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Christian Walker 2024 Outlook: Underappreciated Slugger Offers Fantasy Value
12 months agoChristian Walker might not be the first name you think of when you contemplate MLB stars, but his 2023 campaign was stellar. Walker hit .258/.333/.497 with 33 HR a season ago, entrenching himself as Arizona's cleanup hitter. While his line reads like a typical slugger's, Walker is slightly different. His 19.2 K% was supported by a 30.4% chase rate and 11.8 SwStr%, so he doesn't have the swing-and-miss expected from 30+ HR bats. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect much improvement in his .272 BABIP considering his low 16.8 LD% and high 11.1 IFFB%, but his average should remain in the .250 range thanks to his plate discipline. His 91.7 mph average airborne exit velocity was below average, but Walker's 114.3 mph max exit velocity and 11.4% rate of Brls/BBE suggest he has the oomph for a three-peat. Walker also excels at lifting the ball with a 44.9 FB%, so he doesn't need huge raw power to put up impressive HR totals. Walker even added 11 steals with a 100% success rate in 2023, though his 26.4 ft./sec Statcast Sprint speed remained below average. Walker will only contribute steals when the opposition falls asleep, but he represents a tremendous value at his current ADP of 88.07.
