Jose Osuna

Despite positing a 1.252 OPS in the Grapefruit League, Osuna began the 2017 campaign with Triple-A Indianapolis. Starling Marte's suspension necessitated his recall, and Gregory Polanco's injury-riddled season kept Osuna on the Pirates' roster for the rest of the season. Osuna split his time between first base and the outfield, starting a couple times a week through August, when his playing time dwindled to just pinch hitting in September. Osuna has never been a top prospect, so a .697 OPS in his rookie campaign is in line with expectations. His contact rate is above average with league average exit velocity; however his average launch angle is well below average, tempering homers. At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, the 25-year-old righty swinger can still learn to add more loft, muscling up on more pitches, but until he does, he profiles as a reserve outfielder, getting the occasional spot start. Unfortunately, Adam Frazier and Jordan Luplow also fall into this bin in Pittsburgh, and both are better late-round plays in NL-only leagues.

As a 23-year-old last year, Osuna hit .279/.331/.457 in 133 games between Double- and Triple-A, flashing notable (if unremarkable) pop and decent bat-to-ball skills. His walk rate fell from 8.1 percent to 5.6 percent with the jump between levels last season, but he was showing improved patience at the dish early on with Indianapolis in 2017. He has little speed to speak -- in fact, Osuna does not have any true standout tools, giving him the profile of a fourth outfielder. That will likely be his role this season. While Osuna was called up in light of Starling Marte's 80-game PED suspension, it appears Adam Frazier will be the main beneficiary in terms of playing time in the short term, and heralded prospect Austin Meadows is waiting in the wings as the long-term answer in the Pittsburgh outfield. Perhaps Osuna will see chances against left-handed pitching, but a short-side platoon role isn't usually conducive to mixed-league fantasy prominence, or relevance for that matter.