Outfielders to Target in 2019

Outfield Week continues with my targets!

Juan Soto

My Rank: 10
Expert Consensus Rank: 12

What a debut season for Soto in 2018! 22 home runs, 70 RBIs, 77 runs, and five steals in just 116 games. Not to mention a .292 average and .923 OPS. This was helped by an impressive 79 walks to 99 strikeouts. Oh, by the way, Soto was only 19 years old! Soto is already touting first round upside and, in all honesty, has a very high floor. Grabbing him in the second round this season is not a reach.

Michael Brantley

My Rank: 28
Expert Consensus Rank: 33

Brantley was a top tier fantasy option in 2014 and 2015. Injuries plagued 2016 and 2017. Brantley regained his mojo last year, posting his best season since his near MVP campaign in 2014. He now moves to the Houston Astros, who have a tendency to get the best out of their players and even take them to the next level. His low strikeout rate and high OBP helps those in points leagues the most, but I can see Brantley posting a stat line similar to what Andrew Benintendi did last season.

Mallex Smith

My Rank: 32
Expert Consensus Rank: 40

Roto league specialist Mallex Smith kind of already had a breakout last season. He finished last season third in baseball with 40 steals. He was also one of only three players with 10 or more triples. Smith can be Whit Merrifield with less power and is underrated as the 40th outfielder taken in drafts. He can be a high average, high runs, and high steals guy similar to Dee Gordon of past seasons. Those years, Gordon was going in the first five rounds.

Brandon Nimmo

My Rank: 40
Expert Consensus Rank: 45

Nimmo was an on base specialist in 2018. One of only six players with an OBP over .400, Nimmo was fourth in all of baseball with a .404 OBP. The other five? J.D. Martinez, Christian Yelich, Joey Votto, Mookie Betts, and Mike Trout. Not a bad group to be a part of! Nimmo enters 2019 as the Mets everyday center fielder and I don't see playing time concerns. He could be Joey Votto lite with his plate discipline. His line drive rate fell last year and his infield fly ball percentage was unusually high. If these numbers correct themselves, Nimmo could see an increase in batting average which will only help the counting stats.

Cedric Mullins

My Rank: 75
Expert Consensus Rank: 82

Super late sleeper here. Mullins is probably a waiver wire add in most leagues, but he's one to keep an eye on. The Orioles probable leadoff hitter, Mullins offers cheap speed with a bit of pop. He had a 30 steal season at Single-A in 2016 and stole 21 bases in the minors last year before getting called up in August. He might not run as much in the Majors but he does have the benefit of a great hitter’s park to help the power numbers. As the 82nd outfielder off the board on FantasyPros, the price tag is worth the upside.