Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups For Fantasy Baseball - Week 5

Kevin Hickey's fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for outfielders and Week 5 of the 2023 MLB season. Consider adding and streaming these free-agent hitters.

This article will discuss fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the outfield in Week 5 – April 24 through April 30. Whether your team is derailed by injuries or you’re simply ready to give up on your draft day darlings, navigating the waiver wire will be crucial to finding long-term success in fantasy baseball. 

As we move through the season, trends fluctuate, and we must learn to react in real-time. When it comes to hot streaks, you have the act fast, or you may miss out. This set of outfield-eligible players may not have the longest track record or could be considered unsustainable. However, you have to take risks early in the season in order to find your breakout stars for the remainder of the season. It will already be too late if you wait until these names are established. 

Names listed are in order of roster percentage, not confidence ranking. Position eligibility and roster percentage are based on Yahoo, so check your leagues for availability! 

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Esteury Ruiz, Oakland Athletics

44% Rostered

Ruiz's MLB service time is quite limited so far, but he's starting to find his groove offensively. Through 20 games, Ruiz owns a respectable .299/.382/.383 slash line. They are not terribly exciting numbers, though the .974 OPS he posted in 114 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season suggests there's more pop in his bat than we've seen. Regardless, the Athletics are a directionless team giving Ruiz an everyday playing opportunity at the top of the batting order, and that role feels cemented for the time being.

Realistically, Ruiz's .382 on-base percentage is what we should care most about from his slash line. He'll hit a decent share of extra-base hits, but stolen bases are why he's on our radar. Ruiz led the minor leagues with 85 stolen bases in 2022. He is a perfect five-for-five on stolen base opportunities this season and figures to showcase his 70-grade speed as often as he can going forward. Ruiz's ownership is creeping up, so snag him now if he's still available, especially if stolen bases are commodified in your league.

Joey Gallo, Minnesota Twins

37% Rostered

Following a pair of horrible seasons offensively, it may be time to declare that Joey Gallo has shed his "washed" designation. He has hit five home runs in his first ten games alongside a .296/.406/.889 slash line. That includes an insane 38.9% barrel rate, .973 xSLG, 83.3% hard-hit rate, 100 MPH average exit velocity, and a career-low 28.1% strikeout rate.

Gallo entered 2023 as something of an afterthought, but it wasn't that long ago he was a perennial 40-home run threat. He's still only 29 years old, so it's not crazy to believe that a sustainable return to form is in the works. Further, if he keeps his contact rates up, it's even possible we are yet to see the best of Gallo. 

Joey Gallo in 10 games this season:

8-for-27 (.296), 5 HR, 2B, 8 SO, 3 BB, 1.256 OPS pic.twitter.com/sCxVwqzOvU

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 22, 2023

Jorge Soler, Miami Marlins

25% Rostered

Maybe it's because he plays for the Marlins, but Soler is not getting enough credit for tearing the cover off the ball this season. He's posted five home runs and seven doubles through the first 17 games, including a .267/.343/.633 slash line.

The surface numbers are strong, though underlying advanced metrics are even more encouraging. Soler ranks in the 95th percentile or better in each of xSLG (.691), hard-hit rate (56.5%), average exit velocity (96.5 MPH), barrel rate (23.9%), and xwOBA (.446). He's also striking out at a career-low 20.9% rate. 

Brent Rooker, Oakland Athletics

21% Rostered

Oakland's lineup is far from a fantasy baseball haven, but it's hard to argue against Rooker's individual success this season. Through his first 13 appearances, Rooker has smacked four home runs with an unexpected 204 OPS+.

Prior to 2023, Rooker struggled to get going at the plate in 81 career games scattered between 2020, 2021, and 2022. Sporadic playing time may be partially to blame for the struggles, as he did demonstrate prowess at the plate during his various minor league stints. In 81 games at Triple-A last year, Rooker hit 28 home runs and 27 doubles alongside a .289/.395/.649 slash line.

It's hard to know how sustainable Rooker's hitting numbers are going forward, given the small sample size, but his underlying statistics support the upward trend. Thus far, he sports an impressive .643 xSLG, 459 xwOBA, 20.6% barrel rate, and 93.2 MPH average exit velocity. Notably, Rooker is putting the ball in play at an elite rate, carrying a minuscule 14.6% strikeout rate.

Jack Suwinski, Pittsburgh Pirates

8% Rostered

On the opposite end of the making-contact spectrum is Jack Suwinski, who strikes out at a 26.9% clip. He also whiffs on pitches 33.3% of the time, further complicating his ability to make the defense work for his out. That said, when Suwinski does put the ball in play, he is crushing it.

He ranks in the 95th percentile or better in each of xSLG (.739), average exit velocity (95 MPH), xwOBA (.473), and barrel rate (27.6%). Through 14 games, that has translated into five home runs and a 169 OPS+. Suwinski is a high-reward, buy-low candidate. It's hard to imagine his ownership staying this low.

Three straight at-bats with a bomb for Jack Suwinski. It’s just the Pirates year. pic.twitter.com/Sj1tM7bxzm

— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) April 19, 2023

Stone Garrett, Washington Nationals

3% Rostered

Garrett's role with the Nationals has slowly picked up steam over the season's first few weeks. He began the campaign in Triple-A before working his way to an early call-up. From there, Washington sprinkled in some starts for Garrett as a platoon specialist, exclusively hitting against left-handed pitching. Based on this past week, his role may finally be inching toward that of an everyday player as Garrett picked up three starts against right-handed pitching. 

This is the best time to get in on Garrett. He's hit well throughout his minor-league tenure and succeeded at the major-league level with limited exposure. Through 102 career at-bats between 2022 and 2023, Garrett owns a .917 OPS with five home runs. Rostering him now is something of a speculative move, as it remains to be seen if he'll stick as an everyday player. If Garrett does get the consistent opportunity, he brings a higher upside than most of the Nationals' otherwise offensively-challenged lineup.

More Players To Consider

• TJ Friedl, Reds - 15% rostered
• Oscar Colas, White Sox - 15% rostered
• Lane Thomas, Nationals - 11% rostered

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers