New Everyday Players — Sep 6, 2023

You know the drill, let’s talk some new lineup regulars!

Travis Blankenhorn | WAS OF

The 26-year-old Blankenhorn was recalled when rosters expanded at the beginning of the month. He’s not a prospect, last ranking just 19th among top prospects, as he’s been a part of multiple organizations through the years. But he’s now started four straight games in left field, slotting smack in the middle of the Nationals’ batting order. I’m interested in anyone hitting in the middle of a lineup, so let’s find out if he’s worth a pickup.

Since enjoying a power spike back in 2019, Blankenhorn has shown good power since, posting HR/FB rates from the mid-teens to the mid 20% range, with ISO marks from around .200 to the mid-.200 range. He enjoyed his best season yet over a reasonable sample size, as he posted a 26.7% HR/FB rate and .254 ISO at Triple-A this year, though he’s played at the level multiple times. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to fully take advantage of that power surge, as his FB% declined to just 30.6%, his lowest mark since 2015. Still, he knocked 23 homers in about two-thirds of a season, putting him on a 30-homer pace. The power was supported by a 112 MPH maxEV.

He didn’t steal any bases this year, after swiping 10 at Triple-A last year, so his willingness to attempt one might be gone. Therefore the hope here is his power translates, especially because he doesn’t figure to contribute anything in batting average.

Given his current lineup spot and starting job, he’s worth considering in deep leagues if you need power. If you don’t need home runs and RBI, then he’s probably not worth your time.

Matthew Batten | SD 2B

Batten first debuted in July, but then was demoted to the minors in early August, before being recalled again later in the month. With incumbent second baseman Jake Cronenworth on the IL, Batten has played nearly every day, rotating between second and third, and even starting a game at first base. Like Blankenhorn though, Batten isn’t exactly a prospect, and he’s also already 28 years old. However, that doesn’t mean he should be ignored!

He actually owns a skill set that looks intriguing to fantasy owners. After posting single digit HR/FB rates through 2021 and an ISO never exceeding the .131 mark he posted during his Rookie League debut back in 2017, his power jumped last year at Triple-A. He posted a career best 13.5% HR/FB rate and .169 ISO. This season, he proved that last year was real, as he posted an identical HR/FB rate and a barely lower ISO. It’s not great, but suggests he won’t be a zero in power and could potentially reach double digits in a full season.

The most exciting fantasy skill here is his speed. He stole 28 bases in 2021, 18 in 2022, and 27 again this year. He’s done so at pretty good success rates as well. That smells like 10 home runs and 20 steals upside, which produces values in the majority of formats.

Finally, his plate patience has been good, as he has walked at a double digit clip everywhere he has played, except at Triple-A back in 2019. So his value should get a boost in OBP formats. If you need speed, and especially if your leagues uses OBP, he’s worth a look.

Jasson Domínguez | NYY OF

I saved the best for last! Domínguez is the Yankees top prospect and ranked 34th overall. With an ETA of 2025, I think it surprised many that he was recalled when rosters expanded. At that point, he had only recorded 37 Triple-A plate appearances. You don’t normally think of the Yankees as a team that rushes prospects, so they must think he’s ready, despite a solid, but unspectacular .356 wOBA at Double-A.

With 30/60 Game Power, it’s clear that there’s massive upside here that hasn’t yet been realized, especially with 60/60 Raw Power grades. His minor league power has been fine, but certainly not elite, as his HR/FB rates have actually peaked at just 17.6%, while his highest ISO is just .204. At Double-A this year, he posted a 14.2% HR/FB rate, which is barely higher than Batten above! His ISO of .160 is actually just below Batten’s. So based solely on his minor league history, his power is still mostly potential.

The big draw here right now for fantasy owners is his speed. He stole 37 bases through three levels last year and 40 bases this year. So with big power upside and speed with a willingness to run, he has the makings of a fantasy star.

Strikeouts haven’t been much of an issue and I love his plate patience. He has walked at a double digit clip at each stop since last year and posted a professional best 15.2% mark at Double-A this year. That’s insanely rare patience for a 20-year-old.

Let’s be cautiously optimistic about his near-term power, but Yankees fans and fantasy owners have something to be real excited about.