Austin Hays

29-Year-Old OutfielderOF

Cincinnati Reds

10-Day IL

Injury Calf

Est. Return 4/3/2025

2025 Stats

AVG

.000

RBI

Rest-of-Season Projections

AVG

RBI

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2025 Fantasy Outlook

Hays entered last season as a reigning All-Star with a solid track record over the previous three years (.752 OPS and 108 wRC+), but he struggled early in 2024 before being sidelined by a calf injury and never fully got on track and finished with a .255/.303/.396 slash line. He also missed time down the stretch due to a kidney infection and played in just 85 games as he split the campaign between Baltimore and Philadelphia. Despite the overall struggles, Hays crushed left-handed pitching with a .941 OPS and has fared better against them throughout his career, so he should be able to land a job in the short side of an outfield platoon for 2025. He could return into fantasy relevance with a resurgence but isn't likely to have much value outside of streaming purposes. Read Past Outlooks

RANKS

Rest of Season

Dynasty

From Preseason

#389

ADP

League Majors

Bats R

Throws R

40 Man Yes

Height 5'11"

Weight 200

DOB 7/5/1995

Born Daytona Beach, FL

College Jacksonville

Drafted 3rd Rd 2016 BAL

Lands on IL with calf injury

OFCincinnati Reds

Calf

March 26, 2025

The Reds placed Hays on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to a low-grade left calf strain, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

ANALYSIS
Manager Terry Francona isn't expecting a lengthy stay on the shelf for Hays, who could be activated April 3 when first eligible. Gavin Lux could make starts in left field against right-handed pitching while Hays is out, with Blake Dunn also in the mix for at-bats.

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Batting Stats

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2024 MLB Game Log

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2023 MLB Game Log

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2022 MLB Game Log

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2021 MLB Game Log

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2020 MLB Game Log

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2019 MLB Game Log

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2018 MLB Game Log

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2017 MLB Game Log

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Minor League Game Log

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Left/Right Batting Splits

Since 2023

+19%

OPS vs LHP

2025

No Stats

2024

+65%

OPS vs LHP

2023

+3%

OPS vs LHP

	OPS	PA	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG
Since 2023vs Left	.840	257	37	6	29	1	.294	.355	.485
Since 2023vs Right	.706	564	65	15	58	6	.258	.301	.405
2025vs Left	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2025vs Right	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2024vs Left	.941	90	12	1	8	0	.354	.404	.537
2024vs Right	.569	165	14	4	12	2	.203	.248	.320
2023vs Left	.786	167	25	5	21	1	.262	.329	.456
2023vs Right	.763	399	51	11	46	4	.280	.323	.439
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Home/Away Batting Splits

Since 2023

+14%

OPS on Road

2025

No Stats

2024

+45%

OPS on Road

2023

+3%

OPS on Road

	OPS	PA	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG
Since 2023Home	.699	419	48	10	39	4	.253	.301	.398
Since 2023Away	.799	402	54	11	48	3	.285	.337	.462
2025Home	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2025Away	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2024Home	.582	140	13	1	9	2	.227	.264	.318
2024Away	.846	115	13	4	11	0	.291	.351	.495
2023Home	.758	279	35	9	30	2	.267	.319	.439
2023Away	.780	287	41	7	37	3	.283	.331	.449
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Prospect Rankings History

View Complete Austin Hays Prospect Ranking History

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Additional Stats

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Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers

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Past Fantasy Outlooks

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Be it by design or happenstance, Hays struck the ball harder, but less frequently last season. His expected batting average didn't change, but his actual mark jumped 25 points over the previous season. Hays expected and actual slugging percentage increased, fueling a career high 112 wRC+ since becoming an everyday player. Curiously, even though Hays strikeout rate increased, he was less aggressive swinging on pitches in and out of the zone but when he swung, his contact dropped on pitches in and out of the zone. Hays already solid defense in left field improved even more, helping to keep his bat in the lineup even though his production is below average for a corner outfielder. Hays attempted the same six stolen bases he did in 2022, but last season he swiped five, as opposed to just two the prior campaign. It's nothing to count on, but his success from last season could manifest more opportunities. Hays defines boring in a fantasy sense, but boring can help balance swinging for the fences elsewhere.

There was some hope Hays could take a step forward in 2022 but his skills remained stagnant, though the renovations to Camden Yards appear to have slighted him a couple of dingers. Even so, Hays plate skills and batted ball profile mimicked the previous year, with a dip in Barrel% fueling an ISO downturn. Hays 105 wRC+ will play as a compiler, but he collected only two steals and isn't a candidate to benefit from the new rules, so he's capped him in OF3 territory. That said, Hays is cemented as Baltimore's left fielder and the lineup around him continues to improve, so Hays RBI and runs will benefit. With most fantasy managers expecting more steals from hitters in Hays' draft range, his market price could drop. If you're set in bags, Hays is a high floor but low ceiling lineup stabilizer.

On June 22, Hays was slashing .219/.286/.394. His season had been interrupted by two IL stints for a sore hamstring, costing a month. From that point, Hays slashed .274/.319/.494. His plate skills and batted ball profile were similar the whole time, but his BABIP went from .250 to .303 as he was mainly victimized by an unlucky hit rate. For the season, Hays posted a 106 wRC+, but his K% rose while his BB% dipped. Hays was a highly regraded prospect and teased his potential with a 146 wRC+ in 2019, albeit in just 75 plate appearances. Now, he appears to be more of a compiler, with above average but not elite skills. That said, collecting at bats in the middle of an improving lineup, with half his games at Camden Yards has fantasy allure. We likely haven't seen Hays' best season, but we're also probably not going to see a major breakout.

Hays was an interesting option last season after posting a .309/.373/.574 slash line in 75 plate appearances in 2019. Unfortunately, his 2020 campaign was largely disappointing. He missed nearly half of the short season with a fractured rib, appearing in just 33 games. His performance took a step back across the board, as he hit just four homers and stole just two bases while slashing .279/.328/.393. He at least provided fantasy players with a solid batting average, though even that may be a mirage, as Statcast pegged his xBA at just .246, with his hard-hit rate falling to 31.3%. Hays is still just 25 years old and has less than half a season (74 games) under his belt at the highest level, but his overall .272/.320/.424 slash line doesn't suggest stardom. The fact that he plays a decent center field means his 97 wRC+ is enough to keep him in the lineup, but there aren't many reasons to get too excited here.

Hays' value has peaked twice as a pro, first after a monster 2017 when he laid waste to High-A and Double-A pitching, and most recently after logging a 146 wRC+, .265 ISO and career-high 9.3 BB% in 75 MLB plate appearances to close the 2019 season. Sandwiched in between those high points were two injury-riddled seasons in the upper levels of the minors, during which he often performed as a below-league-average hitter. His MLB performance was deserved based on how he hit the ball (.303 xBA), but his 22.2 LD%, 30.9 Hard% and 40.0 Pull% were all better marks than he posted recently in the minors, so those levels may not be sustainable. Given the lack of talent around him in Baltimore, Hays will get everyday playing time for the foreseeable future as long as he keeps his head above water. If the 24-year-old can be drafted as an OF5 in mixed leagues, the risk/reward will be properly factored in.

Hays reached the majors in 2017, and seemed likely to spend a good chunk of last season back with the big club. However, he dealt with shoulder soreness in spring training and struggled to get going back at Double-A, hitting .224/.259/.374 in 43 games before suffering a stress fracture in his ankle that sidelined him for over two months. Hays returned to Double-A in early August and hit .273/.291/.535 with six home runs in 23 games before eventually undergoing surgery to repair the stress fracture. He needs to recapture his line-drive-oriented approach from 2017, as he could naturally hit 25-plus home runs by taking what pitchers give him -- he seemed to be selling out for power last season. Hays makes for a nice post-hype sleeper in 2019. He will likely return to the minors for a month or two, but will be up once he looks ready.

How many hitting prospects can say they skipped Low-A and Triple-A in the same season? Hays did just that in 2017, beginning the year in the Carolina League and finishing the campaign as the Orioles’ leadoff hitter. His muscular forearms produce high-end bat speed, which results in plus right-handed power. He currently operates with a see ball, hit ball approach, but there has been no reason for him to utilize patience, as he never faced adversity in the minors. His eye-popping production in 64 games at High-A (167 wRC+, .263 ISO, 16 HR) and 64 games at Double-A (161 wRC+, .264 ISO, 16 HR) was eerily consistent. He runs well enough to handle center field, but has not yet learned how to utilize his above-average speed on the bases, limiting him to four-category production for now. Unless he appears overmatched in spring training, Hays should open the year as the Orioles’ everyday right fielder. His future is very bright, but there could be more growing pains in his first full season in the majors.

The Orioles are not known for making quality draft picks outside of the first round, but they certainly appear to have done so when they popped Hays with the 91st pick in last year's draft. An impressive physical specimen at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, Hays was given the slot value out of Jacksonville University, so this looks like a pure scouting find. He boasts at least average offensive tools across the board, and his strength and aggressive style of play allow those tools to play up. His all-fields approach is impressive considering how much he impacts the baseball, which speaks to the strength in his wrists and forearms. With a chance to handle all three outfield spots, his glove won't hinder his ability to make the big leagues, so it will simply come down to how well he can handle upper-level offspeed stuff. Given where he was drafted, Hays has a chance to be one of the best bargains in dynasty league drafts this spring.

More Fantasy News

Dealing with calf injury

OFCincinnati Reds

Calf

March 26, 2025

Hays was not in the lineup for Tuesday's exhibition game against Reds minor leaguers and the radio broadcast indicated that Hays is dealing with a calf injury, Dave Clark of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.