Nick Solak

Solak began the season as the Rangers' regular second baseman. Through May 15, he was slashing .271/.354/.458, albeit with an uncharacteristically high 24.6 K%. Solak then posted a .184/.241/.263 line over his next 51 games, prompting a demotion to Triple-A Round Rock. After recording a .252/.409/.459 slash in 26 games with the Express, Solak returned to the bigs where he finished the season .290/.367/.387 with a 14.4 K% in 35 games. By season's end, his plate skills recovered but his BABIP was well below the marks posted in his first two seasons. However, the underlying metrics point towards being lucky to begin his career with 2021 his true skill level. Especially with Texas fortifying its middle infield through free agency, Solak's future appears to be as a utility player, capable of popping a homer or stealing a bag now and again, but his bat won't play every day as a corner infielder or outfielder.

Solak had some buzz last offseason as a positionless player with a promising bat. He was an above-average hitter at every stop of his career, including his 33-game MLB debut in 2019. Those who bought into the hype wound up disappointed, as he hit just two homers while slashing .268/.326/.344. He did at least salvage a small amount of fantasy value with a respectable seven steals, but he gave very little reason to be excited about him going forward. Small-sample caveats apply here, but Solak's .264 xBA indicates his struggles weren't due to bad luck. There's still some sleeper value here if Solak reverts to previous form, but he'll have to bounce back quite a bit to be worthy of regular at-bats given his poor defense. He might not clear the offensive bar necessary to be a DH, though the rebuilding Rangers could let him work through his defensive struggles in game action again this year.

With perhaps the best organizational depth in baseball, the Rays decided to trade some blocked position players for impact relievers, which led to Solak getting dealt to Texas in July for hard-throwing righty Peter Fairbanks. He lacks a standout tool, but is a solid hitter with above-average power, above-average speed and good plate skills. Solak went on a tear after the trade (145 wRC+ in the Pacific Coast League) and earned an August promotion. He was not fazed by MLB pitching, logging a 126 wRC+, 11.1 BB% and 21.5 K%. While not a great defender, he is capable of moving around -- he saw time at second and third and is capable of playing left, but will enter the year as UTIL-only in most formats since he got more starts at DH (17) than any other position. He should add at least third base eligibility in season and should be given a chance to play every day out of the gate.

Oddly enough, last offseason's three-team trade that sent Solak from the Yankees to the Rays actually resulted in him being more blocked. The Rays just have so many players at the big-league level and the upper levels of their farm system that are capable of playing the positions Solak plays (second base, left field, center field). That's not to say he does not have the talent to win a regular spot somewhere on the field in a year. He was the best hitter in the Southern League (140 wRC+) while ranking fourth in HR (19), fifth in SB (21) and eighth in BB/K (0.61). His fast bat generates above-average power, mostly to the pull side, and last year he got better at putting his plus speed to work on the bases (career-high 27 SB attempts). Solak has the upside to replicate Ian Kinsler's peak production, but if he falls just a little bit short of that, he may end up being treated like a super-utility player on a loaded Rays roster. He should debut in early 2020.

As a second baseman with a plus hit tool, Solak should offer a relatively high floor. He made a significant jump from short-season ball in 2016 to High-A last season and was still one of the Florida State League's best hitters. Solak ranked third in batting average (.301), second in OBP (.397) and third in SLG (.460), which oversells his power potential. He was so much better equipped than the typical pitcher at High-A, that he was able to play over his head. Double-A pitchers were much more willing to challenge him, and his walk rate dipped from 13.1 percent to 7.6 percent. His ISO also dropped from .159 to a more representative .143. There are plenty of teams that could use a second baseman who hits .285 or .290 with 15 home runs, a handful of steals and a solid OBP, but that probably won't be enough for him to crack the Yankees' lineup anytime soon. A trade would be welcomed, but for now he will continue to challenge for batting titles in the upper levels of the minors.

A polished college bat out of Louisville, the 21-year-old Solak did plenty of damage for Staten Island in the short-season New York-Penn League during his brief time in the minors following the draft. The second baseman hit .321 with a .412 on-base percentage. Solak tallied almost as many walks (30) as strikeouts (39). He also swiped eight bases in 64 games. Solak does not project to hit for much power, possessing more of a line drive stroke. Solak also may end up playing center field, though no determination has been made on where he will ultimately end up on the diamond. A second-round selection in last year's draft, the Yankees will likely be bullish with Solak, as he should begin the season at Low-A with a chance to advance rapidly should he get off to a hot start.