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The All-Star break has come and gone, and now is the perfect time to evaluate where players stand heading into the second half of the season. There have been plenty of players who have exceeded exceptions in the first half, including Jarren Duran, Steven Kwan, Garrett Crochet, Alec Bohm, and Jurickson Profar.
However, there have also been players who have failed to live up to their fantasy expectations in the first half. Plenty of those players were going early in drafts, and now fantasy managers don't know what to do with them.
So, let's look at the 12 biggest fantasy baseball busts in the first half of the 2024 season. Adolis Garcia, George Springer, Josh Lowe, and Evan Carter just missed the cut on this list.
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Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez starts off this list after a rough first half of the season. Rodriguez was a top-five pick in most drafts this spring and was the third-ranked overall player in CBS and Yahoo! drafts. However, the 23-year-old has not lived up to his ADP in 2024.
Nobody said it was gonna be easy… Let’s keep going!🙋🏽♂️
— Julio Rodriguez🇩🇴🦁 (@JRODshow44) July 17, 2024
He is hitting just .267 with 10 HRs, nine doubles, 35 RBI, and 18 stolen bases across 97 games in the first half. His poor power numbers are a reason why he hasn't lived up to his fantasy expectations following his 32 HRs, 37 doubles, and 103 RBI in 2023. As bad as Rodriguez has been for fantasy managers this year, though, better days are surely ahead. The Mariners outfielder heated up in the second half last season, and he could be following a similar pattern. For now, though, he is one of the biggest first-half busts.
Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll is another player fantasy managers are extremely frustrated with heading into the second half of the season. After hitting .285 with 25 HRs, 30 doubles, 10 triples, 76 RBI, and 54 stolen bases in 2023, Carroll has taken a huge step back this year.
His numbers across the board are down from last season, as the 2023 National League Rookie of the Year is hitting just .212 with five HRs, 16 doubles, five triples, 32 RBI, and 18 stolen bases. Those stats are not great for any player, let alone someone who was going top five in most drafts this season. Carroll arguably might be the biggest fantasy bust in the first half.
Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
There are signs that Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson will pick things up in the second half. His hard-hit rate (46.2%), average exit velocity (91.7 mph), and barrel rate (10.1%) all rank in the 70th percentile or better through the first half. He also hit .321 with 25 HRs and 67 RBI in 73 games in the second half last year. However, for a player who had an ADP of 14.1 heading into the season, Olson has been one of the bigger disappointments in fantasy so far.
He is hitting just .229 with 13 HRs and 44 RBI through 95 games and is on pace to finish with his worst power numbers in a full season in his career. Olson's 22 home run pace would be his fewest in a full season, while his 75 RBI pace would be the second-fewest (2017). For a slugger who just hit 54 HRs in 2023, he has been hard to roster this year.
Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays
The rule of thumb in fantasy is to never draft a player who is already hurt. Well, if you took Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman at his 31 ADP, you likely wish you listened to that advice. Gausman was the fifth pitcher off the board in most drafts this spring, even while dealing with shoulder fatigue in spring training. Taking him that high has not paid off for fantasy managers in the first half.
Soto walks which brings in a run. It's 4-0
Juan Soto is 7-for-13 with 10 walks against Kevin Gausman in his career pic.twitter.com/kCmMDj40qU
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) June 30, 2024
Gausman currently owns a 4.50 ERA with 104 strikeouts in 19 outings this season. His nine strikeouts per nine innings is on pace to be his worst since 2018 (7.3), and the right-hander has had six different starts giving up at least five runs this year. He had four such starts in 2023. As a result, taking him as the SP5 in drafts has made him a first-half bust, especially since he is ranked outside the top 40 at the position in most leagues currently.
Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays
Most managers had high hopes for Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette entering the year. He has finished with a .290 batting average or better in three straight full seasons while totaling at least 20 HRs and 30 doubles in each of those years. So, his 36.6 ADP made sense because he had a high floor and ceiling entering his fourth full major league season.
Nonetheless, Bichette has looked awful at the plate in 2024 and has failed to live up to expectations. He is hitting .222 with four HRs, 16 doubles, and 30 RBI through 78 games. It's hard to drop a player like him because he can get going at any time, but it's likely becoming tougher every day for some managers to keep him on their roster. He is ranked outside the top 150 in most leagues in points scored this year, making him a huge fantasy bust.
Pablo Lopez, Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins starter Pablo Lopez was one of the safer pitcher options in drafts this year. He has finished with a 3.75 ERA or better in four straight seasons while coming off a year where he struck out a career-high 234 batters in 2023. As a result, taking him at his 37.4 or SP9 ADP was a great pick. However, Lopez has struggled on the mound for most of 2024.
The right-hander currently owns a 5.11 ERA across his first 19 starts. His 121 strikeouts and 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings are a great sign to see because he's on pace for another 200-plus strikeout season. His ERA has taken a noticeable hit this year. He has given up at least five earned runs in six starts so far while failing to go more than five innings in five of his last seven outings. With a season rank currently outside the top 35 at the pitcher position, he was a fantasy bust in the first half.
Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay Rays
In years past, fantasy managers could always count on Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena to do it all. He hit over .250 with at least 20 HRs, 80 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in each of the last two seasons. That made him a solid pick at his pre-draft 41.4 ADP. However, Arozarena has struggled mightily at the plate in 2024.
He has a .202 batting average with 12 HRs, 16 doubles, and 31 RBI through 93 games this season. Those stats are obviously unlike the 29-year-old, who has solidified himself as a consistent fantasy option over the years. Nevertheless, given where he went in fantasy drafts and where he currently ranks in leagues, Arozarena has been a major bust in the first half of the season.
Nolan Jones, Colorado Rockies
Fantasy managers knew there was some risk in drafting Colorado Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones in 2024. The sophomore slump is a real thing -- just look at Carroll's numbers this year following his insane rookie campaign. Jones, though, appeared to be a nice option in the fifth or sixth round of drafts. He hit .297 with 20 HRs, 22 doubles, 20 stolen bases, and 62 RBI in 2023.
Nolan Jones takes early BP with #Rockies hitting coach Hensley Meulens. Kris Bryant and GM Bill Schmidt look on.
He’s is batting .225 with 20 strikeouts in 16 games since returning from the IL on June 14. pic.twitter.com/bJl9GfQVGD
— Patrick Lyons (@PatrickDLyons) July 3, 2024
However, Jones has not seen close to that type of production this season. He has had multiple stints on the injured list with a back strain, and even when he has been healthy, he has struggled at the plate. In 49 games this year, he is hitting .202 with three HRs, seven doubles, and 14 RBI. After going top 60 overall in both Yahoo! and CBS leagues, the Rockies outfielder has not lived up to expectations in 2024.
Bobby Miller, Los Angeles Dodgers
Every fantasy manager who drafted Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller at his 74.4 ADP was likely pumping their fists when he threw six scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts against the St. Louis Cardinals in his first start of the year. However, since then, things have taken a drastic turn for the young pitcher.
He gave up seven earned runs over his next 5 2/3 innings pitched before landing on the IL with a shoulder issue in the middle of April. Miller eventually returned two months later before his struggles continued. In his first four starts back from injury, the right-hander had a 9.87 ERA, so the Dodgers decided to option him down to work on things. With an 8.07 ERA and a demotion down to the minors, the young pitcher was a first-half bust.
Blake Snell, San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Blake Snell starts slow every year, and 2024 was going to be no different, especially after missing all of spring training. Still, fantasy managers were confident in taking him at his 68.8 ADP. However, to no surprise, Snell hasn't been a strong fantasy option so far this year.
“I still think I have a lot to learn with who I’m gonna be this year… I’m happy with this one, but I just know there’s a lot I can do to get better.”
Blake Snell on what he’s expecting of himself for the rest of the year pic.twitter.com/vSadsQDwzY
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) July 10, 2024
He has a 6.31 ERA and 42 strikeouts in his first eight starts this season. On top of that, Snell has spent time on the IL on two different occasions. As a result, it has been frustrating to roster the southpaw in fantasy in 2024. While he had an overall rough first half, he has thrown 12 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts over his last two starts. So, maybe he'll be a better fantasy option in the second half.
Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees
It has been a season to forget for New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres. After hitting .273 with 25 HRs, 28 doubles, and 68 RBI in 2023, Torres had a pre-draft ADP of 77.4. But the 27-year-old fell way short of those expectations in the first half of the fantasy season.
Torres is currently hitting .231 with eight HRs, 15 doubles, and 35 RBI through 93 games this season. Despite hitting .320 (8-for-25) with one double and two RBI over the past eight games, most fantasy managers have already dropped the Yankees second baseman. With a 68% rostership in Yahoo! leagues and a season rank outside the top 105, the two-time All-Star has disappointed a lot of managers in 2024.
Jesus Luzardo, Miami Marlins
The last fantasy baseball bust from the first half is Miami Marlins starter Jesus Luzardo. Luzardo was untouchable on the mound for the Marlins last year and finished with a 3.58 ERA and 208 strikeouts across 32 starts. However, the left-hander has failed to build on that success in 2024.
He has a 5.00 ERA in 12 starts this year while striking out just 58 batters. Luzardo has also spent time on the injured list on two separate occasions this season. With the Marlins out of contention, there's a chance we won't see the left-hander for the rest of the year, as he is currently on the 60-day IL nursing a back injury. For right now, though, he has been a major disappointment in the first half at his 78.4 ADP.
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