Austin Hays (OF, BAL) - Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups

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OWNED IN: 9% of leagues

ANALYSIS: 25-year-old Austin Hays is a former highly touted prospect, and given the downtrodden nature of the Baltimore Orioles roster, is ready to take the reigns in the outfield at Camden Yards for the abbreviated 2020 MLB season. Whether or not you would slate the Orioles for success in 2020, Hays is going to get plenty of opportunity to see the major league field this summer, and that means he'll have an opportunity to pick up with some true volume where he left off from an excellent 2019 campaign.

Last season in 351 AB across the A-, A+, Double-A, and Triple-A levels, Hays produced 17 home runs, nine stolen bases (in 15 attempts), and a slash of .248/.299/.464. While that leaves plenty to be desired in terms of plate discipline and efficiency, Hays displayed even more promise at the MLB level, hitting four homers, stealing two bases, and putting up a .309/.373/.574 slash in 68 AB. While the Daytona Beach native only hit for 30.9% hard contact on batted balls and produced a ground-heavy 1.10 GB/FB ratio, he only produced 7.3% soft contact while pulling pitches at a 40% clip and hitting for a .265 ISO. Austin Hays has his flaws, but he is a talented asset with a clear path to consistent playing time and an arsenal of ways to leave his mark on a game. In a season where one cannot afford to wait around for months for a player to get the call, a player as widely available as Hays should be on everyone's radar.