RADIO
Nolan Gorman 2024 Outlook: Elite Power Bat With Room For Improvement
12 months agoWhile there were some bumps along the way, Nolan Gorman put up a solid sophomore season, slashing .236/.328/.478 with 76 RBI, 59 runs, seven stolen bases, and a team-leading 27 home runs through 119 games. His raw power was apparent this season, with a 16.5% barrel rate and .484 xwOBAcon (97th percentile for both marks). But, his poor contact skills were also quite apparent, as his 31.9% strikeout rate and 35.5% whiff rate ranked in the bottom 6% of the league. There are flaws outside his hitting, with a 26.5 ft/sec sprint speed and -2 OAA at second base. At this point, it is easy to pencil him in as a mediocre swing-for-the-fences DH, but the 23-year-old still has room to grow. He improved dramatically at the plate and in the field in 2023 (-12 OAA, 32.9% strikeout rate, and 31.1% chase rate in 2022), and a .354 xwOBA proves he'll ultimately grade out as an above-average hitter. While still a work in progress in many respects, Gorman is a bonafide steal at his 192.7 ADP.
