David Dahl

The oft-injured Dahl began 2019 as Colorado's starting left fielder but made it through only 10 games before landing on the injured list with an abdominal issue. He returned after a minimum stay and put up solid production until a right ankle sprain in early August wiped out the final two months of his season. When healthy, Dahl posted a solid .364 wOBA in 413 plate appearances and, on the surface, looked like a complete hitter. However, a deeper dive into his numbers raises some red flags as his .386 BABIP is likely unsustainable and his 26.6 K% was the fourth-highest among batters who hit over .300 (minimum 300 plate appearances). Dahl's home/road splits also suggest an extreme Coors Field advantage; he slashed .349/.402/.598 at home and a pedestrian .254/.302/.449 on the road. Dahl is clearly a capable hitter, but it is sensible to temper expectations and expect some regression next season.

A stomach virus put Dahl on the shelf at Triple-A early on. After he turned the page on that issue, Dahl got the call up to Colorado, but he was only given part-time opportunities before a broken foot sidelined him for two months. He was a bit slow to get going following his return in August, but over the final week of the season, Dahl exploded for six homers and 15 RBI. With Gerardo Parra out of the way, there is finally what looks like a clear path to regular playing time for Dahl. In what amounts to close to a full season in the majors so far in his career (508 PA), Dahl has hit .293/.341/.518 with 23 homers and 10 stolen bases. It's easy to dream on what he could do in Colorado in 2019, if he can stay healthy. That's a fairly big "if," however; Dahl has also dealt with rib, back and hamstring issues as a pro, and he had his spleen removed after an outfield collision, totaling 400 PA only twice in the last six seasons.

Dahl burst onto the scene in 2016, slashing .315/.359/.500 with seven home runs and five stolen bases in 237 plate appearances following his promotion in late July. The toolsy outfielder was expected to be an impactful fantasy asset in his sophomore season, but those plans were derailed when Dahl suffered a stress reaction to his rib during spring training, causing him to miss a majority of the 2017 season. The 23-year-old was able to play in a handful of minor-league games later in the season but never made it back to the big leagues, as he was shut down with back spasms in early August. It was a frustrating, lost year for Dahl, but if he's able to enter the 2018 season at full health, he'll have the opportunity to work his way back into the Rockies' everyday lineup. There's undoubtedly risk involved with drafting Dahl, but he's shown that he can be a real fantasy difference maker when healthy.

After somewhat of a lost season in 2015, Dahl proved why he's so highly regarded with a strong 2016 campaign. He put on a show at Triple-A, earning a quick promotion to Colorado. Dahl held a full-time role as the Rockies' left fielder throughout the second half. Although he struck out in a quarter of his plate appearances, he easily hit enough to make up for the swing and miss, flashing impressive power as well as an ability to use all fields. Dahl could stand to improve his plate discipline -- he posted poor BB:K ratios in the minors -- but his home/road splits were marginal and thus highly encouraging. Further, while he didn't hit hit for much power against lefties (.375 SLG), Dahl managed a .313 average against southpaws, and the Coors Field factor would seem to give him a high floor as he enters his age-23 season. The added bonus here is the speed, but unfortunately, Dahl is expected to miss the start of the season after being diagnosed with a stress reaction in his ribs.

Injuries, particularly a lacerated spleen suffered during an outfield collision in late-May, limited what Dahl could accomplish in 2015. Excluding a brief rehab assignment, Dahl played just 73 games, all at Double-A and often at less than 100 percent health. His numbers (.278/.304/.417 with six homers and 22 steals) may look underwhelming, given his status as a top-50 prospect, but this can be seen as something of a throwaway season from an evaluation standpoint. His tools still resemble those of a true five-tool player, but his experience does not mirror that of his contemporaries from the 2012 draft, as injuries have sidelined him for almost half of his professional career. If he can stay relatively healthy in 2016, the rest of the ingredients are in place for him to prove himself to be a top-10 prospect for dynasty leagues by the end of the year.

Dahl seemed to get his development back on track last season after a hamstring injury limited him to just 10 games in 2013. He batted .309 with 10 homers and 18 stolen bases in 422 plate appearances at Low-A Asheville before earning a promotion to the California League in July. He wasn’t quite able to keep pace with those numbers at High-A Modesto, noticing a drop in his walk rate and an increased strikeout rate, but Dahl’s unique blend of speed, contact-hitting skills, defensive ranginess and improving power make him a prized commodity within the organization. And unlike many youthful lefty hitters, Dahl hasn’t shown any weakness against same-handed pitching, an attribute that when combined with his other tools, should put him on the trajectory for landing a regular role with the Rockies once he hits the big leagues. That likely won’t come until at least 2016, as Dahl will have to first master Modesto and the upper levels of the minors before the Rockies break him into their deep mix of outfielders.

A team-mandated suspension for an apparent lack of maturity and a hamstring injury suffered shortly thereafter amounted to a lost season for Dahl, who appeared in just 10 games for Low-A Asheville in 2013. Neither issue is expected to be a concern for Dahl entering the spring, but he’ll need to perform well at Asheville right away to validate the impressive marks he received from talent evaluators following his outstanding professional debut with rookie-level Grand Junction in 2012. Still just 19 years old, Dahl already possesses natural hitting skills and a keen understanding of the strike zone, with more power likely to come as he develops. Health permitting, expect Dahl to establish himself as one of the better lower-level outfield prospects in the minors.

Dahl, the 10th overall selection in the draft last June, had a smashing debut with rookie-level Grand Junction last season, producing a .379/.423/.625 line while displaying a potent combination of power and speed. While one should avoid reading too much into any player's rookie-level performance, Dahl's skill set has nonetheless yielded comparisons to Johnny Damon, with his future likely in center field. Dahl should begin the season at Low-A and could climb up top prospect lists if he continues to find the lower minors unchallenging.