Chasing stolen bases in your fantasy draft is not a winning strategy.
Speed can be found throughout the draft, as well as throughout the season (injuries open up opportunities), especially because MLB’s rule changes in 2023 saw stolen base rates rise to their highest levels since the late 1990s.
This obviously doesn’t mean you pass on stars such as Elly De La Cruz or Shohei Ohtani, it just means you shouldn’t overvalue a player whose only value is boosting your stolen base totals. Draft a balanced roster, knowing there are plenty of players in the later rounds who can contribute in several categories while also giving you 10-20 stolen bases.
Milwaukee’s Garrett Mitchell suffered a broken hand last year when he was hit by a pitch during spring training, which limited him to just 69 games in which he hit .255 with eight homers, 21 RBIs, 33 runs, 11 stolen bases and a .812 OPS. He also had an 11.2 percent walk rate and a .342 on-base percentage. Those numbers ring true to what he did in the minors, hitting .272 with 17 homers, 41 stolen bases and a .804 OPS in 154 games.
