We have officially kicked off the 2024 fantasy baseball season with baseball in Seoul South Korea. The Dodgers and Padres socked it out to start the season and reaffirmed this column’s decision to place Mookie Betts as the best non-Acuna bat for 2024. Now that we have had an early glimpse of regular season baseball, we are only a few days away from kicking off the season for everybody else. For us here at Razzball, we wind down our coverage for the preseason and take the opportunity to unveil the next 20 spots of our top 100 hitters for the 2024 fantasy baseball season. Without further ado, let’s give it another go for fantasy owners!
61. Teoscar Hernandez
62. Will Smith
63. Ketel Marte
64. Wyatt Langford
The Dodgers lineup will boost the profile of players this year due to an overall bump in counting numbers. Teoscar Hernandez is as volatile a profile as they come with a lot of whiffs and no walks, however when the ball is in play he is generally getting results which will play in LA. Will Smith will bat cleanup for the Dodgers this year and that alone might make this ranking a bit too low. Finally, at the end of this tier, we have this year’s Corbin Carroll as a can’t miss prospect in Wyatt Langford. He has done little this spring to slow the hype train and will be plugged into the defending champ’s lineup on opening day. Langford will bring some speed but mostly power as he adapts to the league. If you want him in drafts, you have to pay up.
65. Jordan Walker
66. Seiya Suzuki
67. Evan Carter
68. Spencer Torkelson
69. Ke’Bryan Hayes
This tier is all about potential and guys who can absolutely rocket up the rankings as they get their year underway. Jordan Walker will be in his second year in the league looking to lean into that large frame that should start to threaten 30 homer power while providing sneaky speed in the double digits. Evan Carter is seen by many to be the front runner for the AL Rookie of the Year even with another teammate firmly in that discussion. Finally, Ke’Bryan Hayes is looking primed for a breakout this year as he continues to show one of the best batted ball profiles while needing just a little bit more lift to turn that power into big results. If this spring is any indication, Hayes is in for a big year at the plate in Pittsburgh.
70. Nico Hoerner
71. Kyle Schwarber
72. Jazz Chisholm Jr.
73. Yainer Diaz
74. Dansby Swanson
75. Andres Gimenez
76. Zack Gelof
Sometimes we just need reliability in our lineups without massive upside, but at the same time that gives us a group that simply lacks excitement for this season. We have talked about Nico in other forums this offseason and the downfall of his all speed and minor power profile in that Chicago lineup. There will be owners that chase the speed, but just recognize the penalty that comes alongside that plan. Also in this group, we have some red flags starting with batting average penalties in Kyle Schwarber who is a much better fit for OBP and real world leagues. We also include injury risk with Jazz Chisholm Jr. who has never seen beyond 124 games in a season. Chisholm has the talent to go much higher in our rankings for a fantasy owner willing to take the gamble on the talent alone.
77. Vinnie Pasquantino
78. James Outman
79. Jackson Chourio
80. Anthony Volpe
We round out the top 80 with a lot of potential. Vinnie Pasquantino has 30 homer power with batting average upside should he manage to stay healthy this season. James Outman has struggled against lefties across his career but recently showed improvement in that arena. If Outman can continue to grow within the Dodgers lineup there is a lot to be excited about as he can fill the stat sheet for owners. Chourio and Volpe are high upside and high risk both as young players who are trying to establish themselves at the major level. If Volpe shows growth in getting on base, his speed could be a game changer in 2024 and worth the gamble.
Wyatt Langford is ranked both #46 and #64. He’s good, but I’m not convinced he’s that good.
Did you not hear about his twin? Good catch, I had him in the 60s originally and then moved him up with him making the roster and just killing it. Glad you called me on it!
Playing in 20 teamers I have to look deep. I like 20 teamers that also have LF CF RF…it just adds more strategy.
I like Kyle Isabel….and forever on on Olivares.
Do you think either gets playing time this year….and
Any indication from spring that Olivares will be the main LF for the Pirates?
Isabel…what’s his upside?
I think Isabel is going to be a bottom of the order guy for KC with 10/10 upside and not much more. However, in that deep of a league there is a decent value there. Olivares arguably has more upside of the two but he is looking like a bench bat behind Michael Taylor who has a better glove.
Thoughts on Nick Loftin? Made the team….is the playing time there? Thank you!
I see him fitting that utility role which gets him in the lineup a few times a week at least until Massey is healthy. Ultimately, Loftin is in the mold of Jeff McNeil and there is some value with position flexibility but he is best left to the waiver wire.