Managers Don’t Care About Fantasy Stats: Corner Report

Welcome to the first week of corner infield things with actual game data! It’s a fun time of year. No need to worry about slow starts yet, and many hot starts to go through. There are a couple of rookies who are adding a dash of excitement to the mix. Here we go!

Nah, wait, a little bit of self-promotion. I’m on Twitter/x and tidied up my account. It’s all corner infield now, notes and stats and retweets. Follow me @theeducator23

Stew is Cooking

Sal Stewart is 8-for-12 with a home run, good for a .667 average as of this writing. Is it just a hot start, or breakout?

There are good signs. He has five walks to just one strikeout, my favorite indicator. The Reds believe in him, batting him in the cleanup spot, right between Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suarez. All of the narratives are in place.

StatCast shows a 99th percentile barrel rate, exit velocity, and hard-hit percentage. The barrel rate and hard-hit could just be a hot streak and are way too soon to evaluate, but the exit velocity is exciting. Owners of Nick Kurtz last season can appreciate the potential here. He’s the type of guy you grab and ask questions later.

Murikami Arrives

Another new player who’s impressed is White Sox Japanese import Munetaka Murikami. He’s already hit three home runs, giving the Sox a rare glimpse of happiness. Looking at his metrics, Murikami has an elevated strikeout rate (30%), but also a 30% walk rate. Keep in mind, though, that it takes 150 plate appearances for these to solidify.

Murikami doesn’t seem overwhelmed by the pitching in the US, and his swing speed is fast enough to reach velocity. He likely will strike out almost 200 times and hit around 40 home runs. The batting average will decide his value in the end. It’s a great start for him, and he’s another first baseman who is making a shallow position much deeper. Just had a comp pop into my head: Adam Dunn. That would work, but you do have to buffer the average (Jon Aranda, anyone?)

Handing Out Injuries

Poor Andrew Vaughn. Coming off an outstanding second half in Milwaukee, Vaughn was again poised to break out. I realize I’ve said this now for five seasons. The Brewers were batting him cleanup, though! It was happening!

Then in the first game, he broke his hamate, out 4-to-6 weeks. That’s a notorious power sapper, too. The good news, though, is he’s already my breakout pick for 2027. For now, IL, if you have the space, and if you’re desperate, you can get Jake Bauers. Hey, he’s starting, don’t blame me. I do not take any responsibility if you pick him up.

Notes for the Road

The Guardians are playing both Kyle Manzardo and Rhys Hoskins. Manzardo is my preferred bat, but they’re pinch hitting for him against lefties, and we have a slight platoon situation here. One of the two will have to catch fire to get the full-time job and the statistical spoils that result.

I’m often called “boomer” or “unc” and I don’t care. Slugging first basemen shouldn’t bat leadoff. Nick Kurtz and Michael Busch are both doing that for their respective squads. The plate appearances are obviously good, but studies show they could lose 30-40 RBI, and for guys who will hit over 30 HR, that’s a big deal. It’s just a significantly lower amount of runners on base to drive in. So if they slump, they get put in a better spot, but then they slumped, so you’re worse off. Sorry. Unc status achieved.

Royce Lewis is healthy for now and hitting some home runs. Just tell him to jog the bases so he doesn’t pull anything.

Jake Burger is on an early heater. He’s not going to remain on that early heater (.471, 2 HR) because his whole game is based on guessing and swinging as hard as he can. And he for sure swings HARD, like 85th percentile and darn close to Junior Caminero‘s bat speed. He’s very valuable in best ball leagues like Razzslam that you should be in.

I looked at Nolan Schanuel, but we covered him in great detail here, so give Hamley a click.

Ryan O’Hearn is a good end of roster guy who qualifies at first and the outfield.

Thanks for reading, and have a great week! Who else would you like a take on?

All stats accurate as of Tuesday morning, 3/31.