Where to look for extra stolen bases late in fantasy drafts
Yahoo Fantasy analyst Andy Behrens offers a trio of sleepers that can contribute a high value of steals during the 2024 season.
Video Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ANDY BEHRENS: Stolen bases are back and in the biggest possible way. Last season, an average MLB team swiped 34 more bags than the prior year in 2022. League-wide success rate on steals was also an all-time high, over 80%. So the running is not going to stop. The bottom line entering draft season is that you're going to need some speed at every hitting position. There are no free squares this year. Everybody must contribute in steals if you are going to compete in the category.
With that in mind, I've got three stolen base sleepers for you. At the top of my list, this is the one guy I'm going to mention who might actually win this category for you if things break right. And that is Johan Rojas of the Phillies. He's an afterthought in drafts, buried in terms of ADP at every platform. But he's got a clean path to a starting role in the Phillies outfield at the moment. The guy hit over .300 in the Big Leagues after his call-up last year.
And he is reportedly a member of the best shape of his life club in spring training right now. He showed up. He gained muscle. Things are looking good for Rojas. Also, he stole 62 bags two years ago in the Minors. And he had 30 last year at Double A before his promotion and then another 14 in the Bigs. So make him a late-round priority. He's somebody who can actually be a category leader for you in steals.
And listen, I wasn't lying when I told you to search for stolen bases at every spot. That includes catcher. Bo Naylor should be the primary catcher for the Guardians this year. And he just swiped 5 bags in a half season in Cleveland. Plus, he has double-digit power as well. Two years ago, this guy swiped 20 bases in the high Minors. He has on-base skills. He's shown them at every Minor League stop. I love him as an end-of-draft option at catcher.
And while we're speaking of Guardians and Naylors, we might as well talk about his brother, Josh. This is Bo's slightly older brother. He has confirmed 20-homer power. We've seen him do it already in the Majors. He also drove in 97 runs last year in just 121 games. And critically, he stole 10 bags. That may not sound like much, but it's a lot at first base. It can also represent two or three roto points in the right league.
Again, the stolen base landscape is so different this season. You are going to want contributions from every spot in your lineup. Josh Naylor can do a little bit of everything, and he won't be a liability in any stat.
Now, go get yourself signed up for fantasy baseball. Go to the Yahoo Fantasy app. Go to the Yahoo Fantasy homepage. Sign up for 2024 fantasy baseball today.