Players need to placed in the proper position to succeed. With the New York Mets acquiring Daniel Vogelbach from the Pittsburgh Pirates, that is exactly what the Mets have done with the first baseman. This means that fantasy managers are also in line to continuing benefitting as they have been since the deal was made, and we have a rule change that went live this year to thank.

 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Player Spotlight: Daniel Vogelbach

With the Pirates, Vogelbach was cast as the everyday first baseman, as he has at other times in his career, but it does not play into his strengths. For his career, Vogelbach is a .216 hitter and a large part of that is due to his .135 batting average against left-handers. Now, a .238 batting average with the platoon advantage is not much better, but given the power production, it at least goes down a little better.

In 75 games with the Pirates this season, Vogelbach hit .228 with 12 home runs and 34 RBI and it was a foregone conclusion that Pittsburgh would eventually trade the veteran this season. And this is where the rule change comes into play. 

 

The National League's New DH Rule

While I for one am not a fan of the Designated Hitter in the National League, call me old school or whatever else you wish, from a fantasy baseball perspective it is certainly a plus. Had this trade happened without it in place, Vogelbach would likely be utilized strictly as either pinch hitting option off the bench or still in Pittsburgh as a waiver wire streaming option for those hunting for power in deeper leagues. 

Instead, Vogelbach is now getting the bulk of the at bats for one of the best offenses in baseball as the Mets’ DH. Vogelbach has looked quite comfortable batting behind Pete Alonso and he is not lacking for RBI opportunities or pitches to hit. 

 

 

 

The fact that Vogelbach is the strong side of the platoon means that he will be in the lineup most days, and when he does not get the start, he will likely find his way into at least an at bat on most occasions. 

 

Vogelbach in 2022

After going two for four with an RBI on Monday, Vogelbach brought his batting average up to .243 on the season which is a noticeable improvement from where he was at with the Pirates. Entering Monday’s game, Vogelbach was hitting .314 in his time with the Mets through 46 plate appearances with two home runs and six RBI. While the step up in supporting cast has come into play here, New York is also doing a great job of putting Vogelbach in position to succeed as he generally only faces right-handed pitching. 

Based on what we have seen from him to this point in his career, that is very much a wise decision and also quite beneficial for his fantasy value, but that has been amplified this season. Prior to Monday’s game, Vogelbach was hitting .273 against right-handed pitching with all 14 of his home runs and 33 of 40 RBI compared to a .134 batting average against southpaws. 

While the power is the focus here, Vogelbach’s 15.6% walk rate also plays very well for leagues in which on base percentage is a category. 

With a 17-degree launch angle and 11.3%-barrel rate, Vogelbach makes quality contact when he does in fact put the bat on the ball, and over the final two months of the season, he can prove to be an asset for those looking for some power out of their corner infield spot. 

 

 


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