Breakout Candidates in the Late Season
As the fantasy baseball waiver wire heats up, two players are quietly positioning themselves for a surge in production that could pay dividends for savvy roster moves.
Jonah Heim, the Oakland Athletics’ catcher, has been limited to 46 appearances this year but is batting .227 with eight home runs. A recent injury to Shea Langeliers has opened a door for Heim, and his power numbers have been especially impressive at home, where he holds a .266 average and six of his eight homers.
What makes Heim particularly intriguing is his unusually low .238 BABIP, one of the league’s smallest marks. That suggests he has been hitting the ball harder than his average would indicate, and more playing time could translate into a higher batting average and more runs driven in.
Across the league, Javier Sanoja of the Miami Marlins has been a study in contact. In 71 plate appearances since July, he owns a .250 average and a .282 on‑base percentage, but his strikeout rate sits at a minuscule 1.4%, the lowest among qualified batters in that span.
Sanoja’s current .254 BABIP appears modest, yet his high contact rate hints that the metric could rise, potentially boosting his average and overall value. The combination of minimal swing‑and‑miss and a solid track record of putting the ball in play makes him a low‑risk add for teams needing depth at the bottom of the order.
Why Timing Matters
Both players are slated to see increased opportunities in the coming weeks, and their recent performances suggest that the upside may be just around the corner. Adding them now could give a fantasy roster a competitive edge as the season progresses.
Key Takeaways
Heim’s power surge at home and his sub‑league‑average BABIP indicate a breakout is plausible, while Sanoja’s contact‑heavy approach and ultra‑low strikeout rate make him a sleeper who could outperform his current stats. Monitoring their playing time and lineup changes will be essential for maximizing fantasy points.