Luis Garcia – After two seasons of below average hitting, hitting to a 78 wRC+ in 40 games in 2020, and
79 in 70 games in 2021 (where 100 is league average), Luis Garcia appears to have figured a couple
things out. He started 2022 in Triple A, but after posting a .314/.368/.531 triple slash, good for a .899
OPS and a wRC+ of 134, he was called up; over the last two years in Triple-A (79 games), he’s hit to a
.931 OPS, with 21 home runs and 57 RBIs. And since his arrival, is slashing a crisp .372/.378/.488, good
for a 140 wRC+. Sure, his .417 BABIP is almost certainly due for a bit of regression, but he’s worth a spot
in deeper formats because of his remarkable bat control and free-swinging nature that allows him to
spray doubles all over the field, his everyday role (which will likely continue even after the return of A.
Escobar), and the fact that he was a highly touted prospect just two years ago (and he’s still just 22).
Gabriel Moreno – Called up on Saturday after C Danny Jansen broke his hand, Gabriel Moreno appears
to slide into Jansen’s old role as tandem with Alejandro Kirk. After a very impressive .373/.441/.651
2021 breakout in Double-A, Moreno picked up right where he left off in 2022, hitting to a .324/.380/.404
triple slash in Triple-A. While the power numbers were much higher in 2021, Moreno’s known more for
his athleticism and spectacular bat-to-ball ability, both of which point to success in the major leagues.
He hasn’t looked outmatched through his minor league career and the 22-year-old has a bright future in
the MLB, slotting into potentially the most potent lineup in baseball, no less. In his first two games, he’s
1/7, but don’t let that deter you from picking him up immediately. Good hitting catchers are hard to
find, and Moreno will find himself among them by the year’s end.
Garrett Cooper – Unfortunately, Cooper currently finds himself on the COVID-19 list; however, this is the
perfect time to stash him if he is on the waiver wire. Unlike the rest of the guys on this list, Cooper is
neither young nor a highly touted prospect. Cooper has been an above average hitter in four of his five
previous seasons in the MLB (according to his wRC+ values), and 2022 is no different. In fact, to date
2022 is his best season in the majors, slashing a clean .315/.389/.473, with multi-hit efforts in seven of
his last nine games. His average exit velocity is 91.3, the highest mark of his career, and his .299 xBA
shows that he isn’t overperforming expectations too far. It may not last forever, but Cooper needs to be
rostered at least at the moment.
Brendan Donovan – Likely overshadowed by fellow call up Nolan Gorman, Brendan Donovan, too, is
holding his own during his first taste of the major leagues, slashing .295/.415/.402, with an incredible
20/18 BB/K ratio. He’s proven he can hit for high average throughout his time in the minor leagues,
with his lowest mark since 2020 coming from his .288 in Triple-A in 2021. He doesn’t hit for much
power, but his ability to hit for high average, as well as his vision at the plate, and his four-position
eligibility make him worth rostering.
Spencer Strider – Strider pitched 2.1 innings with the Braves in 2021 and started out this year in their
bullpen. During his time in the bullpen, Strider amassed a 2.22 ERA, backed up by a miniscule 1.46 FIP,
as well as an incredible 13.68 K/9 in 24.1 IP. The strikeouts were nothing new for Strider, who had 153
over 94 career minor league innings. His 4.07 BB/9 does leave something to be desired, though.
However, he was moved to a starting role on May 30 th , which had the potential to make fantasy
managers very happy. So far as a starter, his BB/9 is sitting at a whopping 5.14, but his strikeouts are still
there (12.86 Ks/9), his ERA now sits at 2.57, having given up four earned runs in only 14.0 innings across
three starts. And in his last start, he went 5.2 scoreless, striking out eight while walking only one. This is
the opportunity that fantasy managers have dreamed of because of Strider’s immense upside. Don’t
forget he’s only 23; he’s missing bats at a fantastic rate, and if he can continue to get his walks under
semi-control, he will be an important asset as the season continues.
Edward Cabrera – I debated whether to include Cabrera after his second great start, six innings of one
run baseball against the Nationals, following up his nine-strikeout game at Coors Field in his season
debut, but his third start, a less than one against the Astros may see him back on the waiver wire, which
is the perfect time to pounce. You might remember Cabrera as the player whose sinker made players
quit MLB The Show 2021, but in his first two 2022 starts, this immensely talented young Marlins starter
(no, not Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez, Sixto Sanchez) pitched to the tune of a 0.75 ERA, albeit in only 12
innings; he faltered a bit on the weekend, giving up five runs in 3.2, but don’t let that deter you: all
young pitchers experience growing pains. He’s averaging a sharp 96.8 and 96.4 MPH on his four-seam
fastball and sinker, respectively, as well as a ridiculous 93.4 MPH on his changeup. He looks like a
completely different pitcher than the one we saw in 2021, and if he can stay healthy, has the potential
to make a real impact on fantasy teams.
Roansy Contreras – The Pirates received Contreras from the Yankees in exchange for Jameson Taillon,
which is surprising because it seems like the Pirates were, for once, on the winning side of a trade. So far
in 2022, in six games (three starts), Contreras is pitching to a 2.57 ERA, with a 10.61 K/9 in 28.0 innings;
in four starts (20.1 IP) since he was recalled from Triple-A, he has a 2.21 ERA, backed up by a 3.04 FIP, as
well as 10.18 K/9 and 0.89 HR/9. While his BB/9 is still a bit high (2.66 BB/9 as a starter, 2.89 for the
year), his upper-90s fastball, devastating slider, and solid curveball give him the potential to be a big
contributor, especially in strikeouts.