Jake Bauers (1B, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 8% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jake Bauers is having impressive start to his rookie campaign. He is no Juan Soto, but Bauers is slashing .267/.409/.493 with a 45.3% hard-hit rate – Soto only has a 39.1%. The big difference thus far is Bauers does not have a fly ball rate (23%) similar to Soto (33%). Over the last seven days, Bauers is hitting .318 with a home run, stolen base, three RBI, and five runs scored.

The Rays are starting to take advantage of his OBP, .444 in the last week, by batting him in the top third of the lineup, routinely in the three-hole. In addition to his impressive 19.4% BB/9, Bauers has an excellent BB-K ratio as he has drawn 18 walks and only struck out 20 times.

Tampa Bay has six games this week with favorable series, even if they are on the road, against the Marlins and Mets. Bauers should be owned in all deeper leagues, particularly though that are dynasty formats, as he has shown average, power, and speed in his early career.