In the realm of fantasy baseball, where projections and breakout players reign supreme, it's crucial to discern the legitimate from the merely hyped. Today, we delve into the performances of Brice Turang and Foster Griffin, two players who have caught the eye of many fantasy managers. But are they truly legit, or are they just riding a wave of luck? Let's take a closer look.
Brice Turang: The Rising Star
Turang, a second baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers, has been on a tear this season. His 2026 performance has been nothing short of remarkable, with a .298 batting average, .422 on-base percentage, and .511 slugging percentage. But what makes Turang truly stand out is his year-over-year improvement. From a .288 batting average in 2025 to a .298 batting average in 2026, Turang has added more power while hardly sacrificing any contact. His wRC+ has skyrocketed from 124 in 2025 to 165 in 2026, making him a top fantasy second baseman.
What makes Turang's improvement even more impressive is the change in his swing. His bat speed has increased from 66.2 MPH to 70.7 MPH, and his swing length has grown from 6.1 feet to 6.8 feet. His attack angle has also risen from one degree to seven degrees, allowing his launch angle to increase by more than four degrees. This has resulted in a higher exit velocity on fly balls and a nearly quadruple barrel rate. Turang's plate discipline has also improved, with more walks and fewer strikeouts and chases.
In my opinion, Turang is a perfect hitter. He's capable of stealing 30 bags, hitting .300, and posting 200 combined runs and RBI. However, I regretfully was too skeptical of Turang this draft season. If he's going around pick 50 again next year, I won't make the same mistake.
Foster Griffin: The International Sensation
Foster Griffin, a left-handed starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals, has been the best performing international free agent starting pitcher. His recent performances have been nothing short of impressive, with four consecutive quality starts and a 0.45 ERA in his last three outings. Griffin's strikeout and ground ball rates are around average, and while he generally suppresses hard contact, he hasn't avoided the most damaging kind of batted ball - barrels.
Griffin's barrel rate and barrels per plate appearance are comfortably below average, which suggests that his .216 BABIP isn't fully deserved. His .216 BABIP and 84.1% strand rate are two aspects of what we at Pitcher List refer to as HOTEL (Holy Trinity Equating Luck). Griffin's execution with a wide arsenal of pitches, including an effective cutter, makes him a formidable pitcher. However, his underwhelming velocity and lack of standout skills in his return from overseas make me hesitant to call him legit.
In my opinion, Griffin is probably not legit. While he's undoubtedly executing well, his velocity and lack of standout skills make me cautious. I'm willing to keep starting Griffin in all formats until he gives me a reason not to, but don't be afraid to try to sell high right now or drop him in a shallower format if he has a couple of clunkers.
The Takeaway
In the world of fantasy baseball, it's crucial to discern the legitimate from the merely hyped. Brice Turang and Foster Griffin are two players who have caught the eye of many fantasy managers, but are they truly legit? Turang's year-over-year improvement and perfect hitter status make him a top fantasy second baseman, while Griffin's execution and lack of standout skills make him a probable non-legit. As fantasy managers, it's essential to keep an eye on these players and make informed decisions based on their performances.
