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The NL Central doesn't have the same kind of fantasy baseball stars as other divisions. As a matter of fact, the first player selected from the NL Central isn't until Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is taken in the early fourth round.
After that, Devin Williams, Cody Bellinger, Freddy Peralta, and Nico Hoerner are off the board next. Williams is usually the first closer off the board in the fifth round, while Bellinger, Peralta, and Hoerner all go in the sixth. Paul Goldschmidt then follows them at the backend of the sixth round.
However, these stars won't be featured on this list because of their early ADPs. Instead, this article will feature five players (one from each NL Central team) who are mid-to-late round value picks in 2024. So, let's dive in and find out which players from the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and Pittsburgh Pirates make this list.
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Willy Adames, Milwaukee Brewers
There aren't many sleeper options for the Brewers in fantasy this season, but shortstop Willy Adames is definitely a solid option later in drafts. His current average ADP sits at 191, which means Adames is a high-reward, low-risk selection in the 19th or 20th round. His ADP also sits lower on sites like Yahoo (197) and ESPN (199).
Adames' numbers won't wow you, especially with his low batting average. He hasn't hit over .240 in consecutive years, and in 2023, he finished with a .217 average. However, the Brewers shortstop makes up for it with his power and RBI numbers. Last season, he hit 24 home runs to go with 80 RBI and 29 doubles.
Power from your shortstop could be hard to find in fantasy sometimes. Unless you spend a high draft pick on Corey Seager, Francisco Lindor, Bobby Witt Jr., or Trea Turner, you likely can't expect over 20 HRs. Adames, though, can give you those power numbers while also contributing a high walk rate (11.1%).
In 2023, the Brewers infielder ranked top-five in HRs, RBI, and walks among all shortstops. Adames' high strikeout numbers and low average bring down his fantasy value, but he makes up for it in other ways.
Christopher Morel, Chicago Cubs
The same talking points that applied to Adames above also apply here to Chicago Cubs third baseman Christopher Morel. Morel might not hit for a solid average (.241 career average) and will strike out quite a bit (133 times in 2023), but his power numbers make him a worthy pick in the later rounds.
Last season, Morel hit 26 long balls across 107 Major League Baseball games. The 24-year-old also hit 11 more in the minors to start the year, helping him finish with 37 total HRs during his 2023 campaign across both leagues. The right-handed slugger is currently going in the 19th or 20th round of drafts this season, which is a value for fantasy managers who need HRs in the final couple of rounds.
Cubs first homer of the spring comes from Christopher Morel!
— CHGO Cubs (@CHGO_Cubs) February 23, 2024
Those high home run totals should also continue for Morel in 2024. His average exit velocity (92.1 mph), barrel rate (15.9%), and hard-hit rate (50%) all ranked in the top 10% in all of baseball last year. With the 24-year-old looking like the Cubs' starting third baseman this year, he should surpass his 429 plate appearances in 2023. That should help him hit over 30 HRs and 70 RBI this year.
Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals
There was a learning curve for outfielder Jordan Walker in his first year in the majors. He hit .276 at the plate with 16 HRs, 51 RBI, and 19 doubles. However, Walker definitely showed flashes of his potential in 2023, especially toward the end of the season. That's why a Year 2 breakout is certainly possible.
Over the final month of the 2023 season, Walker hit .339 at the plate with five HRs, 16 RBI, and six doubles across 30 games. During that span, the former top-five overall prospect lifted his batting average by 19 points (.257 to .276) and showed major growth at the plate.
#STLCards rising star Jordan Walker poses for a fan’s selfie at Spring Training in Jupiter, Fla. pic.twitter.com/4yqyXPieby
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) February 19, 2024
With his second MLB season on deck, there's a strong chance Walker will up his numbers across the board in 2024. He has to work on some things at the plate, but the talent is surely there. The 21-year-old outfielder is certainly worth a shot at his current ADP of 121 due to his upside.
Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene comes into the 2024 season following back-to-back injury-riddled seasons. So, he will be somewhat of a riskier option than the other sleepers on this list. However, his potential and upside are too great to pass up in the middle rounds.
Greene is the former second overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft and a top-25 overall prospect in baseball. Injuries just haven't allowed him to reach his full potential in the big leagues. We've seen, though, what the Reds pitcher can bring to the majors. Last year, he had five 10-strikeout games, including a 14-strikeout outing across seven innings against the Minnesota Twins late in September.
Hunter Greene is one pitch away from being considered a very good young starter, to becoming a very good starter in Major League Baseball.
- @CharlieG__ pic.twitter.com/qXmFr0PZ7N
— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) February 26, 2024
There's always an injury risk when you draft Greene, which is likely why his ADP is 132. Nevertheless, he has always been a high strikeout pitcher -- 316 strikeouts across 237.2 innings pitched in his MLB career -- and he has a chance to finally break out in Year 3.
David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates
The final value pick on this list from the NL Central is Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar. Bednar is coming off his best season as a pro, where he finished with a 2.00 ERA and 39 saves across 67.1 IP. His 39 saves were also tied for the National League lead with Camilo Doval.
On paper, Bednar might not look like a great pick. He is the closer on a Pirates team that is expected not to be very competitive in 2024. PECOTA has Pittsburgh finishing with just 73 wins this year, but that shouldn't matter too much for the closer's fantasy value.
Despite the Pirates only winning 76 games last season, Bednar still saw 42 save opportunities. He converted on 39 of those chances, including 15 straight to end the year. He's one of the top closers in the game, and if you need saves or relief pitching in the middle rounds, he should be a strong consideration. His current ADP is in the ninth round, but he's been going a little bit later in both ESPN and CBS leagues.
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