NFBC Targets: ADP 450-500
Part two of finding super late round targets for DC drafts
We’re looking for some deep league targets in this series! And I found plenty of guys to like in that first post. Moving down 50 picks changes things. This is where the player pool really starts looking bleak. But I’ve done my best!
I’ve also linked to a stat resource paid subs can use. But you’ll have to get below the paywall to see that.
Hitters
Joshua Baez, Cardinals
This is Tim’s #2 Cardinals prospect, and we’ll likely get a look at him in the Majors this year. The power + speed is intriguing, to say the least.
He went 20-53 last year in 117 games. The .384 BABIP helps get the steals total way up, but he has a history of very high attempt rates. I first noticed him by checking the home run rate vs. stolen base attempt rate scatter plot. He stands out:
We have power, we have speed, and the plate skills have been fine in the minor leagues.
A 75% Contact% last year with a strikeout rate below 21%. It’s one thing to do that in AA, and another thing to do that in MLB. And he has yet to reach AAA, but we think he could end up in the bigs in the second half of the season, and maybe you can squeeze a little 10-10 action out of him after he arrives.
Jimmy Crooks, Cardinals
Taking zeroes at a C2 spot isn’t the worst thing in the world. Plenty of guys in your league will be getting crushed by their second catcher. So we can live with only getting 200-300 ABs out of a catcher slot, as long as they’re good.
Crooks can hit:
He’s a 24-year-old left-hand-hitting bat-first catcher:
With Ivan Herrera taking most of his starts at DH, the Cardinals have some openings behind the plate. And I think Crooks gets in there pretty early on. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him on the Opening Day roster, either. He’s already debuted in the Majors, struggling in 50 PAs last year.
I think you can get 300 ABs out of the guy with 8-12 bombs and some RBI production.
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