Using Spring Training stats to make fantasy baseball draft decisions can be a risky strategy. Sometimes we get a star player who barely does anything in spring, but it won’t impact his regular-season production at all besides a slower start. Other times, we get under-the-radar guys who come out of the gates hot and force us to pay more attention. Deciding whether those impressive Spring Training numbers are real or not is important. It’s also key not to overvalue a player based on his spring stats. 

With that being said, let’s take a closer look at some MLB outfielders who have turned heads in Spring Training. We have some rookies like Wyatt Langford, Jackson Merrill, and James Wood who are rising up fantasy baseball ADP. We also have a veteran who could be relevant again this season. Let’s dive in. 

 

Fantasy Baseball Outfielders: Spring Training Standouts

Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers (ADP 154)

Wyatt Langford has been one of the biggest fantasy baseball ADP risers this spring. Some of that has to do with his top-tier prospect ranking and plenty of hype since being drafted fourth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft. It also has to do with his red-hot Spring Training for the Texas Rangers. 

Through 17 spring games, Langford is hiting .388 with a .446 OBP, six home runs, 19 RBI, and 13 runs over 49 at-bats. We didn’t exactly know what to expect from Langford in 2024 or if he’d be in the Rangers’ big-league lineup to begin the season. Well, he’s now projected to hit cleanup and be the regular designated hitter for Texas while likely seeing time in the outfield as well. 

Last year, Langford hit .360 with a .480 OBP, 10 homers, 30 RBI, 36 runs, and 12 steals over 44 games across four minor-league levels. At the University of Florida before being drafted, he hit .373 with a .498 OBP, 21 homers, 57 RBI, 83 runs, and nine steals in 64 games in 2023. 

Unsurprisingly, Langford has quickly risen up fantasy baseball draft boards and overall rankings with this hot spring. Be prepared to overpay for him in drafts if you want him. Chances are, someone may beat you to it if you don’t value him higher. Maybe the hype has gotten a bit out of control, but the raw talent and power hitting skills are clearly there.

James Wood, Washington Nationals (ADP 330)

In deeper leagues, your last pick in fantasy baseball drafts should be used on an upside player. James Wood qualifies as that with his current ADP in the 300’s. The Washington Nationals rookie outfielder is having an impressive Spring Training so far. Wood is hitting .325 with a .481 OBP, three homers, 12 runs scored, 10 walks drawn, and three steals over 20 games and 40 at-bats.

Wood showed flashes last year in the minors, hitting 26 home runs with 91 RBI, 80 runs, 18 steals, and a .353 OBP over 129 games across two levels. The former second round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft has yet to play above Double-A, but those spring numbers suggest he can continue developing as an on-base guy with a power/speed combo.

The Nationals’ plan is for Wood to begin the season in the minors so the team can retain an extra year of control. However, he could get a late May call-up and should be in the Nats’ everyday lineup for the second half of the season. This is a young, rebuilding team and Wood will very likely see regular at-bats by July. If you have the roster spot, hold on to Wood because the upside is there. If not, keep him on your radar and be ready to add him off waivers. 

Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres (ADP 369)

A year ago, Jackson Merrill was the top shortstop prospect in the San Diego Padres’ farm system. His path to the big leagues was unclear, though, with Xander Bogaerts and Ha-Seong Kim manning the middle infield spots. Well, the Padres have now fast-tracked Merrill by moving him to the outfield this spring to get his bat into the lineup. 

The 20-year-old broke camp as San Diego’s starting centerfielder in this week’s opening games in South Korea. After going hitless in the first game, Merrill went 2-for-5 with two runs scored in the second contest. He earned an everyday spot with the Padres after hitting .351 wiith a .400 OBP, eight runs, six RBI, and two homers over 13 Spring Training games. 

Keep in mind, Merrill hit ninth in both of the Padres’ first two games this past week and he’s expected to hit near the bottom of the order most of the year. That obviously caps his RBI chances, but his run production can be there if he gets on base enough ahead of the top of the potent San Diego lineup. He’s worth a later-round pick in fantasy drafts as your third or fourth outfielder. Don’t be surprised at some early-season growing pains, though, as Merrill learns a new position defensively. 

Miguel Andujar, Oakland Athletics (ADP 729)

Despite going undrafted in most fantasy baseball leagues right now, Miguel Andujar is tearing up Spring Training. In 14 games and 42 at-bats, the Oakland Athletics OF/3B is hitting .357 with five home runs, eight runs scored, and 15 RBI. The stat line is a far cry from last year when Andujar mustered just a .250 BA in 28 games with Pittsburgh. It’s also been six years since the 29-year-old put together a full, productive season in the majors. 

We shouldn’t get excited about these impressive spring numbers for Andujar until we see it carry over into the regular season. Still, he’s worth monitoring on the waiver wire if he does start hitting and playing more regularly for Oakland this year. As of now, Andujar is expected to platoon in the A’s outfield against left-handed pitching – assuming he makes the big-league roster.

Don’t forget, Andujar once hit 27 homers with 92 RBI, 83 runs, and a .297 BA back in 2018 with the Yankees. This hot spring also continues his surge in the Dominican Winter League this past offseason. In 31 games, Andujar hit .306 with a .344 OBP and a team-high 19 RBI with Tigres del Licey. Just keep an eye out for the veteran OF if you’re desperate in deep leagues.