Luis Urias 2022 Player Outlook: 2021 Peripherals Don’t Suggest A Bigger Breakout Next Season
3 years agoMilwaukee Brewers infielder Luis Urias displayed a bit of his potential last season, slashing .249/.345/.445 with 23 HRs, 75 RBI, 77 runs, and five stolen bases across 150 games. His power output was a result of improving his barrel rate and HardHit% to 9.3% and 40.5%, respectively, both well above his previous marks. Urias also upped his launch angle to 14.2 and meatball swing rate to 76.9%, each career-highs. Though these are average Statcast metrics, his home park of American Family Field will help keep his home run total above 20, but he'll never be an exceptional power hitter. Urias did make more contact, striking out 20.4% of the time after posting a 26.7% rate in 2020, and he improved on his .239 average from 2020 after decreasing his groundball rate to 41.8%. However, the 24-year-old still doesn't connect with the ball enough (25th percentile for average exit velocity) to contribute in that category. After stealing five bags in 2021, it wouldn't be surprising if he's around that total again next season while on a team that runs more than most, but his 40th percentile sprint speed doesn't do him any favors. If he hits near the bottom of the order again, there won't be enough opportunities to supply a fair share of runs and RBI, especially in an average-at-best Brewers lineup. Urias is a fine backup infielder, but he won't be a major factor in any specific category, so his ADP of 171 is pricy.