When I decided to write up Joey Wiemer of the Washington Nationals, I was both excited and fearful. For starters, we know what happened right after the Wiemar Republic, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist writing jokes about Germany, Hitler, and Nazis. So I was pleasantly surprised when Joey Wiemer is from Ohio, and the family pronounces Wiemer as WEE-mer, like Oscar Mayer’s Wiener, instead of VYE-mar. Props to whoever made the switch because nothing makes me tingly inside like talking about wieners. I like ’em big, juicy, and el natural, meaning no ketchup, mustard, relish, or whatever disgusting condiments that are slathered on. Chili and cheese are acceptable. Tabasco? Gross. That said, when it comes to baseball players, I want all the sauce. Bat flips, yelling, home runs. The whole shebang. And Joey Wiemer has been providing plenty to start the season, belting two home runs in four games while scoring five runs and driving in four. Will this Wiemer end like the Republic, or will the hot sauce continue burning the mouths of fantasy nerds everywhere?
Joey Wiemer is 27 years old, 6-foot-4, 226 pounds, and bats from the right side. He was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB draft. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 2024, then moved to the Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, and Washington Nationals, all within the span of a year.
Throughout his minor league career, the walk rate was often in the double-digits while the strikeout rate was in the mid-to-high 20s. The power/speed combo was evident right away, as he hit 27 home runs and stole 30 bases in 472 plate appearances during his first professional season. As he moved up the minor league system pagoda, though, the power began to dissipate, going from a mid-.200 ISO to the .150 range.
Wiemer made his MLB debut in 2023 with the Brewers, slashing .204/.283/.362 in 410 plate appearances. He hit 13 home runs and stole 11 bases. The walk rate was 8.8%, strikeout rate was 28.3%, and the ISO was .158. His next MLB stint was in 2025 with the Marlins, and he slashed .236/.279/.436 in only 61 plate appearances. The walk rate was 3.3% while the strikeout rate was 37.7%. The ISO was .200, and he hit three home runs.
Through 17 plate appearances this season, the slash is .615/.706/1.231 with a 23.5% walk rate, 11.8% strikeout rate, and .615 ISO. L. O. L. The BABIP is .667, and the sample size is extremely small, so this isn’t going to continue.
On Sunday, Grey wrote in the recap, “Here’s the thing, I nor anyone can tell if a guy is just hot the first week or breaking out. Wiemer is likely a schmotato, but ya never know.”
I’m going to dig in and see if we anything of substance can be gleaned.
In 61 plate appearances last season, the average exit velocity was 91.4 mph. It’s 91.6 mph this season. Back in 2023, that number was 89.3 mph. The launch angle is 1.6 degrees this season, with a 45.5% ground ball rate. That means the HR/FB is 66.7%! For perspective, Aaron Judge led MLB last season with a 30.7% mark. The barrel rate is 18.2% and was 14.7% last season. So, he’s hitting the ball hard and squaring up pitches. That’s good, but more often than not, Wiemer is killing gophers. No bueno.
The contact outside the zone is 69.2%. That number was 48.6% last season and 48.3% back in 2023. Luis Arraez was at 93.9% last season, while a 69% mark would place Joey Wiemer top 40.
In the prior two seasons, Wiemer had a bat speed of 72.1 mph. That number has spiked to 74.8 mph this season.
The Nationals have many former Driveline employees – pitching coach Simon Mathews, minor league pitching coach Luke Dziados, assistant hitting coach Travis Fitta, and assistant hitting coach Andrew Aydt.
Back in 2024, the Brewers reworked Wiemer’s swing to make it quieter to help with the high strikeout rate. The numbers didn’t produce tangible results as the strikeout rate continued to hover in the high-20 to low-30 percent range. It’s possible that the new hitting coaches in Washington have unlocked something. The increased bat speed is a huge tangible result, as is the 11.8% strikeout rate.
The sample size is extremely small, and I do have some skepticism. That said, I admittedly whispered “suckers” to myself when I saw how the ownership percentage for Wiemer increased recently, but after digging in, I think he’s worthy of a pickup.
He’s free, is hitting the ball hard, and he still has wheels, although he hasn’t stolen a base yet. Last season, the sprint speed was in the 77th percentile, and he showed in the minors that he can swipe more than a few bases. Wiemer is batting fifth against left-handed pitching and eighth or ninth against righties. The launch angle, or lack of, is a worry, but the bat speed increase is B. U. T. ful.
12 team dynasty 5×5 Colton Cowser was dropped I need LF help…pick him or do you think k Beavers steals plate appearances?
Cmon, Hutch. Read the room. We talkin bout naked wieners.
I think the defense provides a high floor for Cowser. That said, he’s still a platoon bat, but I think he’s worth the pick up. Both he and the Orioles offense have started slowly, but I expect them to be one of the better offenses in the league.
Kind of like The movie Waiting!
There’s a word in Canada for those who eat hot dogs with no condiments.
Weirdos.
Lol. I am the King of Weirdos!
Plain Doggers!
No condiments at all? That feels like something that should get you put on some sort of watchlist.
You ain’t getting thru TSA with an empty hot dog
So delicious
who puts nothing on a weiner? is it in a bun? is this a cry for help?
My naked wiener is wrapped in a lightly toasted bun, like grandmas sweater wrapped around my shoulders on a brisk fall day.
Don’t want none, hun, unless it’s a weiner in a bun
I’m all about the weiner in the bun, but not if the homies can’t have none.
wait, so you just straight up eat a hotdog with nothing on it? this feels like serial killer behavior
cold, dipped in ketchup
hahaha, gross
Mmmmmmm. Y’all are gross for slabbering all that gunk on a perfectly good wiener.