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Player Outlook
Known far more for his defense than his offense, Drew 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.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
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Fantasy Points per Game
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Runs
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Home Runs
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Runs Batted In
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Base on Balls (Walk)
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Stolen Bases
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Batting Average
2024 .000
2023 191.52 40 8 32 27 16 .229
2022 702.2 14 5 18 12 .240
3y Avg. 1292 27 6 25 20 8 .231
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Fantasy News

  • Royals' Drew Waters: Doesn't make Opening Day roster

    The Royals optioned Waters to Triple-A Omaha on Friday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. Waters had a solid spring, but Kyle Isbel was better and already had the perceived leg up for the center field job due to his defense. The switch-hitting Waters should still spend ample time in the majors this season but will begin the year at Omaha.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: 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. Waters' development is still important, and consistent at-bats with Omaha would serve him better than acting as a fourth outfielder. The addition of Hunter Renfroe took Waters' starting job away, and Kyle Isbel's defense has made him the favorite for center field. If Waters ends up in the minors to begin 2024, Dairon Blanco is projected to be the Royals' fourth outfielder.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: Out with quad injury

    Waters (quad) is not in Sunday's lineup against the Yankees. He exited Saturday's game with left quadriceps tightness, so it's no surprise to see Waters out of the lineup for the final game of the regular season. Dairon Blanco will start in center field and hit seventh.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: Exits with quad injury

    Waters was removed from Saturday's game against the Yankees with left quadriceps tightness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. Waters was replaced in the fourth inning by Dairon Blanco. It's unclear whether Waters will be available for Sunday's season finale.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: Sitting versus lefty

    Waters is not in the lineup Friday against the Yankees. Kyle Isbel will start in center field and bat ninth with left-hander Carlos Rodon toeing the slab for New York. The switch-hitting Waters has slashed just .208/.279/.312 in 86 plate appearances versus lefties this season.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: Picks up 16th steal

    Waters went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Astros. Waters is now 6-for-7 on stolen base attempts in September, and he's hitting .264 (14-for-53) this month. The outfielder has had some growing pains in his first full big-league campaign with a .234/.308/.386 slash line over 94 contests. He's added 16 thefts, eight home runs, 32 RBI and 39 runs scored while seeing a starting role, albeit not an everyday one, down the stretch.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: Idle Friday

    Waters isn't in the Royals' lineup Friday against Houston. The switch-hitting Waters holds just a .613 OPS against left-handed pitching this season, so he'll take a seat against southpaw Framber Valdez. Kyle Isbel will get the nod in center field and bat ninth.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: Swipes two bags

    Waters went 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and two steals in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Guardians. Waters is now 4-for-7 with three doubles in his last two games after going 0-for-12 with nine strikeouts over his previous five contests. With his two steals Wednesday, the 24-year-old outfielder improved to 15-for-19 on stolen base attempts this season. Overall, Waters is slashing .237/.309/.392 with eight homers, 39 runs scored and 32 RBI across 317 plate appearances as he looks to earn a spot on the Royals' 2024 Opening Day roster.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: Takes seat Tuesday

    Waters is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Guardians. Waters went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI versus Cleveland on Monday but has a .256/.430/.326 slash line and 30 percent strikeout rate through 15 games in September. Kyle Isbel will handle center field and bat ninth Tuesday.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: Not in starting lineup

    Waters will be on the bench Saturday against Houston. Waters has struggled to a .203/.306/.297 slash line over his last 25 games, though he does at least have six steals over that stretch. Dairon Blanco will get the start in right field Saturday.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: Not starting nightcap

    Waters isn't in the Royals' lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the White Sox. Waters struck out in all four of his plate appearances during Tuesday's first game, and he'll start on the bench for Game 2. Waters' absence will allow Dairon Blanco to start in right field and bat ninth.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: Reaches three times in loss

    Waters went 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the White Sox. Waters accounted for half of the Royals' hits in the game. He's hit safely in five of six games in September, going 7-for-21 (.333) with three walks and two steals this month. Waters is slashing .236/.307/.391 with 12 steals, eight home runs, 29 RBI and 37 runs scored through 81 contests. He should be in the lineup most of the time as a switch hitter, but the Royals' crowded outfield could prevent him from seeing an everyday role.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: Solid off bench Sunday

    Waters went 1-for-1 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Red Sox. Waters has moved out of an everyday role with the success of Nelson Velazquez. Despite that, Waters is hitting .267 with two steals over his last nine contests -- enough to keep him in the lineup most days. He's slashing .231/.302/.393 with 11 steals, eight home runs, 27 RBI and 36 runs scored through 78 games overall. In addition to Waters, Kyle Isbel (hamstring) has also lost playing time lately as the Royals try to balance playing time for up to five players in the three outfield positions.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: Not starting Sunday

    Waters isn't in the Royals' lineup Sunday against Boston. Waters will get a breather Sunday after charting hits in each of the first two games of the Royals' series with the Red Sox. Samad Taylor, Dairon Blanco and Nelson Velazquez will make up Kansas City's outfield while Waters rests.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: On base three times in win

    Waters went 1-for-2 with a triple, two walks, one RBI, a stolen base and one run scored in Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Athletics. Waters' triple snapped his 0-for-10 skid over the last four games. The outfielder has also picked up a steal in two straight games to get to 10 thefts on the year. He's slashing a poor .228/.299/.393 with seven home runs, 25 RBI, 31 runs scored, five doubles and five triples through 70 contests on the year, and he's batting just .204 (11-for-54) in August.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: Out of Sunday's lineup

    Waters is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs. Waters is mired in a 4-for-23 slump and will take a seat for Sunday's series finale in Chicago. Dairon Blanco will receive a start in right field and bat ninth.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: Registers eighth steal

    Waters went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 4-3 win over the Cubs. Waters has gone 4-for-17 with zero RBI over five games since returning from the bereavement list. The outfielder has maintained his place in the lineup, but Nelson Velazquez has been hitting well lately and could challenge Waters for a starting job in right field. Waters is at a .237/.298/.401 slash line with seven home runs, eight steals, 23 RBI, 29 runs scored, five doubles and four triples over 65 contests this season.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: Notches sixth steal

    Waters went 1-for-4 with a double and a stolen base in Monday's 6-2 win over the Red Sox. Waters had gone 0-for-6 with a walk and three strikeouts since returning from a one-game absence. The outfielder hasn't hit well in August, but he's still seeing steady playing time in right field. For the season, he's at a .231/.294/.390 slash line with six home runs, six steals, 21 RBI and 25 runs scored over 201 plate appearances.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: Starting Saturday

    Waters (undisclosed) is starting in center field and batting eighth Saturday at Philadelphia. Waters was scratched from Friday's lineup for unspecified reasons, but it apparently wasn't a serious concern since he's back in the starting nine a day later. The 24-year-old has hit well since the All-Star break with an .810 OPS in 19 games.
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  • Royals' Drew Waters: Scratched Friday

    Waters was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Phillies. No injury diagnosis was initially provided. Dairon Blanco enters the lineup in right field, hitting eighth.
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