Why Christopher Morel Is a Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

 Why Christopher Morel Is a Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

6/3/22 

Drew Epstein 

You couldn't ask for much of a better start to any big league career than the one Christopher Morel has had. The Cubs 22-year-old utility man has introduced himself in a big way, and he is instantly becoming somebody fantasy owners should be familiar with before it's too late. All Morel has done is hit safely in thirteen out of his first fourteen games, including six stolen bases, which is especially huge in roto leagues for owners who may have a shortage in that category. He is slashing .262/.364/.446 through seventy-seven plate appearances. This solid line shows he's finding ways to get on base and he's holding his own in the slugging department as well, though that may not be as sustainable. There's a lot to like with all this, but I've yet to mention he could create elite position versatility having played nine games in center field, seven at second base, three at third, and one at short. Morel is listed as a center fielder and needs ten appearances at a secondary position to gain that eligibility. It doesn't matter what type of scoring you use or how deep your league is, you can't tell me multiple position versatility isn't a welcome advantage. You see major league teams favor guys who can play multiple positions off the bench, and there's no reason this shouldn't be the case in fantasy as well. 

Part of the reason I'm so high on Morel even though he's likely to slump at some point, as young players often do, is simple; speed never slumps. It can be difficult to find stolen base production the way he has provided in his brief time up with the big club. As I said, this could be a massive addition to many roto teams out there, and those in such leagues should pounce immediately. With that being said, Morel’s bat has been quite promising. Statcast shows he can hit the ball hard, including an early pair of home runs, and he is in the ninety-third percentile for speed amongst active players which is showcased by his seven extra base hits and ability to turn singles into doubles as a result. Morel has walked ten times which is excellent in only seventy-seven at-bats. He has also struck out eighteen times which is a bit of a concern, but that's not a surprise as he adjusts to this level of pitching. Another concern is a high .326 BABIP. Normally this would suggest luck has been on his side, which won't always be the case, but his speed will likely allow him to leg out plenty of hits so it's not as much of an issue with a guy like him. If he's putting the ball in play I like his chances. 

There are plenty of reasons to take a chance on Christopher Morel in nearly any fantasy league. Hitting at the top of the Cubs order, he has been quite impressive, and it can't be argued that he will contribute to your team in multiple areas. You can even make the argument that he doesn't even need to hit to be a valuable asset, but he's shown no real signs of not being able to hit in the big leagues. So far Morel has been helping fantasy owners in basically every category and I strongly suggest you think long and hard about becoming one of them if he is still available in your league, which he is likely to be. You may not have too much time before his owned percentage skyrockets, so act quickly.