Tampa Bay Rays Austin Meadows Could be a Steal in Fantasy Baseball
25-year-old Austin Meadows had a solid season in 2019, hitting 33 home runs with a .291 batting average. Fantasy Baseball players hope the Tampa Bay outfielder’s success from 2019 carries over into the shortened 2020 season. Current Average Draft Position data has Madowns coming off the board at No. 40 overall and as a Top 10 outfielder.
Sports Illustrated’s fantasy baseball analysts Shawn Childs and Jaime Eisner joined Corey Parson to discuss if fantasy baseball players should invest a 4th or 5th round pick on Meadows in 2020.
Read the full transcript from the interview below.
Corey Parson: Hey, what's up its Corey Parson the Fantasy Executive right here for si.com. Last season, Austin Meadow had a breakout campaign for the Tampa Bay Rays. Can he continue with it this year? Joining me to discuss that right now is SI fantasy and gambling analysts Jamie Eisner and Shawn Childs. Shawn, let me ask you first, what do you think of Meadows this season?
Shawn Childs: It was interesting last year he he was a guy that looked like he would steal like 30 bases, maybe hit, you know, 10 to 15 home runs, but he really came on as a beast. His power was well over 30 homeruns. He's a big man. He really showcased what he could do last year. He struggled a little middle of the season. The only concern for me is even though he handled left-handed pitching last year, if he slumps a little bit, you know, Tampa Bay likes to rotate guys, and he's going to go probably go early in the third round in a 15-team league. So he's a guy that, you know, you're going to pay full price. I don't trust the Tampa's offense as much this year, especially the supporting cast around him. So I question whether he'll have follow through in RBI's and runs. But I think that, you know, the power is for real. And he might even be able to push is still stolen base total a little higher. So I like him, but I probably wouldn't pay where he goes in drafts right at this point of the season.
Corey Parson: Well, what you think about that Jamie? Break breakdown his rank and his draft stock. What do you think?
Jamie Eisner: Shawn and I are in lockstep on this. I like him, but about a round full round later than where he's going in drafts right now. I don't think he's going to hit .291 again, I think he'll be a bit closer to .275. The Rays do absolutely love to platoon guys. So if he is struggling for stretches, they will sit him down. But I think he'd be more in the mid 80s in runs and RBIss. But I do think he can flirt with 30 homeruns again. My projection had him at 28 homers, 14 stolen bases, and that .275 batting average. So I still like him as a top fifteen outfielder, but he's not an outfield-1 like in 12 team formats like where he's being drafted right now.
Corey Parson: All right. Thanks a lot. For all the latest fantasy baseball info and news stay here on SI.com.
And for more MLB Fantasy Analysis, look here:
