Drew Waters
25-Year-Old
2024 Stats
AVG
.188
HR
0
RBI
1
R
2
SB
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Known far more for his defense than his offense, Waters probably won't carry much fantasy value this year in standard mixed leagues. Even in AL-only formats, you might have to squint to find the appeal. He stole 16 bases in 98 games last season and also popped eight home runs, but the .228 batting average and .300 on-base percentage left a lot to be desired, especially for a player with above-average speed and excellent defensive range. Waters is a switch-hitter but tends to struggle against lefties and hasn't yet shown enough offensively to be trusted with an everyday major-league gig. A second-round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft out of a high school in Georgia, the now 25-year-old projects to open the 2024 campaign as a glove-first fourth outfielder for the Royals. Read Past Outlooks
Optioned to Omaha
The Royals optioned Waters to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
The move is to make room on the 26-man roster for MJ Melendez (ankle), who was reinstated off the 10-day injured list. Waters made four appearances for the Royals after being recalled July 18, going 2-for-8 with one RBI, two runs scored and two walks. In Triple-A this season, Waters is slashing .277/.362/.502 with 10 home runs, 44 RBI and 11 stolen bases across 287 plate appearances.
The move is to make room on the 26-man roster for MJ Melendez (ankle), who was reinstated off the 10-day injured list. Waters made four appearances for the Royals after being recalled July 18, going 2-for-8 with one RBI, two runs scored and two walks. In Triple-A this season, Waters is slashing .277/.362/.502 with 10 home runs, 44 RBI and 11 stolen bases across 287 plate appearances.
Batting Stats
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2024
2023
2022
2020
Minor League Game Log
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Batting Order Slot Breakdown
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Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2022
+15%
OPS vs RHP
2024
-100%
OPS vs RHP
OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2022vs Left | .631 | 115 | 2 | 18 | .210 | ||||
Since 2022vs Right | .726 | 349 | 11 | 33 | .236 | ||||
2024vs Left | .000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | ||||
2024vs Right | .600 | 18 | 0 | 1 | .200 | ||||
2023vs Left | .591 | 86 | 0 | 10 | .208 | ||||
2023vs Right | .707 | 251 | 8 | 22 | .236 | ||||
2022vs Left | .769 | 28 | 2 | 8 | .222 | ||||
2022vs Right | .814 | 80 | 3 | 10 | .246 | ||||
More Splits→ | View More Split Stats |
Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2022
+55%
OPS at Home
2024
-100%
OPS at Home
OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2022Home | .856 | 233 | 6 | 30 | .286 | ||||
Since 2022Away | .551 | 231 | 7 | 21 | .175 | ||||
2024Home | .683 | 16 | 0 | 1 | .231 | ||||
2024Away | .000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .000 | ||||
2023Home | .852 | 165 | 4 | 20 | .290 | ||||
2023Away | .513 | 172 | 4 | 12 | .172 | ||||
2022Home | .918 | 52 | 2 | 9 | .289 | ||||
2022Away | .699 | 56 | 3 | 9 | .196 | ||||
More Splits→ | View More Split Stats |
Stat Review
How does Drew Waters compare to other hitters?
This section compares his stats with all batting seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 400 plate appearances)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
BB/K
0.33BB Rate
10.5%K Rate
31.6%BABIP
.300ISO
.063AVG
.188OBP
.316SLG
.250OPS
.566wOBA
.271Exit Velocity
77.9 mphHard Hit Rate
20.0%Barrels/PA
0.0%Expected BA
.107Expected SLG
.145Sprint Speed
25.1 ft/secGround Ball %
50.0%Line Drive %
10.0%Fly Ball %
40.0%Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Batting Stats
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Additional Stats
Games By Position
Defensive Stats
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Batted Ball Stats
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Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2021
2020
2019
2018
Atlanta dealt Waters to Kansas City for the 35th-overall pick in the 2022 draft and two low-probability prospects. At the time of the mid-July trade, Waters' stock had slipped so much that many prospectors thought the Royals overpaid. Prior to the trade, the 23-year-old switch hitter had an 83 wRC+ in 49 games at Triple-A after registering a 94 wRC+ in 103 games at that level in 2021. Something clicked after the change of scenery, as Waters hit .295/.399/.541 with seven home runs and 13 steals in 31 games for the Royals' Triple-A affiliate while almost doubling his walk rate (14.0 BB%, up from 7.6%). He got a well-deserved promotion to the majors in late-August and hit .240/.324/.479 with five home runs, an 11.0 BB% and a 36.7 K% in 109 plate appearances while playing all three outfield spots. There is no projection or expected statistic that supports that level of play for Waters heading into 2023, but the Royals' depth chart portends that he will get plenty of work. His combination of power, speed and opportunity makes him a worthwhile consideration in deeper formats.
More Fantasy News
Recalled from Omaha
The Royals recalled Waters from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
ANALYSIS
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Heads back to minors
The Royals optioned Waters to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
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Called up from Triple-A
Kansas City recalled Waters from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
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Doesn't make Opening Day roster
The Royals optioned Waters to Triple-A Omaha on Friday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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No lock to make big-league roster
Waters could be assigned to Triple-A Omaha if he doesn't win a starting job in spring training, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Debut coming?
With Andrew Benintendi traded, Waters may make his big-league debut sooner rather than later.
ANALYSIS
Waters was recently acquired by the Royals from Atlanta in exchange for the 35th overall pick in the 2022 first-year player draft. The 23-year-old was a consensus top-100 prospect from 2019 to 2021 but fell off those lists before this season after producing a .240/.329/.381 line with 11 homers in 103 games for Triple-A Gwinnett last season. Since being traded, he's been on fire at the plate, posting a .326/.420/.535 line with two homers and seven stolen bases in 50 plate appearances. Kansas City has received little production from Ryan O'Hearn and Kyle Isbel in the corner outfield positions, and Whit Merrifield is likely to be suiting up for another team after the trade deadline. With Waters having over 800 plate appearances at the Triple-A level and the Royals out of contention, it would seem a promotion is likely coming soon.
Waters was recently acquired by the Royals from Atlanta in exchange for the 35th overall pick in the 2022 first-year player draft. The 23-year-old was a consensus top-100 prospect from 2019 to 2021 but fell off those lists before this season after producing a .240/.329/.381 line with 11 homers in 103 games for Triple-A Gwinnett last season. Since being traded, he's been on fire at the plate, posting a .326/.420/.535 line with two homers and seven stolen bases in 50 plate appearances. Kansas City has received little production from Ryan O'Hearn and Kyle Isbel in the corner outfield positions, and Whit Merrifield is likely to be suiting up for another team after the trade deadline. With Waters having over 800 plate appearances at the Triple-A level and the Royals out of contention, it would seem a promotion is likely coming soon.