Fantasy baseball: Hidden gems on bad KC, Oakland, Washington teams

Vinnie Pasquantino, Kansas City Royals

Not since the days of Dr. Vinny Boombatz, the fictitious medical practitioner famously and frequently used in legendary comedian Rodney Dangerfield’s act, has anyone named Vinnie caught my interest. I drafted Royals first baseman/DH Vinnie Pasquantino in my fantasy league. He lasted until about Easter before I cut him, which wasn’t so much a reflection on him as it was of how bad of a drafter I was. Good news for Vinnie is that he’s managed to put together a good season thus far even though the Royals, well, stink. With a record of 10-27, Kansas City has the second-worst record in the entire league. It’s quite possible the Royals will struggle to fend off Oakland as the worst team for the remainder of the 2023 campaign, but that doesn’t mean a player like Pasquantino can’t have a decent season.

In his second season in the bigs after being called up by the Royals last June, Pasquantino is putting together a nice sophomore campaign. After a slow start, the first baseman has rebounded to a .287 batting average with seven dingers (he had 10 his entire rookie ’22 season), 19 RBI and a .905 OPS. Coincidentally, his season began to turn around right after I cut him (typical, right fantasy owners?) Pasquantino has a nice May going with a .313 average, two home runs, only two strikeouts and an OPS of 1.003. As nice as things have been going for Vinnie this season, a wrinkle in his splits was on display just this past weekend versus those lowly A’s.

Pasquantino is only hitting .240 at Kaufman Stadium this season, sporting just a .733 OPS. In the recent homestand versus Oakland, he went just 1-for-9. On the road this season, his numbers are much better, hitting .344 with a 1.068 OPS. Potential owners can rejoice as the Royals are in Milwaukee and San Diego over the next seven days. Both trips will be Pasquantino’s first time playing in either stadium.