Richie Palacios

Richie Palacios

27-Year-Old Second Baseman2B
Tampa Bay Rays
10-Day IL
Injury Finger
Est. Return 4/4/2025
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Tampa Bay loves versatile players, so it was not surprising to see them acquire Palacios before the 2024 season began. Palacios lost a good chunk of the summer to a knee injury but finished the season playing at five different positions and has dual-eligibility during draft season. His 2024 season was all over the place statistically, as he hit for a much better average against lefties when he faced them, but all his homers came against righties. Arguably his best stat was his base-running, as he was 19 for 20 in his stolen base attempts and is now 23 of 24 for his career. He has good plate discipline, and a season with approximately 90 games of Yankee Stadium dimensions could help him show some of his untapped power. He has never had a double-digit homer season, but it wouldn't surprise us to see him go 10-20 while playing in multiple spots on the field. We won't fault you if you are getting some 2008 Ben Zobrist vibes here, because we are, too. Just don't get greedy expecting a 2009 Zorilla-like season. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Rest of Season From Preseason
#427
ADP
$Signed a one-year contract with the Rays in March of 2024.
Heads to IL with finger fracture
2BTampa Bay Rays
Finger
March 26, 2025
The Rays placed Palacios (finger) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
Palacios had been on track to begin the season in a utility role with the Rays, but his bid for the Opening Day roster ended late last week when he was diagnosed with a small fracture in his right ring finger. His IL placement is retroactive to Monday, so Palacios will be eligible for activation ahead of the Rays' third series of the season, which begins April 4 in Texas. Tampa Bay recalled Kameron Misner from Triple-A Durham to provide some extra coverage in the outfield while Palacios is on the shelf.
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Batting Stats
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2025
2024
2023
2022
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2024 MLB Game Log
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Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2023
 
 
+27%
OPS vs LHP
2025
No Stats
2024
 
 
+2%
OPS vs LHP
2023
 
 
+56%
OPS vs LHP
OPS PA R HR RBI SB AVG OBP SLG
Since 2023vs Left .869 51 7 2 6 4 .340 .380 .489
Since 2023vs Right .682 366 48 9 31 17 .216 .331 .352
2025vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024vs Left .676 31 5 0 3 3 .286 .355 .321
2024vs Right .663 284 41 5 18 16 .216 .345 .318
2023vs Left 1.158 20 2 2 3 1 .421 .421 .737
2023vs Right .740 82 7 4 13 1 .216 .280 .459
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Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2023
 
 
+37%
OPS on Road
2025
No Stats
2024
 
 
+34%
OPS on Road
2023
 
 
+45%
OPS on Road
OPS PA R HR RBI SB AVG OBP SLG
Since 2023Home .594 204 24 3 13 9 .198 .300 .294
Since 2023Away .815 213 31 8 24 12 .267 .371 .444
2025Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024Home .567 153 20 1 6 9 .191 .307 .260
2024Away .759 162 26 4 15 10 .256 .383 .376
2023Home .671 51 4 2 7 0 .217 .280 .391
2023Away .972 51 5 4 9 2 .298 .333 .638
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Richie Palacios See More
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
The Cardinals picked up Palacios from the Guardians in a trade in June and promoted him to the majors in August. The 26-year-old proved to be a spark down the stretch of St. Louis' lost season, collecting an .823 OPS with six home runs and a couple stolen bases in 102 plate appearances. The elite contact ability Palacios showed in the minors carried over, as well, as he struck out at just a 10.8 percent clip. Palacios also drew walks at a 15.7 percent rate last season at the Triple-A level, but that part didn't translate in the majors (5.9 percent). The 14 homers Palacios hit between the majors and minors in 2023 nearly doubled his pro total coming into the year, and his poor quality of contact at both levels suggests it's unlikely to be repeated. Palacios looks like a viable bench piece, though, with his contact skills and ability to play second base and all three outfield spots.
Palacios' path to the majors is currently blocked, as the Guardians likely have their starting outfield set. He's in a position to battle with Will Benson and Will Brennan for a reserve role to begin 2023. Palacios' 2022 was a fine campaign -- he slashed .279/.371/.458 in 45 games with Triple-A Columbus. He spent more time in the majors, getting into 54 contests but logging just 123 plate appearances with a .232/.293/.286 slash line. Power won't be what makes the lefty hitter stick in the majors -- he's got good plate discipline and can provide some speed. He'll still need to hit consistently, which could be tough if he doesn't see much playing time.
Palacios was one of the better stories in the minors last season. He missed all of 2019 with a major shoulder injury that required surgery and was left to work out by himself in 2020, but he was so good in his return to action that the Guardians added him to the 40-man roster after the season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. The 24-year-old left-handed hitter slashed .297/.404/.471 with seven home runs and 20 steals (on 23 attempts) in 103 games between Double-A and Triple-A. The most impressive aspect of his profile as it pertains to future big-league success is the 16.4 K% and 13.6 BB% he logged while using the whole field (Pull% under 40%). The main thing he lacks is impact power, but he has plus speed and a potentially plus hit tool. Palacios saw most of his time at second base, but he also played some center field and left field and played exclusively in the outfield during the Arizona Fall League, which is where he will likely get work in Cleveland this year, although he will enter the year with a 2B designation in fantasy. The outfield depth chart is fairly wide open, so he should get his chance sometime this summer.
More Fantasy News
Suffers fingertip fracture
2BTampa Bay Rays
Finger
March 21, 2025
Palacios was withheld from Friday's spring lineup due to a small fingertip fracture on his right hand, and manager Kevin Cash said the utility man will "probably miss a couple days," Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
ANALYSIS
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Set for versatile role
2BTampa Bay Rays
March 3, 2025
Palacios could be used at up to six positions during the season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
ANALYSIS
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Returns from injured list
2BTampa Bay Rays
September 23, 2024
The Rays activated Palacios (knee) from the 10-day injured list Monday.
ANALYSIS
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Starting rehab assignment
2BTampa Bay Rays
Knee
September 17, 2024
Palacios (knee) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
ANALYSIS
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Ramping up
2BTampa Bay Rays
Knee
August 31, 2024
Palacios (knee) resumed on-field activities Friday, MLB.com reports.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Could be dealt to Rays soon
2BSt. Louis Cardinals
January 5, 2024
The Rays are in serious discussions to acquire Palacios from the Cardinals in exchange for Andrew Kittredge, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
ANALYSIS
Palacios played well for the Cards down the stretch in 2023, slashing .258/.307/.516 with six homers and two steals in 32 games. The 26-year-old can play all over the outfield and at second base, offering the Rays the versatility they're always seeking. Palacios is under team control through 2029.
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