Myles Straw

After an encouraging 2021, Straw's 2022 line left a sour taste in the mouth. He failed to hit a home run in 596 plate appearances, and he slashed just .221/.291/.273. He still boasts solid plate discipline after posting a 9.2 percent walk rate and career-best 14.6 strikeout rate, and the speed remained prevalent with 21 stolen bases and a 94th percentile sprint speed (per Statcast). The big problem with Straw now is that he was seemingly surpassed by Steven Kwan for the leadoff spot -- Straw hit mainly ninth for the last four months of the campaign. The Guardians aren't short on outfield prospects that could provide a more well-rounded game, though his defense and his contract should keep him involved in the team's plans. It's a null point if he can bat .250 and get on base at a .325 clip, but year-to-year consistency hasn't been his strong suit.

It was tough to know what to think of Straw coming into the season after he struggled in 2020 (.500 OPS, .049 ISO). Straw was on everyone's fantasy radar after stealing 72 bases in 2018, but he wouldn't stay in the majors with a .500 OPS. He answered the call by raising his OBP and SLG by 100 points to post a .700 OPS. It would be nice if he hit a bit better, but it was enough to stay in the lineup in order to steal 30 bases and score 86 runs while playing for Houston and Cleveland. As long he continues to hit, the stolen bases should continue and there is the chance he develops some more power. A sub-.100 ISO and 2.5% HR/FB will limit his upside. He might be that best late source of stolen bases for fantasy managers with certain team builds, but he comes with the risk of reverting to his 2020 self. If a manager needs Straw for stolen bases, they've backed themselves into a corner in the draft.

Most of Straw's time on the field in 2020 came when George Springer was injured. The speedy outfielder did not do much with his at-bats, posting an anemic 39 wRC+, though he did swipe six bags in eight tries. Not only did Straw fan a career-worst 25.6% of the time, but he also walked at just a 4.4% clip, well below the double-digit level he displayed throughout his minor-league career. Straw's game is speed, so diminished plate skills hurt him more than others; his chances to steal are limited by a .244 OBP. Even with Springer leaving as a free agent, Straw is unlikely to be deployed as a lineup regular throughout 2020. Straw's lack of power relegates him to AL-only status on draft day, but he could be an in-season mixed-league pickup as an injury replacement.

Tim Locastro was the only player in MLB in 2019 who had a faster sprint time from home to first than Straw. By average sprint speed, only Locastro, Trea Turner and Byron Buxton were faster in 2019. Straw can absolutely fly and stole 70 bases in the minors between Double-A and Triple-A in 2018. Last year, he was 27-for-32 between Triple-A and the majors in 122 games. The last thing a pitcher wants to do is walk this guy, but they still do as Straw has had a double-digit walk rate in all but one stop on his climb to the major leagues. This is Billy Hamilton, but a version of Hamilton that does not get the bat knocked out of his hands. Straw does not have power, but handles the bat well enough to make good opposite-field contact to get on base. The deep roster limits him to the bench, but Straw can still provide 15-20 steals over the course of the season.

Straw was promoted to the majors in mid-September, hitting a homer and swiping two bases over just 10 plate appearances. That power isn't real, as the homer was just the fourth of his four-year professional career, but the speed certainly is. He'd already stolen 70 bases in the minors last season before his callup, and he was included on the Astros' postseason roster almost exclusively for his wheels. That speed should certainly interest fantasy owners, but steals are much more valuable in fantasy than reality, and if a player can't do much else, he won't get much playing time. Don't write off Straw completely, as he's still 24 with room to grow, but a .257/.349/.317 line in 66 Triple-A games and a complete lack of power give little reason to believe he'll carve out a significant role on Houston's loaded roster in 2019.

Straw appears interesting on paper, but he profiles as a fourth or fifth outfielder long term and is unlikely to reach the majors this season. He is a threat on the bases (81 steals in 111 minor-league attempts), but his complete lack of power will hold him back. His opposite-field approach (45.8 percent at High-A) is great for a player who wants to hit a bunch of singles, but he doesn't do damage when he hits the ball. He should open the year at Double-A and could make his major-league debut (possibly in another organization) in 2019.