I don’t like writing sleeper posts about the identical man greater than as soon as in a three-year interval. If I wrote a Maikel Garcia sleeper final yr, I’d not be right here right now, regardless of how a lot I preferred him, and I do like him. Must admit to creating certain I didn’t write a Maikel Garcia sleeper put up final yr, and I don’t suppose so, however Google sucks now, so you must excuse me if I missed it. I do keep in mind him being a preferred sleeper choose. Individuals discuss how if he hits leadoff, then he’s going to excel. Wha’ occurred? Why had been individuals so fallacious? Did they only not have their Massive Brains performing at 100% capability? Effectively, right here’s the factor, and this might need you dropping your mouth and going all slack-jawed, so please swallow your saliva earlier than persevering with on, Maikel Garcia did hit leadoff for 107 video games and 431 ABs. Welp! He hit leadoff and it wasn’t good, that sucks, clearly. Not an incredible factor, usually. [holds finger to earbud] Maintain on, I’m being advised there’s one other, “Effectively, right here’s the factor.” Effectively, Right here’s The Factor, Half 2: There’s One other Factor, Maikel Garcia was the eighth finest 2nd baseman final yr on the Participant Rater, and 116th general, however is being drafted because the 216th finest general and across the sixteenth finest 2nd baseman. Welp! I don’t know what you persons are doing. Sure, you individuals! Additionally, I do know he had bone spurs faraway from his elbow this offseason, however that sounds tremendous minor and, if something, might result in him being a fair larger sleeper. Additionally, Additionally: Additionally Additionally! The commerce of Jonathan India makes me suppose persons are discounting Maikel Garcia even additional. Why? Actually do not know. India’s hitting leadoff? Is he although? Possibly, however I don’t suppose we should always simply assume it, and that doesn’t cease Maikel Garcia from having worth. So, what can we count on from Maikel Garcia for 2025 fantasy baseball and what makes him a sleeper?
PSYCHE! My 2025 fantasy baseball rankings are all on Patreon. Don’t anticipate the rankings to return out subsequent month. Anyway II, Maikel Garcia sleeper:
Put up-hype is humorous. I can’t say I totally perceive why a man falls after seemingly having a stable yr, after being hyped. I don’t suppose it’s all the time the identical motive. Possibly we are able to work out why it occurred to Maikel Garcia. Maikel Garcia went 7/37/.231 final yr. Common is a bit of iffy, however we’ll get to that. The facility and velocity drives fantasy and seven/37 drives me to the financial institution to say Maikel Garcia is cash. He was caught stealing twice in 39 makes an attempt (therefore, 37). He turns 25 in March. He’s not going to all of a sudden develop into a 10-steal man. He’s a 25-steal man, simply. I’ve talked about the Pitch Clock 12 earlier than. It means with the Pitch Clock a man can add 12 steals to his totals if he simply needs to run extra. Italics for emphasis, to not sign to you that Random Italicized Voice is whispering shizz. I spell out the PC12 right here as a result of I do suppose there’s a caveat. If a man could be very quick, he can add 20+ luggage if he needs. So, Maikel Garcia could possibly be a 25-steal man or a 45-steal man? Effectively, you don’t steal 37 luggage unintentionally, however he doesn’t grade out as “quick.” Spending time right here as a result of steals are a giant a part of his fantasy. All issues thought of, I feel Maikel is a 25-steal, plus the PC12.
About that common. Maikel Garcia had a 16.5 Ok% and .268 BABIP. Undecided he’s a .340 BABIP man as a result of, even when his velocity is better-than-average, his contact is weak-ish sauce. Not terrible. However not elite. Right here’s a fairly image:
The Barrel% is foolish terrible, and his stroll fee is kinda humorous. Second half first, he doesn’t stroll, however he additionally doesn’t swing. He was the eleventh least prone to swing at a ball. High 10 are names you’d count on to see there. High three had been Decide, India and Soto. Moreover, Maikel was the third finest for contact on strikes behind Kwan and Betts. Stunned Maikel Garcia even strikes out as a lot as he does. Man is aware of the strike zone properly. Seems like somebody you need main off, however India is sweet too; I get it, however typically managers like an in-house man who was there, which makes it Maikel’s job. Both means, it’s not clear, and India may leadoff in April, wrestle and Maikel will get the job. As they are saying, it’s fluid.
So, with horrible Barrel% and good contact, you’d suppose he made loads of horrible contact, however because the Laborious Hit% above signifies, he doesn’t. He had the identical quantity of unhealthy contact as Vlad Jr. and Bryce Harper. Maikel’s large situation is he grounds out so much. It’s not the demise knell for a man. He grounds out as a lot as Jazz and Chourio. These guys do hit it tougher although on common. General, I feel Maikel Garcia is a .310 BABIP man, which boosts his common to .255, neutrally. That’s large. If he’s taking pitches, hitting ~.260, main off 30-50% of the time, and stealing luggage with out being caught, then, I don’t see how he can’t be not less than nearly as good as he was final yr, and sure significantly better. For 2025, I’ll give Maikel Garcia projections of 71/6/64/.266/34 in 567 ABs with an opportunity for extra.
