Mitch Haniger (OF, SEA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 24% of Yahoo! leagues

ANALYSIS: If you expected Mitch Haniger to be the Mariners' best hitter at this (or any) point in the season, then pat yourself on the back. Haniger was taken late, if at all, in fantasy drafts as a lottery ticket, but so far he's paying off. Haniger has three homers, six RBI and his 10 runs scored is the best in baseball right now. While he has shown a propensity to whiff with 11 K in 35 AB, Haniger is still making a fair amount of contact at 78.9% and is taking enough walks to earn a .395 OBP.

Haniger's game is mostly about power, so even if the runs start to slow down, he can still deliver fantasy value. He totaled 30 HR across three levels last year and has steadily produced ISO numbers over .200 in his minor league career. Haniger should already be owned in AL-only leagues, but is now drawing attention in mixed leagues as well. He is worth holding onto as a fourth outfielder or utility player with the potential for season-long contributions. After all, the Mariners have to improve at some point.