Each week, we’ll look at a handful of different hitters who fantasy managers should consider picking up in deeper fantasy baseball leagues. Many of these players will have the most value in larger leagues where waiver wire options aren’t as plentiful. Still, they could also occasionally be useful additions in other, more standard-sized leagues, depending on your options at their position.
All roster percentages mentioned in this column are via FantasyPros as of Wednesday afternoon.
Andruw Monasterio – 4%
One of a number of Milwaukee Brewers hitters enjoying a breakout season at the plate – alongside the likes of Isaac Collins, Caleb Durbin, Andrew Vaughn and Sal Frelick – Monasterio has provided quality fantasy production for the National League Central club while playing all over the diamond.
The 28-year-old entered play on Wednesday batting .294 with a .339 on-base percentage, four home runs and a stolen base in 109 plate appearances, logging a 133 wRC+ in the process.
He’s appeared in games at shortstop, first base, second base and at third base for the Brewers, as well as left field. Monasterio doesn’t have fantasy eligibility in the outfield, but he’s fantasy-eligible at each of the four infield positions, making him a fit for most all fantasy rosters in leagues with 14 or more teams.
And while there’s some unsustainability here with a .299 xwOBA, a 22.9% strikeout rate and a .356 BABIP on the season, the infielder and outfielder has been on a tear at the plate.
Entering play this week, Monasterio was sporting an 11-game hitting streak dating back to August 21, a stretch in which he hit .389 with a .421 on-base percentage and two home runs in 38 plate appearances.
And even though the 28-year-old continues to hit ninth for the Brewers, he remains worth a look in the short-term for fantasy managers seeking reinforcements across the infield.
Liam Hicks – 1%
A Rule 5 draft pick from the Detroit Tigers organization this past winter, Liam Hicks hasn’t overwhelmed with power production so far, but he’s been a solid option for both the Miami Marlins and fantasy managers alike.
With fantasy eligibility at catcher and first base, the 26-year-old is batting .261 with a .354 on-base percentage, five home runs, a 10.9% walk rate and a 15.7% strikeout rate in 331 plate appearances, posting a wRC+ that is five points above league average in the process.
Hicks hasn’t hit all that much against left-handed pitching, with just 56 of his 331 plate appearances coming against left-handers, but even in a platoon role as someone who doesn’t strike out all that much and walks a fair amount, he has plenty of fantasy upside in deeper leagues and two-catcher formats.
Hicks, who has routinely hit either third, fourth or fifth for the Marlins as of late, is worth a look for fantasy managers in leagues with 14 or more teams. Even in more shallow leagues, he’s a quality streaming option behind the plate in the short term.
Austin Hays – 9%
Hays, like Liam Hicks, has found success in a part-time role this season.
Playing for the Cincinnati Reds, the veteran outfielder is batting .263 with a .317 on-base percentage, 13 home runs and six stolen bases so far for the National League Central club, posting a 107 wRC+ in the process in 356 plate appearances.
Two keys to his success so far have been both improved plate discipline numbers and better power-hitting metrics across the board.
If the season were to end today, Hays’ .318 xwOBA and 7.6% walk rate would be his best in a season since the 2019 campaign. His .402 xwOBAcon and 11.1% barrel rate would both be new career highs for the 29-year-old.
Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, at least given the hitter-friendly nature of Cincinnati’s home ballpark, just five of the outfielder’s 13 home runs have come at home so far. Though it is worth noting, he has connected on two home runs at home already in the last week.
All told, his power production and home ballpark in general give him plenty of fantasy upside down the stretch for fantasy managers in deeper leagues.
Hitting in the middle of the Reds lineup doesn’t exactly hurt either. Hays has regularly hit cleanup for the club this season, with the vast majority of his plate appearances coming from that spot in the lineup. Specifically, 303 of his 356 plate appearances have come as the Reds’ cleanup hitter.
He’s a must-add in leagues with 14 or more teams and five starting outfield spots, particularly for fantasy managers in search of outfield reinforcements.
