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Mike Barner looks at five outfielders to target in 2024 fantasy baseball drafts. Who should you be drafting to fill out your outfield positions?
Some of the best fantasy baseball options are outfielders. For anyone who is lucky enough to land the top overall pick in their draft, Ronald Acuna Jr. is the consensus first choice. Among the top 12 players in ADP on Yahoo, eight of them are eligible at outfield.
While there is plenty of top-tier talent in the outfield, there are also some great options as the draft moves along. For those who miss out on the likes of Acuna, Julio Rodriguez, and Corbin Carroll, there is no need to panic.
Let’s make our way through various points of the draft and highlight five outfielders to target this season.
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Evan Carter, Texas Rangers
After being selected in the second round of the 2020 draft, Carter quickly made his way through the Rangers system. He spent most of the 2023 campaign in Triple-A, posting a .395 wOBA to go along with 12 home runs and 22 stolen bases over 97 games. He showed an excellent eye at the plate, recording a 16.0 percent walk rate and a 22.3 percent strikeout rate.
Carter was eventually called up to the majors, playing in 23 regular season games. He posted an identical 16.0 percent walk rate, although he did strikeout more. Still, he had a .435 wOBA. In the playoffs, he hit .300 with a .917 OPS to help the Rangers win the World Series.
Entering this season, Carter should see plenty of playing time for the Rangers, although he could get some games off against left-handed pitchers. Still, his ability to provide power, speed, and hit for average makes him an appealing option at his ADP of 71 on Yahoo.
Teoscar Hernandez, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers made plenty of headlines this offseason. From signing Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to trading for Tyler Glasnow, they have a loaded roster. One addition that might have flown under the radar is the signing of Hernandez.
Hernandez’s lone season with the Mariners was a disappointment. He posted a .178 ISO and a .317 wOBA, both of which were well below his career marks. A lot of his issues came at home, where he had a .163 ISO and a .276 wOBA. On the road, he recorded a .191 ISO and a .353 wOBA.
The move away from Seattle to the Dodgers could prove to be a significant boost for Hernandez. He could hit as high as fifth in their lineup, with Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Ohtani, and Will Smith all ahead of him. THE BAT X has him projected to hit .269 with a .347 wOBA, 29 home runs, 82 runs scored, and 87 RBI. ATC and Steamer also both have him projected to hit at least 27 home runs and record at least 85 RBI. He is currently going outside the top 100 with an ADP of 114 on Yahoo.
Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals
Walker is another member of the 2020 draft. He was taken in the first round by the Cardinals and made it to Double-A in 2022. He dominated the level, posting 19 home runs, 68 RBI, 100 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases over just 119 games. He also hit .306 with a .396 wOBA.
With Walker playing so well in the minors, he made his way to the majors in 2023. While his numbers weren’t off the charts, there was a lot to be excited about. His strikeout rate was only 22.4 percent and he generated a .341 wOBA.
The Cardinals moved on from Tyler O’Neill during the offseason, freeing up a bit of a logjam that they had built up in their outfield. With a full regular season under his belt, Walker could be primed to have an even better sophomore campaign. His current ADP of 120 on Yahoo doesn’t come with much risk, either.
Masataka Yoshida, Boston Red Sox
Yoshida didn’t have any eye-popping stats in his first season with the Red Sox. However, he provided valuable production when considering his overall body of work. His greatest attribute is his ability to make contact. He only had an 18.3 percent whiff rate and a 14.0 percent strikeout rate.
When it was all said and done, Yoshida batted .289 with 15 home runs, 71 runs scored, 72 RBI, and eight stolen bases. The projection systems largely see a similar season in store for him this year. ATC has him projected to hit .291 with 16 home runs, while Steamer projects him to bat .292 with 17 home runs. His current ADP is 137 on Yahoo, making him a great target for those who need help with batting average later in drafts.
Brandon Nimmo, New York Mets
The Mets had a disappointing season that turned them into sellers at the trade deadline. One of their few players who did live up to expectations was Nimmo. He even slugged a career-high 24 home runs. He also used his 10.9 percent walk rate to help him generate a .363 OBP and a .359 wOBA.
After scoring 102 runs in 2022, Nimmo crossed home plate 89 times last season. He’ll continue to bat leadoff and should have plenty of opportunities to score runs again with Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso among the hitters behind him.
ATC has Nimmo projected to bat .268 with 19 home runs and 89 runs scored, while Steamer projects him to hit .269 with 20 home runs and 97 runs scored. His ADP is all the way down to 192, which seems way to low. Look for that number to be on the rise as we get closer to Opening Day, and rightfully so.
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