What To Do With These 10 Struggling Hitters in Fantasy Baseball 2022

Avery Chenier

May 19- 11 min read

What To Do With These 10 Struggling Hitters in Fantasy Baseball 2022

I spent some time in the OwnersBox discord asking the people some hitters they are worried about on their fantasy teams. I took a deep dive on 10 struggling hitters in fantasy baseball to see if you should hold, trade for, or trade away.

Whit Merrifield OF Royals

.183 AVG 2 HR 13 RBI 13 R 5 SB
xBA .267
SLG .269 – xSLG .435
wOBA .222 – xwOBA .317
Launch Angle 17.7 Career average 15.5
Hard Hit% 33.1 Career average 30.0
K% 13.8 (Has been in top 10% last two years) BB% 4.8
Zone Contact% 85.6 higher than career – Chase % 31.9 higher than career
BABIP- .207 (never had one lower than .295)

For me this is a good buy low spot. A player with speed, and clearly getting unlucky at the plate.

Jorge Soler OF Marlins

.186 AVG 7 HR 16 RBI 12 R 0 SB
xBA .248
SLG .391 – xSLG .497
wOBA .302 – xwOBA .352
Launch Angle 14.7 Degrees (Same as career average)
Hard Hit% 44.1 (45.1 average)
K% 26.5 (Below) BB% 10.6 (Above)
Zone Contact% 76.4 (Below) Chase % 27.8 (Above)
BABIP .221

His slash line was .167/.279/.302 entering May 7 & he’s recorded hits in 6 of 7 games since then w/ three homers. A good buy low candidate. – Eric Cross

Bryan Reynolds OF Pirates

.203 AVG 4 HR 6 RBI 11 R 1 SB
xBA .240
SLG .345 – xSLG .407
wOBA .295 – xwOBA .325
Launch Angle 9.9 Degrees (Below)
Hard Hit% 33.7 (Career AVG is 40.2)
K% 24.3 BB% 11.8 (Normal)
Zone Contact% 83.4 (normal) – Chase % 29.8 ( 4 points over average)
BABIP .244

I’m holding Bryan Reynolds at this point. His wRC+ is only at 91 even after this big disappointing start. In a lineup where they’ll let him figure it out.

Trevor Story 2B Red Sox

.193 AVG 1 HR 15 RBI 11 R 3 SB
xBA .228
SLG .313 – xSLG .394
wOBA .271 – xwOBA .317
Launch Angle 23.8 Degrees (AVG is 18.0)
Hard Hit% 34.2 (43.2 AVG)
K% 31.3 (bottom 8% of league) BB% 9.2
Zone Contact% 72.5 (82.0 is league avg) – Chase % 29.7 (normal)
BABIP .284

Probably trading away Trevor Story at this point. Has regressed every season and finally away from Coors. He Did hit another homer last night to bring his total to 2 and another bag but it hasn’t been good.

(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire)

Salvador Perez C Royals

.209 AVG 6 HR 16 RBI 13 R 0 SB
xBA .212
SLG .398 – xSLG .411
wOBA .277 – xwOBA .276
Launch Angle 19.2 Degrees
Hard Hit% 41.2 (56.2 last year)
K% 25.9 (same as last) BB% 2.9 (Bottom 3% league)
Zone Contact% 72.0 (85.1 his avg) – Chase % 38.3 (lowest of career)
BABIP .231

I’m at a crossroads and don’t really know what I should do with Sal Perez. Feel like there are some real issues in his profile.

Yuli Gurriel 1B Astros

.243 AVG 2 HR 10 RBI 11 R 2 SB
xBA .232
SLG .405 – xSLG .341
wOBA .303 – xwOBA .271
Launch Angle – 19.1 Degrees (Higher than avg by 7 degrees)
Hard Hit% – 35.4 Career low.
K% 14.5 (Usually in top 10 % of league) BB% 4
Zone Contact% 93.4 % (his second best ever) – Chase % 31.9
BABIP .265

I’m buying Yuli Gurriel at this point. As a player who should bump up your team average, I think that he’s a good buy if you’ve struggled average wise to start the season. He’s someone who makes a lot of contact but it’s not hard.

Nelson Cruz DH Nationals

.194 AVG 4 HR 20 RBI 17 R 0 SB
xBA .274 AVG
SLG .298 – xSLG .510
wOBA .263 – xwOBA .366
Launch Angle 6.5 Degrees (Career avg 11.4)
Hard Hit% 47.0 (51 AVG)
K% 17.7 (lowest of career) BB% 10.6
Zone Contact% 79.4 – Chase % 28.5 Lower than career avg.
BABIP .208

This is screaming as a BUY candidate. His advanced metrics look great, he’s hitting the ball as hard as ever.

Max Muncy 1B Dodgers

.150 AVG 3 HR 13 RBI 17 R 0 SB
xBA .200 (bottom 6% league)
SLG .298 – xSLG .406
wOBA .302 – xwOBA .343
Launch Angle 19.0 degrees (higher than career avg by 4 degrees.)
Hard Hit% 35.1 (42.0 AVG)
K% 22.7 BB% 20.5 Top 1 % of the league
Zone Contact% 82.9 (on par) – Chase Contact % 17.5 (same as average)
BABIP .197

I am trying to trade Max Muncy. He was a must avoid player for me at the start of the season, and I think that injured elbow may end up derailing his season. The BABIP shows he’s getting unlucky and that his numbers could improve but I’m worried about him.

Franmil Reyes RF Guardians

.207 AVG 3 HR 11 RBI 9 R 0 SB
xBA .211
SLG .293 – xSLG .372
wOBA .251 – xwOBA .274
Launch Angle 10.2 AVG
Hard Hit% 50.8 (Top 9% league)
K% 41.1 BB% 5.6
Zone Contact% 73.4 – Chase % 26.8
BABIP .339

His BABIP being that high, while his x stats are really low is enough for me to try and get rid of Franmil Reyes. He is striking out way too much and not making nearly enough contact.

Javier Baez SS Tigers

.210 AVG 2 HR 11 RBI 8 R 0 SB
xBA .227
SLG .324 – xSLG .388
wOBA .258 – xwOBA .282
Launch Angle 7.2 Degrees
Hard Hit% 35.4 (10 points lower than last year)
K% 23.4 (Cut it down 10 points) BB% 4.5
Zone Contact% 80.5 (best of career) – Chase % 45.9 (highest of career.
BABIP .260

I’m also trying to sell off Baez to someone who thinks he may figure it out. The profile matches what he’s done his whole career but the power output just isn’t there.