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Saw a video of Zac Veen, after he added 20 pounds of muscle in 2020, and I have to say he had a better quarantine than me. He must’ve been keeping in such good shape in 2020 because people were chasing him after accidentally spoonering his name. Feels like I’ve been looking forward to writing this post on Zac Veen since the pandemic. I remember clearly the 2020 MLB draft because it felt like that was the only thing happening with MLB at that time. Or maybe ever again. Weird times! Because the 2020 MLB draft had my attention and I went back to look at it. Spencer Torkelson was 1st overall — um, okay. Since All-Stars were highlighted, the latest All-Star from that draft? Five before the end of the draft in the 5th round, pick 156th overall was Bryce Elder. He wore the Shroud of Touki for the Braves in 2023. The 126th pick and round before that for the Braves? Spencer Strider, their 2022 Touki. Some teams are drafting outfielders and middle relievers you will never hear of, and the Braves are drafting Cy Young candidates. There’s only two other All-Stars from that draft and they were drafted 100 picks previously with Westburg and Crochet. Braves are truly an incredible franchise. One franchise that is slightly less successful at, well, baseball’ing, is the Rockies. Could Zac Veen spooner his name and immunize himself from the Rockies? Is that possible? No? Sigh. So, what can we expect from Zac Veen for 2025 fantasy baseball?

Zac Veen will play home games in Coors, so the boost is gonna be there. Does he need it? Seems unlikely:

And one more:

Minor league camerawork leaves a lot to be desired, especially when trying to find a guy running. Here’s an example more about the poor camerawork than Zac Veen’s speed:

So, power and speed, which makes the Fantasy Master Lothario (don’t abbreviate it) go vroom vroom. Speaking of vroom vroom, may as well call him Zac Vroom his speed is so crazy. A Corbin Carroll speed comp isn’t too far off. Last year, Zac Veen went 11/21 across four levels, ending at Triple-A for 21 games with a 6/6/.220 season in 82 ABs. Things are a little troubling under the hood. He had a .231 BABIP in Triple-A with a 26.1% K%. That screams to me that he makes some incredibly weak contact. It’s at 22 years of age and less than a month of games, so won’t put too much into it, but I’d feel a lot better about a guy just mashing everywhere. He has not.

In Double-A in 2023, Zac Veen hit .209 with a .260 BABIP. See the pattern? The K% was only 21.4% there too, so, again, that signals weak contact. A guy should not have 50-steal speed and just randomly put up garbage BABIPs year after year without an issue. Between 2023 and 204, this was only in 67 games, and he was barely old enough to drink. So, again again again, not yelling fire in the theater of Razzball, but you want me to give you my thoughts, and I can’t stop thinking those same thoughts. To take a random guy with insane speed, look at Elly De La Cruz’s BABIPs. They’re not even below .330, forget .230! There’s two parks that can truly help BABIP, and Coors is one, so it’s not all bad. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned.

What’s his ETA in the majors? Well, he ended the year at Triple-A, so should be in camp in the Spring with a chance to break with the team, but I can’t help hear Bud Black’s whispering in my ear, “I’m going to coax Charlie Blackmon out of retirement,” and Zac Veen has me more worried than truly excited. Then throw-in he’s a lefty and, even if there’s no splits, managers treat rookies like they have them. For 2025 fantasy baseball, I’ll give Zac Veen projections 32/5/30/.231/22 in 302 ABs with a chance for more.

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Fuego65
Fuego65
29 days ago

Trade F. Valdez and Castillo for Riley Greene and a 4th round pick?
12 team Keeper league H2H. 7×7

I don’t know much about his upside and if hes actually worth it.

AntiScioscia
AntiScioscia
1 month ago

I can’t get excited about Rockies rookies because of Bud BLOCK. If Veen plays this year, it will be in a platoon with an incoming free-ancient outfielder like Robbie Grossmann

LenFuego
LenFuego
Reply to  AntiScioscia
29 days ago

In fairness to Bud Block, he has not really been wrong — pretty much all those rookies he has been reluctant to play turned out to have sucked.

bigbear
bigbear
1 month ago

Veen is a dude.

toolshed
1 month ago

The Angels just signed Travis d’Arnaud. Not that they have a young catcher who was one of the few bright spots on the team or anything. They apparently don’t have any other needs or better ways to spend money. Please trade Trout. He deserves so much better.

1000012064
toolshed
Reply to  Grey
1 month ago

Yep. I am speechless.

Dave D
Dave D
Reply to  toolshed
1 month ago

Whats next, a 1B to platoon with Schanuel? How about a SP who is 35 and was 4-12 with a 5.88 ERA last year and has an ADP of 674?

Bterry
Bterry
Reply to  Dave D
29 days ago

Kevin Newman…

Last edited 29 days ago by Bterry
Dave D
Dave D
Reply to  Grey
1 month ago

I dont think I’d even draft any of them in a 50 round DC. Thats how bad they are.

Dave D
Dave D
Reply to  Grey
1 month ago

Haha…

scar
Scar
Reply to  Grey
1 month ago

The Rockies will probably try and get Dexter Fowler out of retirement to block Veen LOL

Chucky
Chucky
1 month ago

Keep forever with no contracts. Butler, Robert or Royce? Who’s the odd man out?

Philip Oliveri
Philip Oliveri
1 month ago

Greetings & Salutations, Grey…keeper question: 12 team roto league, 6×6 (OPS and holds), keep 5 in exchange for a draft pick…which 5 would you choose:

1) Jo-Ram (1st rounder), Soto (2nd), Witt (3rd), J-Rod (6th) and Jarren Duran (12th);

2) Vlad (1st), Jo-Ram (2nd), Soto (3rd), Witt (4th), and J-Rod (6th); or

3) Vlad (1st), Jo-Ram (2nd), Soto (3rd), Witt (4th), and Duran (12th)?

Harley Earl
Harley Earl
1 month ago

I’m somewhat struggling here. Is this a sleeper post? It doesn’t really read like one and the projections are depressing. Carry on! I look forward to the Schmohawk series!

Dave D
Dave D
1 month ago

With a profile like that he sounds a lot like Drew Stubbs Jr.

Dave D
Dave D
Reply to  Grey
1 month ago

One great benefit of early drafting: I just got Devin Williams at #68 overall. His rank/ADP were off. Listed at 250. I wasnt planning on drafting a closer there, but in a Gladiator you have 9 draft and play pitchers so….

Dave D
Dave D
Reply to  Dave D
1 month ago

Guessing closers in early November for a season that starts in late March is no easy task. Just ask all the guys who drafted Ryan Pressley (and Devin Williams) this time last year…

Dave D
Dave D
Reply to  Grey
1 month ago

It seems that power drops off pretty quickly. I’m favoring that over speed. There are roughly 41 who hit 25 or more homers last year. Thats basically 2.7 per the 15 teams. So, if you have four or more of those guys its an advantage unless you are Arraezzing it up later in the draft.

Dave D
Dave D
Reply to  Grey
1 month ago

Yeah, I usually try and avoid drafting DH types but Ozuna is going 67 and was 11 on your player rater, Rooker 73 and 12. He was dangling at 83 in my current draft so I scooped.

Dave D
Dave D
Reply to  Grey
1 month ago

Not too many .300 30/100 potential guys at any ADP let alone after pick 50.

Dave D
Dave D
Reply to  Grey
1 month ago

Burger seems like a good pick if you miss out on Naylor, Walker Casas in the 100-110 range. He’s a pretty solid consolation prize.

Hutch
Hutch
1 month ago

13 team dynasty 5×5…do you think Edgardo Henriquez breaks camp with The Dodgers…same question with Dalton Rushing…thanks as always!!

jdacquisto
jdacquisto
1 month ago

Felt like it hurt you to write that.

Almost like a having to write about a girlfriends ex boyfriend who’s the star of a crappy football team who wouldn’t get much playing time anywhere else.