Today, we'll take some time to do a deep dive into ten players who may not be highly rostered in fantasy but could potentially have huge seasons for their respective teams. Most players on this list are in the early stages of their careers, with a few looking for bounce-back seasons. Every player on this list is 80% rostered or below, with most in the 40% to 60% range.
10. Taylor Ward, LF
Los Angeles Angels
(55% Rostered)
After having the best season of his career in 2022, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward was putting together another solid season in 2023 before suffering a very scary injury that left him with facial fractures and a broken nose. Despite that, Ward has proven himself to be a very reliable everyday outfielder for the Angels and is off to a sneaky hot start.
The 30-year-old currently has a slashline of .320/.320/.760 with an OPS of 1.080 that ranks 22nd in baseball. Ward will consistently hit cleanup behind Mike Trout, at least until the trade deadline, and could be in for a season comparable to his 2022 year, where he finished with an .281 AVG, 23 HRs, and 65 RBIs.
9. Aaron Civale, P
Tampa Bay Rays
(78% Rostered)
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Aaron Civale is quietly off to one of the best starts of his career. Civale has always been a solid pitcher and is a product of the notoriously good Cleveland Guardians pitching lab.
Civale is currently 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA. His one loss came against the reigning champion Texas Rangers in a game in which he only allowed one run on eight strikeouts across six innings. He's struck out 14 over the two games, which ranks 7th in baseball. He also holds a 0.92 WHIP and .190 AVG that place him right outside the top 30.
Tampa will rely on Civale to eat innings this year, with Shane McClanahan, Shane Baz, Taj Bradley, and Drew Rasmussen all battling injuries. Civale was 5-2 with a 2.34 ERA across 13 starts before being traded to the Rays last year. Look for him to put it all together in a 2024 season when the Rays will badly need him to contribute.
8. Luis Campusano, C
San Diego Padres
(61% Rostered)
25-year-old San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano might just be one of the next big names in baseball. Campusano is off to a monster start with 12 hits that rank him 3rd in the league. Campusano hit .319 with 7 HRs and 30 RBIs over 49 games for the Padres last year, and it doesn't appear to be a fluke.
Look for Campusano to get a ton of at-bats this year, with Kyle Higashioka being the only other catcher on the active roster. There's a real chance for him to force his way up in the batting order, and if he performs anywhere near his current .400/.400/.600 slashline or elite 50 game 2023 sample size, there's no telling where Campusano could end up ranked after this season is over.
7. Jack Flaherty, P
Detroit Tigers
(63% Rostered)
After a few rough seasons, former Cy Young candidate Jack Flaherty signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Detroit Tigers. This 2024 season will be a huge one for Flaherty as another bad year could lead to him being nearly out of the league at only 28.
Detroit took a chance on Flaherty, and after looking sharp in the first game, he could pay off in big ways for the team. Now, it was against a very weak Chicago White Sox lineup, and his next start will be against a just as bad Oakland Athletics.
Flaherty's 0.67 WHIP ranks 14th among all pitchers, and with another good start, he will comfortably top 25 in most stats. Betting on Flaherty is certainly a roll of the dice, but if he can reach anywhere near his former pitching heights, he could lead to great things for a team hoping to contend for the AL Central crown.
6. Brice Turang, 2B
Milwaukee Brewers
(42% Rostered)
Former top prospect for the Milwaukee Brewers, Brice Turang, is off to an elite start for the 2024 season. Turang currently ranks 5th league-wide in batting average at .438 and is tied for the league lead in steals at six.
The Brew Crew is one of the hottest teams in baseball to start this year, with young names and a mix of very solid vets rounding out the roster. Turang is currently batting around the bottom of the order and will see a good amount of hittable pitching, with names such as Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, and former MVP Christian Yelich all at the top of the order.
Look for Turang to compete for the league lead in stolen bases throughout the year. If his bat can stay hot, he could be one of the many bright young players of the future.
5. Alec Marsh, P
Kansas City Royals
(2% Rostered)
25-year-old Alec Marsh is coming off a great first start against a loaded Baltimore Orioles team that currently has him ranked in the top five for WHIP and AVG. The Kansas City Royals have a scrappy young roster looking to contend for the AL Central crown.
Marsh's first start is a huge positive for both him and the Royals after a really bad rookie year. Kansas City needs Marsh to turn into a reliable rotation piece if they want to fight for their division. With a plus matchup against the Chicago White Sox, Marsh could knock down his second great outing and hopefully carry that momentum into the season.
4. Jarren Duran, LF
Boston Red Sox
(80% Rostered)
Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran is coming off a highly underrated 2023 season. Duran hit .295 with 24 stolen bases, 34 doubles and seems to be carrying that into 2024.
The Red Sox are currently in a rebuilding phase and most likely won't contend for the AL East, but a well-performing Duran at the top of the order could pay huge dividends for the team. Duran is entering his age 27 season and seems to be entering his prime as well. Look for Duran to push 30+ stolen bases and doubles again and he could even get his first all-star nod, depending on how this year goes.
3. Tanner Houck, P
Boston Red Sox
(31% Rostered)
Coming off a great spring training and an even better first start, 27-year-old Tanner Houck is looking to finally put that elite season together. The former first-round pick has always had nasty stuff but has yet to produce for a full season.
Last season was the first year Houck was a full-time starter. During that time, Houck threw 100 innings, which resulted in a career-worst 5.01 ERA. The Red Sox needs Houck to produce, and with another good matchup against the Angels upcoming, it should be a big opportunity to build on his 10-strikeout shutout of the A's.
If Houck stays healthy, he'll comfortably have a spot in a weak Boston rotation, which could result in him getting a high volume of innings and strikeouts.
2. Alex Kirilloff, LF
Minnesota Twins
(10% Rostered)
Former top 100 prospect Alex Kirilloff may be finally having his breakout season. The Minnesota Twins outfielder has been solid to start his career but currently sits in the top 5 in both batting average (.450) and OPS (1.205).
Kirilloff is coming off his best career year in 2023 and looks to have steadily improved each year since entering the league back in 2021. The Twins could really use some production in an aging lineup and have had Kirlioff batting 2nd to start the year.
Kiriloff has been thriving early, slotting in between Edouard Julien and Byron Buxton and will be someone to keep an eye on if he keeps it up.
1. Garrett Crochet, P
Chicago White Sox
(63% Rostered)
White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet has had some of the most electric stuff in the game since entering the league in 2020. Now, with a somewhat surprising move to full-time starter, it looks like he'll be a nightmare for opposing hitters after two great starts.
Chicago will be one of the worst teams in baseball this year, which will hurt Crochet in terms of defense and run support, but his strikeout potential alone is more than enough to keep him on your radar.
Crochet has 16 Ks, 1 BB, and a 1.38 ERA through his first two starts now and will take the mound against the Royals next. Look at potentially adding him to your team before he throws another gem, and it's too late.
