While most fantasy players will clamor over power numbers for hitters this tells us very little about patience and plate discipline. Some of the greatest hitters in baseball history were known for their vision and ability to quickly distinguish balls and strikes. Nowadays with all the saber metrics taking over the game hitters are broken down and categorized by their launch angle, exit velocity, bat speed, etc. That’s not to say those statistics are over complicating the game. In fact, they add value to the game’s research.  But there’s still something to be said about a player’s patience at the plate that often goes unnoticed.

In short, strikeout (K%) and walk rates (BB%) are simply measured in how many times a hitter either strikes out or walks per plate appearance. A hitter that has a high walk rate and low strikeout rate probably sees the ball better than most and can determine what pitch may be worth swinging at while others are worth taking a pass on. A healthy walk rate leads to a high on base percentage (OBP). Walks also lead to a player possibly recording more steals and runs. Walk rates could also be inflated for a player if he’s perceived as a powerful hitter. If the opposing team would rather pitch around him and put him on base then intentional walks still count towards a high walk rate and pad those numbers. Below are two lists based on players with the highest walk rate and highest strikeout rate. Both lists required a minimum 500-plate appearance. Here are the leaders in walk rate:

  1. Joey Votto (CIN): 19.0%
  2. Aaron Judge (NYY): 18.7%
  3. Mike Trout (LAA): 18.5%
  4. Matt Carpenter (STL): 17.5%
  5. Edwin Encarnacion (CLE): 15.5%
  6. Todd Frazier (Free Agent): 14.4%
  7. Kris Bryant (CHC): 14.3%
  8. Paul Goldschmidt (ARI): 14.1%
  9. Joey Gallo (TEX): 14.1%
  10. Anthony Rendon (WSH): 13.9%

Coincidentally enough each of those players hit at least 20 home runs last year. Six of them even hit 30 or more home runs. Seven of them even scored 90 or more runs.

On the other end of the spectrum, a high strikeout rate can lead fantasy players to believe that a higher rate translates to poor discipline. A player who strikes out more than average may lack plate discipline and may not see the ball as well as other hitters So here are the ten players with the highest strikeout rates:

  1. Chris Davis (BAL): 37.2%
  2. Joey Gallo (TEX): 36.8%
  3. Trevor Story (COL): 34.4%
  4. Aaron Judge (NYY): 30.7%
  5. Khris Davis (OAK): 29.9%
  6. Eric Thames (MIL): 29.6%
  7. Mark Reynolds (COL): 29.5%
  8. Byron Buxton (MIN): 29.4%
  9. Domingo Santana (MIL): 29.3%
  10.  Tim Beckham (Free Agent): 29.0%

Now depending on your league’s scoring settings these players could hinder your team more than help. But keep in mind, six of those players did hit 30 or more home runs last season. But five of the top six players (save for Aaron Judge) hit below .250 in 2017.

Finding middle ground is tough. Both Joey Gallo and Aaron Judge both cracked the top ten for high strikeout and walk rates. Gallo’s .209 batting average was difficult to stomach last year, but his walk rate, slugging percentage (.537) and 41 home runs eased the pain. However, Aaron Judge had a phenomenal year despite striking out so much.  He managed to still hit 52 home runs, score 128 runs, and collect 114 RBI.  Another player of note is Mark Reynolds. Reynolds has been the poster boy for high strikeouts while still yielding some power. He’s been a very frustrating player, but in his two years playing with Colorado his lowest batting average was .267 and he collected 44 total home runs for the Rockies. All in all he set career highs in batting average and on base percentage in his time playing in Coors Field. Fantasy players better hope he re-signs with Colorado for 2018 because if he signs elsewhere he may lose all this good fortune.

Don’t be discouraged if you draft a player who does not collect many walks. Tim Anderson, Dee Gordon, Ryon Healy, Adam Jones, Didi Gregorius, and Whit Merrifield all ranked amongst the ten players with the lowest walk rates. Yet they all still managed to contribute on their own. Anderson had 17 home runs and 15 steals. Gordon scored over 100 runs with 60 steals. Merrifield collected 19 home runs with 34 steals.

For what it’s worth, strikeout and walk rates aren’t the end all be all. Are they useful? Absolutely. But if a player is still delivering in other categories such as home runs and runs batted in then it’s worth the trouble of taking a guy who strikes more than the average player. The big issue with strikeouts is that they’re practically guaranteed outs. A fly out or a line out can still drive in a run. But a strikeout does very little and it’s the worst out you can get. But the strikeouts are worth dealing with if you play in a categories league. If the power translates to help in other categories you’ll suffer through strikeouts. In a points league the strikeouts may take more of a toll if they’re costing you a point each time your player strikes out.

Earlier this offseason in the When to Draft Starting Pitching draft guide article it was mentioned the growing number of strikeout pitchers. From 2002-2009 there were only 65 instances of a starting pitcher recording 200+ strikeouts. Since 2010 there have been 113 such instances. Naturally you’d think since we’re now living in the post-steroid era that there would be less power. Oddly enough in 2004, arguably during one of the popular times ball players were using PED’s there were 37 players that hit 30+ home runs.  And yet in 2017, years after Major League Baseball’s strong stance against drug use there were still 37 players who hit 30+ home runs including the ridiculous 50+ home run campaigns from Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge. The point that is being expressed is that a strikeout rate in the 20-25 or even 25-30 percentile isn’t the same as what it was in the 70’s or 80’s. Offensive prowess and power are big draws for baseball, but there is a growing trend amongst high strikeout pitchers. Naturally guys who are known for power will take more hacks, thus they’re likely to strikeout more. They aren’t getting paid to get in the batter’s box and watch every pitch go by. Use strikeout and walk rates wisely as a tool, but don’t let it deter you from taking a player with big home run potential. With great power comes great strikeout potential.