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We are not deep into the 2024 MLB action, but it's never too early to submit waiver claims. This article will discuss fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the outfield in Week 4 -- April 15 through April 21. It is still probably premature to give up on the struggling players who excited you during the draft. However, trading in some of your end-of-the-bench slots for players with more promising ceilings can be crucial to fantasy baseball success in the long run.
As the sample size becomes more substantial, we can start making informed decisions on the legitimacy of 2024 player performance. This article will highlight the guys who are trending upward and those whose standing with their team has changed significantly for one reason or another. At this stage, plenty remains speculative, but it's better to get out in front of the trends.
The names in this article are in order of percentage rostered and are not indicative of a confidence ranking. In the first few weeks, rostered percentages can change quickly. So be quick to check your leagues for their availability.
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Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Standard Leagues
Colton Cowser, Baltimore Orioles (51% Rostered)
Colton Cowser is the hottest outfield waiver wire name at the moment. Following an unremarkable debut in 2023, the 24-year-old appears to be now figuring out major-league pitching. Through 12 games this season, he sports a .481/.500/1.037 slash line with three home runs and an absurd 332 wRC+. Cowser's advanced metrics are equally eye-popping, generating a .720 xSLG, 19% barrel rate, .476 xwOBA, and a 61.9% hard-hit rate. Without a doubt, there will be regression, but that doesn't discount the fact that Cowser looks to be the real deal. Get him while you still can.
Cowser may get lost in the mix next to Jackson Holliday and the rest of the Baltimore Orioles' prospect pool, but don't forget his pedigree. He entered 2024 as the second-ranked prospect in the Baltimore farm system and the 17th overall prospect in baseball. Cowser routinely terrorized minor league pitching, posting a .937 OPS last season, up from a .874 OPS in 2022 and a .982 OPS in 2021. His recent success is most likely legitimate.
Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia Phillies (33% Rostered)
Brandon Marsh is another popular pickup recently. Through 13 games, the 26-year-old is slashing .326/.348/.628 with four home runs. He is a bright spot in a slumping Philadelphia Phillies lineup and has seen his role elevate recently as a result. Though he still isn't receiving consistent playing time against southpaws, Marsh's hot bat has been promoted to the heart of the batting order on most days.
Looking under the hood, Marsh's advanced numbers seem to support his offensive breakout. He sports some phenomenal numbers, like a 94.4 MPH average exit velocity and a 66.7% hard-hit rate, alongside a .482 xSLG, 11.1% barrel rate, 37% sweet-spot rate, and a .347 xwOBA. Marsh's .435 BABIP leaves room for regression, but he appears to be settling in as a productive major-league hitter.
Alex Kirilloff, Minnesota Twins (19% Rostered)
Alex Kirilloff is another name limited somewhat by a seemingly unshakeable platoon role. That said, he sees action on most days, and the production is worthwhile. He slashed .270/.348/.445 with a 120 wRC+ in 88 games at the major-league level last season, and Kirilloff has improved upon that success with a .324/.381/.649 slash line through 11 games in 2024.
In addition to Kirilloff's surface numbers getting a boost this year, his underlying metrics have also remarkably improved. He boasts an outstanding .506 xSLG, alongside similarly encouraging stats like a 13.3% barrel rate, 92.4 MPH average exit velocity, and a .365 xwOBA. The sample size may be too small, though Kirilloff has significantly cut down on his strikeouts as well, carrying a fantastic 12.8% strikeout rate thus far.
Nelson Velazquez, Kansas City Royals (17% Rostered)
Nelson Velazquez is emerging as a much more consistent hitter than he gets credit for. Last season, he generated a .880 OPS and 132 wRC+ over a 53-game sample size. So far in 2024? Velazquez is slashing .333/.385/.521 with a 164 wRC+ through 13 games played. The 25-year-old has established himself as a foundational contributor in a streaking Kansas City Royals offense.
While a problematic 34% strikeout rate and a 42.9% whiff rate likely signal a batting average dip on the way, Velazquez's batted-ball metrics are encouraging. He owns a .466 xSLG, 90.6 MPH average exit velocity, 44.4% hard-hit rate, and a 40.7% sweet-spot rate. Time will tell if Velazquez is for real, but he's been doing it for the better part of a year now and crucially has an everyday playing role.
Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Deeper Leagues
Edward Olivares, Pittsburgh Pirates (9% Rostered)
Edward Olivares is quietly one of baseball's hottest hitters right now. Through 11 games, he's slashing .308/.357/.564 with three home runs and a 157 wRC+. That success includes an incredible .700 xSLG, .421 xBA, 20.7% barrel rate, and a 58.6% sweet spot rate. Olivares' torrid start to the season has elevated him out of the assumed platoon-hitter role and into an everyday spot in the Pirates lineup.
It's difficult to know what to make of Olivares' performance. He's in his fifth major league season and has never been an exceptional contributor at the plate. Olivares generated a 105 wRC+ across 107 games with the Kansas City Royals last season and a 109 wRC+ over 53 games in 2022. There is cautious optimism that the 28-year-old has unlocked a new level in his hitting, though we should not be surprised if Olivares regresses back to normal.
Jared Walsh, Texas Rangers (9% Rostered)
Jared Walsh has been one the biggest benefactors with Josh Jung and Nathaniel Lowe on the injured list. Through 14 games, he's slashing .273/.360/.386 with a 121 wRC+. That includes some impressive advanced numbers, like a .474 xSLG, 10.3% barrel rate, 44.8% sweet spot rate, and a .368 xwOBA. Walsh's consistent role may evaporate once the Texas Rangers get healthier, but he is a worthwhile streaming option for now.
Are we ready to believe that Jared Walsh is back? It's been a rocky road over the last two seasons, with Walsh posting a 33 wRC+ over 39 games played in 2023 and a 77 wRC+ across 118 games in 2022. Walsh's 2021 All-Star campaign feels like a distant memory by now, but he's only 30 years old, and a bounceback is certainly within the range of outcomes. He's worth a roster spot in deeper leagues.
Ryan O'Hearn, Baltimore Orioles (4% Rostered)
Ryan O'Hearn continues to be an under-the-radar stud for the Baltimore Orioles. In 11 appearances, he boasts a .281/.378/.500 slash line with a 159 wRC+. That includes a .546 xSLG, .419 xwOBA, 91.7 MPH average exit velocity, and a .328 xBA.
Pairing 2024 production with O'Hearn's 118 wRC+ from last season, and the success is legitimate. The only barrier preventing O'Hearn from being a fantasy breakout is playing time. He currently operates in a platoon role, which places him in the lineup more often than not. However, the Orioles have exceptional organizational depth, meaning O'Hearn is unlikely to become an everyday player at any point in the foreseeable future.
More Players to Consider
- Lars Nootbaar, St. Louis Cardinals (41% rostered)
- Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston Red Sox (36% rostered)
- Will Benson, Cincinnati Reds (31% rostered)
- Mitch Haniger, Seattle Mariners (20% rostered)
- Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies (19% rostered)
- Jurickson Profar, San Diego Padres (14% rostered)
More Deep-League Players to Consider
- Bryan De La Cruz, Miami Marlins (8% rostered)
- Harold Ramirez, Tampa Bay Rays (6% rostered)
- Leody Taveras, Texas Rangers (6% rostered)
- Brenton Doyle, Colorado Rockies (5% rostered)
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