2024 Fantasy Baseball: Hitters to Target on the Waiver Wire (Week 1)

It’s time of year yet again. While two regular season games have already taken place, the 2024 fantasy baseball season kicks off in full on March 28 — and that means it’s time to take a look at waiver wire targets. For those who need emergency injury replacements or simply have holes to fill, here’s a look at five 2024 fantasy baseball hitters to consider targeting on the waiver wire for Week 1.

Jake Cronenworth

We’ll start with the only player on this list who’s played regular season games this season — something only players from two teams can state to this point. Padres first baseman Jake Cronenworth rebounded from a tough Opening Day on March 21 when he feasted on offspeed mistakes by Dodgers pitching and recorded four hits. Cronenworth went 4-8 in South Korea.

Look, Cronenworth does have fantasy potential, despite a poor 2023 campaign. The 30-year-old has a good track record, as hit 38 combined home runs between 2021-22, walks a fair amount for those in different formats, and can play multiple positions. The Padres infielder is worth a prospective buy in deeper leagues.

Sal Frelick

It’s important to not make too much of strong Spring Training performances. However, this spring was awfully important for Sal Frelick. The now-infielder made the move to third base amidst a logjam in the Milwaukee outfield and did well at the plate, with all things considered. Frelick hit .288 with two home runs and four stolen bases over 16 games.

Per manager Pat Murphy, the apparant plan is for Frelick to be the Brewers’ starting third baseman against right-handed pitchers. That’s the good news, as Frelick should get the bulk of the starts at the position for Milwaukee. He’s proven to be a player who can accumulate hits and stolen bases in the Minors but the ultimate question will be how much Andrew Monastario, who got significant time at third last season, cuts into Frelick’s playing time.

Parker Meadows

Yet again, Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows put on a show in Spring Training. A year after Meadows cranked five home runs and posted a 1.134 OPS over 21 games, Meadows belted four home runs and eight extra-base hits this spring. After 19 games, Meadows had a 1.113 OPS.

Meadows posted fine, albeit unspectacular numbers across 145 plate appearances in Detroit last year. The 24-year-old only hit .232 in that span but Meadows did hit three home runs and swiped eight stolen bases. The Tigers outfielder could be a sneaky grab given his power and speed.

Jeff McNeil

2022 NL batting champion Jeff McNeil didn’t play much this spring thanks to a bicep issue. The Mets infielder/outfielder only got 11 at-bats in spring action as of March 24. However, McNeil does look primed to be ready for the 2024 regular season.

The past three seasons have been a roller coaster for McNeil, as the 30-year-old had a .326 campaign in 2022 sandwiched in between .251 and .270 seasons in 2021 and 2023. Don’t expect much power from McNeil but his contact prowess can easily help players who need hits — provided he looks more like the hitter from 2022 and the second half of 2023.

Eugenio Suarez

We finish our Week 1 fantasy baseball waiver wire hitters to target list with Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez. Suarez didn’t put up gaudy numbers in Cactus League action. The good news, though, is that he belted a couple of home runs and got through the spring healthy.

Suarez only hit 22 home runs last season, down considerably from what we’ve come to expect from the new Diamondbacks infielder. Not taking the COVID-shortened 2020 season into account, the 32-year-old had four straight 30+ home run seasons from 2018-2022. With good protection around him, Suarez is an intriguing target.