RADIO
Jake Cronenworth 2024 Player Outlook: Limited Upside Coming Off Major Regression
10 months agoSan Diego Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth made back-to-back All-Star teams in 2021 and 2022 by hitting a combined .252/.336/.425 with a .761 OPS, 38 home runs, 63 doubles, 11 triples, 159 RBI, seven stolen bases and 182 runs scored in 310 games. It led to a seven-year, $80 million contract extension last spring, but the 30-year-old lefty slugger saw a drastic dip in production in 127 games in 2023, slashing .229/.312/.378 with a .689 OPS, 10 homers, 48 RBI, six stolen bases and 54 runs scored in 522 plate appearances. His season fittingly ended early due to a fractured left wrist, but he didn't require surgery and is expected to be ready for Opening Day in 2024. Cronenworth played in over 100 games at first base and has made the full-time move to the position, making him even less attractive in fantasy. The former seventh-rounder is no sure bet to bounce back to his 2021-22 levels and is projected by ATC to hit .246/.327/.404 with 15 home runs, 67 RBI, five stolen bases and 71 runs scored in 591 plate appearances in 2024.
