The Dynasty Digest: March 1, 2024

Chris Clegg runs down everything you need to know for dynasty leagues from the previous days action.

Cover Photo with an image from Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

We made it to March! Regular season games will be played this month. But first, we have several more important weeks of spring training.

Welcome to the Dynasty Digest! Baseball is back, and so are we, with our daily reports of everything you need to know from the previous days’ action for you to win your dynasty leagues.

Spring Training is always an interesting time, as box score stats don’t necessarily matter, but I am looking for other things of note. Has a pitcher seen an increase in velo or do they have a new pitch that compliments the arsenal well? Has a hitter simplified their approach, or did they post a new max exit velocity? The little things are much more important than box score stats for Spring Training, and we are going to talk about them. Let’s break down Monday’s action.

Spring Training Standouts From February 29

James Wood, OF, WSH

Wood did it again, another massive home run, his spring leading third of the year. It was a big one, as it had an exit velocity of 111.6 mph and traveled 411 feet. Wood also added a single that left the bat at 102.5.

He has simplified his approach and shortened his bat path, which should lead to more contact, which was an issue in previous seasons. The contact rate of 68 percent leaves plenty to be desired, but there are plenty of positives to take away from the lefty with long levers, leading to a strikeout rate of 31.5 percent.

A lot of the struggles came against breaking balls and changeups. Wood saw 249 changeups this season, swinging at 50 percent of them and making contact at just a 51 percent clip. Wood’s highest chase rate of any pitch is against sliders, which is just a 32 percent clip, right around an overall league average, showing his plate discipline and pitch recognition. The good news is that one of his big home runs was off a slider. The one today was off a sinker.

Jung Hoo Lee, OF, SF

Lee went blast off and hit a home run that left the bat at 109.7 mph, which, according to Aram Leighton was the hardest hit ball of any of his KBO data, which is extremely encouraging. He also added a double that left the bat at 99.7 mph and a groundout at 99 mph.

Lee is an elite contact hitter who is going to get on base at a high clip and will likely be the Giants’ leadoff hitter. If he can post these kind of exit velocities, there is a chance we see Lee be a 15 home run/15 stolen base type with solid batting averages and OBPs. Thursday’s game has my eyes open, and watching Lee really closely for the rest of this spring.

Joe Boyle, RHP, OAK

Boyle was excellent again, and his new-found command and control with Oakland continues. Boyle tossed 3.1 innings and allowed two hits, one earned run, and, once again, zero walks. He needed just 38 pitches to get ten outs and threw 27 strikes, an impressive 71 percent clip.

Boyle’s fastball sat 97-100 mph, and he is throwing a new sweeper. He went from having a career Minor League walk rate of 19 percent to finding control of his pitches after being traded from Cincinnati to Oakland last year. If these control gains stick, Boyle could be a deadly starter.

Get all 15 reports plus a ton of great content to help you win in dynasty by subscribing below!