Jar Jar Binks is one of the most hated characters in the Star Wars universe. And for good reasons. The voice was annoying. The words that surfed on the voice collided to produce buffoonery. His role as comedic element and usher for the young crowd was water on oil for The Phantom Menace. Addison Barger of the Toronto Blue Jays hasn’t been despised like Jar Jar Binks, but he’s been dropped in quite a few leagues on Yahoo and ESPN. Let’s dig in.
Barger is 25 years old, 6′, 210 pounds, and bats from the left side. The Blue Jays selected him in the sixth round of the 2018 MLB Draft.
It took a few years, but the power manifested in 2021 in Single-A, where he clubbed 18 home runs, drove in 80, and stole seven bases in 374 plate appearances. The walk rate was 9.6%, strikeout rate was 32.9%, and the ISO was .243.
As Barger continued to move up the minor league ranks, the walk rate increased and the strikeout rate decreased at the expense of some power. In 2023, Barger racked up 397 plate appearances in Triple-A. The walk rate was 13.1%, strikeout rate was 21.7%, and the ISO was .153.
Last season, he made his MLB debut and hit seven home runs with 28 RBI and two stolen bases. The walk rate was 6.2%, the strikeout rate was 26.7%, and the ISO was .154. The slash was only .197/.250/.351, though, as the BABIP was .239.
Through 177 plate appearances in the majors this season, the slash is .264/.322/.497 with a 7.3% walk rate, 23.7% strikeout rate, and .233 ISO. He’s hit eight home runs with 23 RBI and a stolen base.
The Statcast numbers are maginifique. The average exit velocity is 93.7 mph while the maxEV is 116.5 mph. That puts him 12th and 13th in all of MLB, respectively. The launch angle is 12.4 degrees while the barrel rate is 14% with a hard hit rate of 51.2%. Those place him 34th and 27th in MLB for barrel and hard hit rate.
Barger is a lift and pull hitter, which is good for fantasy. The pull rate is 49.6% while the flyball rate is at 40.5%. The HR/FB rate is 16.3%, but he’s maintained a high rate throughout both his minor and major league career.
The plate discipline numbers aren’t bad, with a 10.9% swinging strike rate and 27.8% chase rate. The contact rate in the zone is 88.8%.
The biggest bugaboo is that he’s currently a platoon bat, and all eight of his home runs have come against right-handed pitching. He has 29 plate appearances against left-handed pitching this season with a .231/.310.308 slash. The walk rate is 10.3% with a strikeout rate of 27.6%. He hasn’t been overmatched, but the Blue Jays are preferring other options.
And that is probably why some dropped Barger recently, as he faced the lefty Phillies trio of Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez, and Matthew Liberatore.
If Barger has been dropped, I’d scoop him up. The bat speed of 75.8 mph is in the 94th percentile. There’s plenty of red on his Statcast page. Earlier in the season, Barger was hitting towards the bottom of the order. Now, he’s hitting second or third.
Sure, platoony loony bats suck, but that has prevented some from recently being fantasy relevant.
Love Barger! Also, the whole Gungan portrayal was the most racist garbage i have ever seen any film franchise get away with.
Ha! Indeed
Barger is a joy! Love having him on the squad this past month. Started against ERod yesterday and did well which I hope reduces the platoon percentages.
1. Would you trade away Abbott and Ward for O Cruz and M Vargas. We have ten hitting cats in a 12 teamer if that context is helpful. I have Crochet, Wheeler, Yamamoto, Ranger, Misi and Bibee on my squad. So thinking losing Abbott is ok but Ward’s HRs. Need steals. Hmm.
2. Have to cut one. Who goes McNeil, Tork, or Stanton? Context again: H2H league, in third place in good shape so grabbed Stanton on hopes he can be helpful down the road. But McNeil steadier. Tork pretty meh after his great start.
3. Cowser on the wire. Home run or strikeout guy right now. Any hope his rust comes off and he can be a starter? I almost dropped McNeil today to add him but thought I would ask for your opinion first.
Hopefully!
Yeah, that trade looks good for you.
McNeil.
I’d take a shot on Cowser.
Done.
One more cut to make after adding Cowser. Stanton or Tork leaving the squad?
That’s a tough one, and I’m usually not a Stanton guy, but I think there’s more upside.
I’ve moved Barger into my 3B slot, re-routed Westburg from 3B to 2B, and banished Mookie to the bench for his puss poor play. Father Time has caught up with Mookie.
Ha! You smoking the crack like Pookie!
Are you telling me Mookie > Westburg?
Maybe not right now, but yes