MLB Newcomers Kumar Rocker, Dylan Crews, and Others Struggling to Meet Expectations, Suggesting Strategies for Improvement
In the world of Major League Baseball, the 2023 season has seen its fair share of ups and downs for several promising young players. Two such players, Jac Caglianone and Dylan Crews, have found themselves struggling to meet expectations after being drafted high in recent years.
Jac Caglianone, an outfielder for the Kansas City Royals, was drafted sixth overall in the 2024 Draft based on his middle-of-the-order potential. He had shattered Matt LaPorta's career program record for home runs at the University of Florida. However, this season, Caglianone has struggled, posting a .152/.228/.277 batting line and a 40 OPS+ in his first 53 games. His poor performance is attributed to a chase-happy approach that has resulted in a low batting average on balls in play, despite an average exit velocity over 90 mph and a launch angle around 5 degrees.
Dylan Crews, an outfielder for the Washington Nationals, was drafted second overall in 2023. He ranks in the 90th percentile in sprint speed and was a potential first-round pick coming out of high school. However, his performance in the majors has been underwhelming. Crews has hit .212/.285/.354 (81 OPS+) with 12 home runs and 27 stolen bases over 107 games, not meeting expectations. He has also missed nearly three months of the 2023 season due to a strained oblique and is overly prone to chasing and whiffing.
On the mound, Kumar Rocker and Chase Dollander have faced their own challenges. Rocker, a right-handed pitcher for the Texas Rangers, was drafted third overall in the 2022 Draft but has yet to establish himself as a fixture on their big-league staff. He has struggled in the majors with a 5.74 ERA (64 ERA+) and a 2.43 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 14 starts this season. Dollander, a right-handed pitcher for the Colorado Rockies, has a higher ERA at home (9.98) compared to on the road (3.46). His main offering, his upper-90s fastball, has been shellacked at home, with batters hitting .404 and .730 against it.
Rocker has struggled against left-handed batters, with a combined .347 average and .547 slugging percentage when they swung at his sinker and four-seamer. Dollander, on the other hand, has recorded a 95 mph or higher exit velocity on 40% of his career batted balls, suggesting raw power when he connects.
Cole Young, a second baseman for the Seattle Mariners, has struggled both offensively and defensively. His offensive performance in the majors has been poor, with a .214/.305/.312 slash line. Defensively, he has tallied minus-nine Outs Above Average. Young's defensive style in the majors has differed significantly from his minor league performance, with more lifting and pulling of the ball.
Young was a late first-round pick in 2022, a prep middle infielder with surprising polish. The Texas Rangers, who drafted players like Josh Jung and Blaine Crim in their previous drafts, have yet to see significant MLB contributions from their 2022 draftees, with specific information about their MLB appearances not detailed in the search results. Josh Jung, a 2019 first-round pick, made his MLB debut on September 9, 2022, and has been a regular player since.
In the midst of these struggles, there are still glimmers of hope. Crews sprays balls outside of the 10 to 30 degree window, indicating a wide plate approach that could potentially lead to more consistent contact. Young's offensive performance has been poor, but his defensive abilities could still make him a valuable asset.
As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how these young players adapt and overcome their current challenges, and whether they can live up to the high expectations set by their draft positions.
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