We stay in a day and age when among the video games finest and brightest stars strike out greater than 180 occasions in a season. Heck, Shohei Ohtani struck out 189 occasions en path to his 2021 AL MVP award.
MLB’s common strikeout fee climbed to 24 % in 2021, with 37 certified hitters proudly owning strikeout charges greater than the league common.
That’s why folks are inclined to take discover when a participant does the polar reverse of the norm — particularly a rookie.
Along with reaching base 15 occasions in his first 4 video games, an MLB document, Guardians rookie Steven Kwan additionally noticed 116 pitches earlier than his first swing and miss. He reached base in 19 of his first 29 plate appearances with eight walks and one — sure, one! — strikeout.
It had been simply six video games, however Kwan entered Friday hitting .526 with 5 RBIs, seven runs, a 1.392 OPS and a 98 % contact fee.
Although main the league in something over the primary week carries solely barely extra which means than spring coaching stats, Kwan entered Friday ranked first in on-base share (.655), contact fee and common, second in stroll fee (27.6 %), fifth in runs and OPS, and eighth in slugging share (.737). He additionally had the bottom strikeout fee (3.4 %) within the majors.
Kwan, a fifth-round choose within the 2018 draft, was essentially the most added fantasy participant this week in ESPN leagues (76.4 % owned), so fantasy managers have taken discover of his unimaginable talent set. The actual query: Can he have sustained success within the majors past the unsustainable numbers he produced in his first week?
Kwan is clearly not going to hit .500 (or higher). Regardless of hitting 12 homers between Double-A and Triple-A final 12 months, he doesn’t look like an enormous energy menace (not along with his 81.3 mph exit velocity, which ranks within the backside 5 % of the league, in accordance with Statcast. He is also unlikely to succeed in double-digit stolen bases, regardless of having some velocity (he stole 22 bases over three seasons at Oregon State College and 20 over 217 video games within the minors).
That won't sound like a ringing endorsement, however there's loads that makes Roto Rage consider he is usually a viable fantasy possibility, beginning along with his skill to make a ton of a contact and get on base — and that’s a trait we will hint again to school.
In three years at Oregon State College, the 24-year-old hit .329 with 96 runs and a .849 OPS whereas strolling 82 occasions and putting out simply 38 occasions over 156 video games. Over three seasons within the minors, Kwan hit .301 with 142 runs and a .818 OPS whereas strolling 100 occasions and putting out 87 occasions in 217 video games.
The opposite large constructive working in Kwan’s favor: alternative. Not solely has he come from seemingly out of nowhere to change into an on a regular basis participant, he's now the Guardians’ No. 2 hitter. Which means he’s hitting one spot forward of Jose Ramirez, among the finest gamers within the sport.
Some may draw comparisons to the likes of Akil Baddoo or Yermin Mercedes, rookies who bought off to scorching begins in 2021, and that's comprehensible. However Kwan seems to be a distinct, extra constant animal. His on-base talent set seems to be elite, and people are the numbers that can not be ignored as the flexibility to hit for common, get on base, rating runs and keep away from outs are worthwhile in each single fantasy format.
Kwan might not be the flashiest participant, but when he can sustain even half of what he has carried out over his first week within the bigs, he’ll proceed to be a fantasy asset.
One other participant off to a scorching begin, who stays accessible in additional than 50 % of ESPN leagues regardless of being the fourth-most added participant this week (and has multi-positon eligibility), is Colorado’s Connor Joe. He hit .333 with two homers, three RBIs, seven runs and a 1.073 OPS over his first six video games, and that has nothing to do with Coors Discipline. Although he's hitting .313 with a homer, two RBIs, a stolen base and a .889 OPS in 4 house video games, he's hitting .375 with one homer, one RBI, 4 runs, three walks, three strikeout and a 1.421 OPS on the street. Roto Rage believes he's approaching must-add territory.
Huge Hits
Tylor Megill SP, Mets
Didn't enable an earned run over his first two begins (each wins), putting out 11, strolling none and limiting opponents to hitting .177 in opposition to him. He was essentially the most added pitcher in ESPN leagues this week.
Nolan Arenado 3B, Cardinals
Entered Friday with a success in every of his first 5 video games, going 8-for-20 (.400) with three homers, 9 RBIs, 5 runs and a 1.429 OPS.
Sean Manaea SP, Padres
Ranked third within the majors in opponent common (.095) whereas sustaining a 1.38 ERA, 13-3 strikeout-walk fee and 0.538 WHIP in his first two begins.
Myles Straw OF, Guardians
After six video games, not solely was he main the league in runs (9) and stolen bases (4), however he was hitting .360 with a 19.4 % stroll fee.
Huge Whiffs
Robbie Ray SP, Mariners
After permitting only one run on three hits over seven innings in his first begin, he allowed six runs on 10 hits (together with three homers) in his second begin. He's putting out 6.1 per 9 innings and strolling 4.1 per 9.
Dansby Swanson SS, Braves
Struck out a league-high 14 occasions over his first eight video games whereas going 4-for-28 (.143) with two RBIs, two runs scored and a .440 OPS.
Kyle Schwarber 1B/OF, Phillies
Went 2-for-4 on Opening Day, however was 1-for-23 (.044) with an RBI, 10 strikeouts, three walks and a .241 OPS in his subsequent six video games.
Max Fried SP, Braves
The lefty allowed seven earned runs over his first 11 innings (5.73 ERA), going 0-2 with a 1.455 WHIP.
CHECK SWINGS
- Miami’s Jesus Luzardo, owned in simply 31.6 % of ESPN leagues, made a brief however impactful season debut. Over 5 innings in opposition to the Angels, he allowed one run on two hits whereas strolling one and putting out 12. Control him.
- Shane Bieber’s velocity is down about 2-3 mph, however he has a 2.70 ERA (2.12 FIP, which is an indication of a bit of unhealthy luck), 5.4 % stroll fee and has restricted opponents to a .118 common over his first two begins.
- So, Clayton Kershaw was pulled seven innings into an ideal sport, throwing simply 80 pitches. He had a 23.8 % swinging strike fee and struck out 61.9 % of the batters he confronted. He struck out 13, together with 11 with an insane 41.5 % swinging strike fee along with his slider. It was a classic effort for the three-time Cy Younger winner. Now he simply has to remain wholesome.
Group Identify of the Week
Grandal Phantasm
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