Jake Fraley

Fraley hasn't done much with his major-league opportunities, posting a .152/.200/.227 slash line and registering a 35.7 K% across 70 plate appearances over parts of the last two seasons. The outfielder's struggles are a sharp contrast to his hitting prowess in the minors. Between 2018 and 2019, Fraley batted .316 and struck out less than 20% of the time while progressing from High-A to Triple-A. His appeal grew with an emergence of power in 2019, when he more than doubled his previous minor-league output with 19 homers in only 382 at-bats. Fraley has reached double-digit stolen bases three times in four minor-league seasons, so he could have fantasy value as a moderate speed-power contributor if he can prove himself against big-league pitching. However, Fraley turns 26 in May and Jerred Kelenic is waiting in the wings, so Fraley's window to squeeze himself into Seattle's future plans could be closing.

The Mariners had to add Fraley to the 40-man in 2019 one way or another, so they selected his contract in August after he obliterated Double-A pitching (156 wRC+) and was OK in 38 games at Triple-A (104 wRC+). His season was cut short when he sprained ligaments in his thumb. Fraley missed significant time due to injuries earlier in his career, so he is not a normal 24-year-old from a developmental standpoint. The No. 77 pick from 2016 has been dominant at almost every MiLB stop. He is an above-average defender with above-average speed who excels at lifting the ball, but his LD% dipped after his promotion from Double-A while he worked on using the whole field. Fraley projects to be a better real-life player than Mallex Smith, so he will be given the opportunity this spring to take the center field job and run with it. There is some swing-and-miss in his game, but he has 20/20 upside.

Injuries prevented Fraley's career from taking off in his first full season after being selected by the Rays with the No. 77 overall pick in 2016. However, he hit .361/.449/.680 with 13 home runs and 39 steals over 40 games in the Australian Baseball League last offseason, which put him squarely back on the dynasty-league map. He followed that up by notching a 172 wRC+ in 260 plate appearances at High-A, but undisclosed injuries once again cost him time. An offseason trade to the Mariners put him on the national radar, which unfortunately ups the acquisition cost, but it was a boon for those who already had him rostered, as he goes from a club with ridiculous depth to an organization where he should have a clear path to playing time. Fraley is an excellent defender in center field, makes hard contact to all fields and rarely strikes out. The key going forward will be proving he can hold up over a full season. He will likely be assigned to Double-A.

The 21-year-old center fielder slashed .238/.339/.364 with a homer, 18 RBI, seven triples and 33 stolen bases at short-season Hudson Valley after being selected 77th overall in the 2016 first-year player draft. He posted a solid 14.2 percent strikeout rate and 83 percent contact rate while batting at or near the top of the order. The speed and plate skills make him somewhat intriguing, but will Fraley hit enough against higher-level pitching to take full advantage of his speed? Time will tell. . . and for most, waiting it out will be a tough sell.