Logan Morrison (1B, TB) – Waiver Wire Pickups

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OWNED IN: 42% of Yahoo Leagues

ANALYSIS: Like many others throughout the league, Logan Morrison has increased his flyball rate and is on pace for a career-best home run mark. However, Morrison has made other improvements to his game, most notably his plate approach. Specifically, he has been more patient at the plate as his out of zone swing rate has dropped from around 30% over the past three seasons to 24.9% this season. Thus, he is swinging at more pitches inside the strike zone, and as a result, he is making better contact as indicated by his 42.6% hard contact rate. That is 10% better than his career mark and has translated to a superb .307 ISO.

Another byproduct of the change in approach by Morrison is a big increase in Morrison’s walk rate. For those in on-base percentage leagues, the positive implications of this are apparent on their face given his .348 on-base percentage. However, more hidden is that Morrison is also scoring more runs as a result, as he is on pace for 84 runs scored on the season. That mark would be 30 runs more than his previous career best.

First base is a deep position this season but given Morrison’s performance, it is advisable to get Morrison on your roster as either a corner infielder or utility player. His improved power is legitimate and he is on pace to record career highs in both RBI and runs.