Four Outfielders: Springer, Varsho, Abreu, & Lowe

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Previous Outfield Reviews

• Marsee, Caglianone, Carpenter, & Crews
• Marte, Doyle, Stowers, & Butler
• Nimmo, Ward, Profar, Happ
• Simpson, Adell, Rafaela, & Kwan
• Suzuki, Robert, Reynolds, & Cruz
• Soderstrom, Garcia, Friedl, & Laureano
• Cowser, Steer, Frelick, & Carter

George Springer (107 ADP)

Coming into last season, the only red flag in Springer’s profile was his limited power. But in 2025, his 32 HR were his highest total since 39 HR in 2019. He reached that total by hitting the ball harder and in the air, as seen by a career-high 16% Barrel%. His 47% HardHit% and 89.9 mph avgEV also were career bests. His 17 deg Launch Angle was his highest since 2021. The additional hard-hit balls helped him reach his highest BABIP since 2016. Now, can he maintain those gains as he goes into his age-36 season? Slim chance.

Looking under the hood a little more, his plate discipline and Sprint Speed remained constant so no problems there.

Besides the chance of age catching up with him, the number of games he’s played has dropped each of the past two seasons (154 to 145 to 140). This past season, he dealt with at least five injuries (wrist, undisclosed from a slide, concussion, knee, and side).

To see if a repeat possible, I found the results from hitters who met the following:

• 33 years or older
• Hit over 30 HR
• Had an AVG over .300
• Had between 14 and 24 HR the previous season
• Hit less than .250 AVG the previous season

In the last 75 years, only two other hitters met those requirements and here are their unimpressive results:

Similar seasons don’t usually happen, and the two times they have, the following year’s results were horrible.

Final Take: After a career-best season, George Springer is hoping for a repeat, and if so, it would be a historic first.

Daulton Varsho (205 ADP)

After a down 2024 season (.214/.293/.407) ending in a September shoulder surgery, he took off in 2025 with 20 HR in just 271 PA. He saw limited playing time while still recovering from the shoulder surgery and a mid-season IL trip for a hamstring injury.

The power outburst came with him increasing his Average Exit velocity to 89.9 mph. This value is 2 mph higher than any previous season and 3 mph higher than he hit in 2024. Also, he posted a career-high 16% Barrel%. Fantasy managers can dream that his home run total could double to 40 HR with a full season of at-bats.

The additional power came with a tradeoff … more swing-and-miss. Coming into the season, he had a 77% Contact% and 24% K%. In 2025, they worsened to 72% contact% and 28% K%. He hits everything into the air (55% FB%, 24 degLA), so he’s always going to run a low batting average when combined with his swing-and-miss.

Additionally, he only attempted two stolen bases, likely to protect his shoulder and hamstring, even though his Sprint Speed and Time-to-First remained constant. Maybe he could push double-digit steals again if he feels his body can take it.

The team gave him plenty of rest. After coming back from the hamstring injury, he never started more than five games in a row until the last 10 games of the season. He wasn’t being platooned since he sat against several righties.

Final Take: After coming off shoulder surgery, Daulton Varsho traded off contact for more power. He could be a source of 30+ HR and dozen or so stolen bases but a drain in batting average.

Wilyer Abreu (268 ADP)

When playing, Wilyer Abreu has been a solid hitter (career 115 wRC+). The problem is that he hasn’t exceeded 450 PA in a season yet. Last year, he missed time with two IL stints (oblique and calf).

Besides the injuries, he’s struggled against lefties (career 62 wRC+ vs LHP, 125 wRC+ vs RHP). Last season, he faced lefties only 68 times (349 PA vs LHP). Reading between the lines here, it seems like the team may give him a chance to show he can hit lefties.

There was slight improvement last year, as Abreu had nearly the same amount of plate appearances (68) against southpaws while producing a line of .230/.299/.377 with six doubles, one homer, six walks and 14 strikeouts.

In both cases, the sample size was too small to determine what Abreu can be against lefties.

“We need to have Wilyer figure out lefties. We’re going to push him to do that and I truly believe he can do that,” Cora told the Section 10 podcast earlier this offseason.

Besides limited playing time, he’s a solid player providing 20 HR power while not being a drain in steals and batting average. The 26-year-old is showing no signs of decline as he’s improved his Contact% for the second straight year (70% to 74% to 78%).

Final Take: Wilyer Abreu is a solid platoon bat whose upside is limited until he can prove that he can hit lefties.

Josh Lowe (270 ADP)

I’m getting into the platoon bats with Lowe, like Abreu, being incompetent against lefties (115 wRC+ vs RHP, 42 wRC+ vs LHP). Maybe the Angels will be forced to play him, but it could come with a sub .200 AVG (.181 AVG vs LHP for his career). It’s possible he could form a platoon with Bryce Teodosio, who has a 103 wRC+ against left-handed hitters in a small sample.

Lowe struggled in 2025 by posting a .220 AVG, but most of the drop was from a .273 BABIP. All of the 28-year-old’s power metrics dropped as he dealt with two oblique injuries, one to start the season and one in August. He never recovered and his 83.8 avgEV in September was the worst monthly EV of his career.

It’s tough to find any upside with him. His stolen bases have steadily declined (32 SB to 25 SB to 18 SB) with his Sprint Speed (89th percentile in 2022 to 67th in 2025). Last year, he couldn’t lift the ball with a 46% GB%. Maybe just pray that his 20 HR and 32 SB with a .292 AVG from 2023 magically returns. I’m not.

Final Take: Hopefully, Josh Lowe improves from his 2025 season, where he struggled in all aspects of his game, but I have little hope the Angels can help him rebound.