Hitters Advanced Metrics Leaders for Brls/PA % - Fantasy Baseball Studs and Duds (Week 7)

Hello, RotoBallers! As another week of baseball wraps up, I will recap which hitters had the most impactful plate appearances in the past few days. Using Statcast's Barrels per Plate Appearance stat, or Brls/PA %, we can narrow our view to the hitters who are the most locked in through the season's first two months.

Statcast's Brls/PA % works by dividing the total number of barrels by the number of plate appearances within the given period. The higher the Brls/PA %, the more often the hitter makes ideal contact with the baseball. We will also examine other stats, but the Brls/PA % will be the main focus of this piece.

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Brls/PA % Leaders

Notable Players

Davis Schneider is the newest player to join the Top-5 in the leaderboard. The Toronto Blue Jays outfielder has been hot lately, and his numbers are worth taking a closer look at.

In the past week, Schneider slashed .438/.545/.813 with a home run, two stolen bases, and six runs scored. This season, the 25-year-old is batting .278 with four home runs in 107 plate appearances. Schneider's Statcast page is primarily red except for xBA, whiff rate, and strikeout rate. Schneider's xBA suggests some regression in the batting average department, but he hit .276 last season with a .214 xBA, so this level of hitting may be sustainable. His batting averages the past two seasons have been buoyed by high BABIPs over .360.

The Blue Jays slugger strikes out quite a bit but makes up for it by making ideal contact often and drawing lots of walks. Schneider is still widely available and could be considered a sneaky add for teams looking to bolster their outfield position or teams dealing with injuries.

Rhys Hoskins is another new face moving into the top 10 on the leaderboard this week. The former Phillies slugger has found a new home in Milwaukee, and he's wearing the navy blue well. Hoskins is already up to nine home runs this season, which is a great start, considering he missed last year with an injury. The Brewers' first baseman has always been known for his power, and his impressive start matches his remarkable stats.

Hoskins has a .376 xwOBA, .539 xSLG, and 16.2% barrel rate this season, each in the 87th percentile or better among qualified hitters. The first baseman has also maintained his above-average walk rate while cutting his strikeout rate to the lowest of his career. Hoskins will likely never be a player to hit for average, but his .243 xBA suggests some positive regression should be coming in that department. Hoskins is not universally rostered yet, but he is likely gone in most category leagues where his standout power is especially valuable.

It's time we talk about the Seattle Mariners catcher with the 99th percentile barrel rate this season, Cal Raleigh. Raleigh is already up to 10 home runs this season and could keep the good times rolling.

Your daily dose of CALcium 🥛 pic.twitter.com/z5Rmbp8LdA

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) May 12, 2024

The 27-year-old is on pace to put up another 30-homer season, mainly where his value lies. Raleigh's Statcast page tells a story of extremes. The Mariners catcher has a 99th percentile barrel rate, 99th percentile hard-hit rate, and 98th percentile average exit velocity this season, which would put him among the biggest heavy hitters in the league. The issue with Raleigh is that he also possesses a bottom-5% rank in xBA, whiff rate, and strikeout rate. Raleigh walks at an above-average rate, but his value comes from his power and team context.

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Justin Turner had a rough week at the plate. The veteran hitter slashed .045/.087/.045 with one run scored in 23 plate appearances. The cold stretch has brought Turner's season-long batting average down to .250, but that dip represents an attractive buy-low opportunity.

Turner is a career .287 hitter, hitting over .275 in the past two seasons. The former Dodgers third baseman is a professional hitter, and his .280 xBA indicates that better things are in store for him. Turner also has a .273 BABIP, the lowest mark in his career, meaning that he likely has been unlucky. Turner is a buy-low candidate for those looking for batting average, and his positional eligibility also increases his value.

The last hitter I want to highlight is Paul Goldschmidt. The Cardinals' first baseman has been one of the best hitters of his generation, but it appears the wheels may be falling off this season. Goldschmidt is a career .291 hitter, but he is batting .197 this season with a .231 xBA. Positive regression will likely kick in, but that will only go so far in redeeming his value. The former Diamondbacks slugger also has the lowest walk and highest strikeout rates of his career this season.

Goldschmidt regressed in the batting average department last season, posting his lowest average since 2019, but he has taken an even further step back this season. The Cardinals slugger owns a 4.4% barrel rate and 31.7% strikeout rate this year. Goldschmidt's team context is also unfavorable, as the Cardinals have been one of the worst teams in baseball to begin the year. The 36-year-old has an impressive track record, but his age may finally be showing. It is tough to trust Goldschmidt right now.

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