RADIO
Lars Nootbaar 2023 Outlook: Rollercoaster Season Leads To Potential Late-Round Value
2 years agoSt. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar ended up with a so-so performance in 2022, finishing with a .228/.340/.448 slash line to go along with 14 homers, 40 RBI, 53 runs, and four steals in 347 PA. That being said, he was either blazing hot or ice cold at various points in the season. His OPS went from .591 in June, to 1.030 in July, to .979 in August, to .693 in September/October. This, along with his lack of major league experience, makes it tough to pinpoint the true value he brings. His low ADP of 195.6 doesn't seem to factor in the potential upside with Nootbaar. He appears poised to be the Cardinals everyday right fielder and should play the majority of the team's games. He also brings very solid advanced metrics to the table, notably a .346 xwOBA, 91.7 mph average exit velocity, and 12.1% barrel rate. Given this, expect his batting average to creep up closer to league average and his counting stats to see a solid uptick with increased plate appearances. He showed tremendous upside last year, and that makes him well worth a late-round pick.
