Tampa Bay outfielder Steven Souza Jr. isn’t going to jump off the stat page. His .232 batting average will likely scare away fantasy baseball owners, and that’s OK for owners in positions where they’re not searching for a spark.
If your outfield isn’t matching up well with other opponents in your fantasy baseball league, then Souza Jr.’s batting average may not be the only stat line you should see.
Because if you can see past that average, there are other numbers worth looking at for Souza Jr.
Souza Jr. recently returned from injury and has found his home run stroke. In five games since returning, he has three home runs. During those games, he has five RBIs and four runs. And while he hasn’t stolen a base since May 22, he has seven steals for the season.
That goes along with his 22 RBIs, 25 runs and 10 homers. For outfielders, he ranks ninth in home runs, 28th in RBIs and runs, and 21st in stolen bases. His on-base percentage of .326 is 32nd best among outfielders.
Those aren’t numbers that will turn a fantasy baseball team from the cellar to through the ceiling. However, those are good enough numbers across the board that could help a team in search for added production in those categories.
Souza Jr. has been one of the only bright spots offensively for the Rays. If he can eliminate his strikeouts (he’s second worst among outfielders with 70 strikeouts), then he could improve his average, making him even more desirable for fantasy baseball owners.
This isn’t a team-changing move. However, when the mid-week waiver wire hits, Souza Jr. is likely available and could be a solid bench option or an everyday player for the right fantasy baseball team.
