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Bryan De La Cruz 2024 Player Outlook: Average Production With Upside After Solid 2023
9 months agoMiami Marlins outfielder Bryan De La Cruz played his first full season in the majors in 2023 and, in most circles, he probably exceeded expectations. The 27-year-old accrued a .257-19-78-60-4 line with a .309 WOBA and 92 wRC+ in 626 PA. Digging deeper though, it appears much of his production came in the first half of the season, tallying a .279-10-49-40-3 line with a .326 WOBA and 103 wRC+ compared to a .228-9-29-20-1 line with a .285 WOBA and 76 wRC+ in the second half. Perhaps it was the season-long grind or pitchers exploiting his weaknesses, or maybe it was a bit of both, but hopefully he countered and made strides in the offseason. Contact%, K%, and other peripherals were mostly average in 2023, but ATC projections see a slight improvement in some of his numbers with a .266-20-69-63-4 line with a .324 WOBA and 102 wRC+. That is projected over 562 plate appearances though, so if he can manage closer to the 626 PA he saw last season, then the counting stats should be even higher, leaving some upside for fantasy managers. RotoBaller ranks the righty at 240 overall, well ahead of his NFBC ADP of 281.
