on the future, the Brewers locked up Chourio to an eight-year, $82 million extension during the winter. Now that he has a hefty contract in hand, Chourio should begin the season as their starting center fielder. With his speed and contact skills, his current ADP of 166 on Yahoo leaves him with the potential to provide a significant boost in stolen bases for fantasy managers.
Maikel Garcia, Kansas City Royals
Garcia reached Triple-A for the first time in 2022. He produced a .350 wOBA across 40 games at that level, slugging four home runs and stealing 12 bases. While he received a brief taste of the majors that same season, he began the 2023 campaign at Triple-A again.
After just 24 games in the minors last season, the Royals decided it was time to call up Garcia. He didn’t hit for much power, hitting four home runs and producing a .358 slugging percentage across 123 games. However, his 50.6 percent hard-hit rate was certainly encouraging. He also had just a 19.5 percent whiff rate.
While Garcia needs to work on his power production, he immediately showcased his speed with 23 stolen bases on 30 total attempts. He spent most of his time playing third base and even hit leadoff in 72 of his 123 games. Although he might not be their long-term answer at the leadoff spot, he looks locked into an everyday role at third base.
The Royals made some improvements to their roster during the winter, but they still don’t have a ton of power in their lineup. They will likely be looking to manufacture runs, including taking advantage of Garcia’s speed on the bases. His ADP on Yahoo checks in at 246, so Garcia could be well worth the risk that late in drafts. ATC currently has him projected to steal 22 bases.
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