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Louie Varland 2024 Fantasy Baseball Outlook: Late-Round Value With Massive Upside If He Can Win A Spot In Minnesota's Rotation
9 months agoMinnesota Twins right-hander Louie Varland ended last season on a high note. He was called up in September and posted a 1.50 ERA and a 17:1 K: BB across 12 innings. Overall, the 26-year-old owned a 4.63 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 71: 17 K: BB across 68 innings as a starter and reliever in 2023. His fastball touched triple digits at the end of last season. Varland's fastball velocity (95.3 MPH) was in the 73rd percentile while posting an elite 6.00 BB% rate (83rd percentile) per Baseball Savant. He is competing with newly acquired Anthony DeSclafani (elbow) for the fifth spot in Minnesota's rotation. DeSclafani is dealing with elbow soreness and is uncertain about Opening Day. Varland has had an excellent spring and has yet to allow a run while posting a 0.64 WHIP and 11 strikeouts over 11 innings. With the strong spring, Varland should win a spot in Minnesota's rotation and is a bargain at his current NFBC ADP of 287. ATC projects Varland with a (7-6) record, 4.15 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 116 strikeouts over 120 innings. If Varland can carry over his hot spring, he could easily smash his ADP and surpass projections, making him a valuable pick in the later rounds of upcoming fantasy drafts.
