Fantasy baseball managers love chasing breakouts. The problem is that by the time a player has already broken out, you’re paying full price. League-winning pickups happen before the rest of your league notices. That’s where underlying metrics become invaluable. Exit velocity stabilizes before batting average. Plate discipline improves before home runs arrive. Hard-hit rate often tells a story that the traditional stat line simply can’t. As we approach the midpoint in the season, it is time to dig for some second-half breakouts. This week’s Hitter Profiles focus on a group of hitters that all have one thing in common. The surface numbers leave room for skepticism, but the underlying data paints a much different picture. Whether it’s bad luck, a delayed breakout, an injury discount or a young hitter beginning to figure things out, these are four bats I’m targeting for the second half in redraft leagues.
Please, blog, may I have some more?