One of the best parts about fantasy baseball, and it’s really endless, is watching the action unfold on the field. However, there’s more to it than just the results on the field. While our success in fantasy baseball is measured by just a few statistics, there are a great deal of data points behind them. Evaluating players and their performances is based on more than just one variable. But combined, it all comes together. Under that guise, let’s take a look at three players and how we can view them based on their early-season performances.
Fantasy Baseball Advanced Hitting Stats
Jordan Westburg
We know all about the Baltimore Orioles and their young players. The Orioles’ lineup is on a growth trajectory, and a piece of that is Jordan Westburg. In 107 games last year, Westburg hit .264 with 18 home runs and 63 RBI. Through 19 at bats to begin the 2025 season, Westburg is certainly on an ascending path.
The infielder had a strong start to the season in Toronto with three home runs, all solo shots, and seven hits in total in 19 plate appearances. On the surface, we can see Westburg punishing the ball, but a look at the advanced hitting stats shows that he’s doing so with authority.
With an eye-popping .529 ISO, the power is legitimate. While we know it’s not going to stay at those insane levels, Westburg also has a 40% barrel rate and 60% hard hit rate. His 21.1 degree average launch angle also backs up Westburg’s ability to go deep. He’s slated to be an everyday player for Baltimore, and seeing him finish with 30 home runs wouldn’t be incredibly surprising.
Adolis Garcia Looks to be Healthy
Last year was challenging for Adolis Garcia as he worked through health issues, specifically his knee. With that being said, Garcia still finished with 25 home runs and 85 RBI. The bigger indication of his struggles was Garcia’s .224 batting average, but overall, things could have been worse.
While it represented a 25% decrease over 2023, Garcia still had a solid 12.2% barrel rate. It came with an equally consistent 47.9% hard hit rate, which showed that Garcia wasn’t truly a lost cause.
To begin 2025, Garcia has been hitting the ball with authority. Between a 25% barrel rate and 66.7% hard hit rate, we can feel good with what Garcia’s doing at the plate. For clarity’s sake, we are talking about 12 batted balls, but by all accounts, Garcia appears to be fully healthy. That covers not only his issues from last year, but also Garcia’s Spring Training health scare.
Is Brandon Lowe a Buy Low Candidate?
The biggest thing for Brandon Lowe is health. As long as Lowe is healthy, there’s some real fantasy value to be found. Through his first 18 plate appearances of the season, Lowe’s arrow is pointing that direction. This is the case despite his .235 batting average on the season. However, it did crater after going hitless in five at-bats on Monday.
Lowe did strike out three times on Monday, giving him six on the year, but when he does make contact, good things have been happening. And that’s what has captured our attention.
His .538 SLG is strong on its own merits, but Lowe’s 1.115 xSLG really brings things to the next level. What’s even crazier though, is Lowe’s 90% hard hit rate. That’s not to shortchange his 30% barrel rate, but Lowe’s average exit velocity of 101.9 miles per hour does warrant some legitimate attention. Even as it’s not sustainable, it’s interesting to note that Lowe has begun his season playing outside in Tampa Bay’s new home. This will be a situation to watch all season.
