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Michael Brantley 2022 Player Outlook: Great Batting Average, But Not Much Else
3 years agoHouston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley has been one of the premier contact hitters in the league for some time now. He has always been a reliable source of batting average, and that continued in 2021 when Brantley put up a .311 AVG to go with a .362 OBP, .437 SLG, and a .347 WOBA in 121 games. His 8 HR and 47 RBI, on the other hand, are not going to help fantasy managers much. Brantley has had durability concerns throughout his career and was bogged down by various injuries last season. As he reaches his mid to late 30s, this will only accelerate, especially considering Yordan Alvarez will serve as Houston's primary designated hitter. Brantley's shouldn't be relied on for those counting stats as his power has dipped and likely isn't coming back. The 34-year-old's Barrel % was in the 26th percentile, and his 89 MPH average exit velocity is mediocre. That being said, Brantley provides good value at his ADP of 173 if you are in need of batting average or OBP. Brantley's .312 expected average was 2nd in baseball last year, and his 10.4 K% was 3rd in the league. ATC projects the veteran to slash .291/.351/.432 with 11 home runs, 55 RBI, and 65 runs scored across 507 plate appearances, making Brantley roughly fair value at his current ADP.
