Noticed a video of Zac Veen, after he added 20 kilos of muscle in 2020, and I’ve to say he had a greater quarantine than me. He should’ve been maintaining in such good condition in 2020 as a result of individuals have been chasing him after by accident spoonering his identify. Appears like I’ve been trying ahead to penning this submit on Zac Veen for the reason that pandemic. I keep in mind clearly the 2020 MLB draft as a result of it felt like that was the one factor occurring with MLB at the moment. Or perhaps ever once more. Bizarre instances! As a result of the 2020 MLB draft had my consideration and I went again to take a look at it. Spencer Torkelson was 1st total — um, okay. Since All-Stars have been highlighted, the newest All-Star from that draft? 5 earlier than the top of the draft within the fifth spherical, choose 156th total was Bryce Elder. He wore the Shroud of Touki for the Braves in 2023. The 126th choose and spherical earlier than that for the Braves? Spencer Strider, their 2022 Touki. Some groups are drafting outfielders and center relievers you’ll by no means hear of, and the Braves are drafting Cy Younger candidates. There’s solely two different All-Stars from that draft they usually have been drafted 100 picks beforehand with Westburg and Crochet. Braves are actually an unimaginable franchise. One franchise that’s barely much less profitable at, nicely, baseball’ing, is the Rockies. May Zac Veen spooner his identify and immunize himself from the Rockies? Is that doable? No? Sigh. So, what can we count on from Zac Veen for 2025 fantasy baseball?

Zac Veen will play residence video games in Coors, so the enhance is gonna be there. Does he want it? Appears unlikely:

Zac Veen (@Rockies‘ No. 6 prospect) prospect goes deep in his second straight sport for @GoYardGoats. pic.twitter.com/98eB3o6Axb

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) Could 9, 2024

And yet another:

“It’s gone … and I imply, REALLY GONE!”@Rockies sixth-ranked prospect Zac Veen unloads on a solo shot, upping his Double-A @GoYardGoats slash line to .345/.449/.638. pic.twitter.com/G3Xb0X1Fvk

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) Could 2, 2024

Minor league camerawork leaves quite a bit to be desired, particularly when looking for a man working. Right here’s an instance extra in regards to the poor camerawork than Zac Veen’s velocity:

ZAC VEEN!!!

He pulls off a STRAIGHT STEAL OF HOME ??? pic.twitter.com/hL6otbRbz3

— Albuquerque Isotopes (@ABQTopes) September 8, 2024

So, energy and velocity, which makes the Fantasy Grasp Lothario (don’t abbreviate it) go vroom vroom. Talking of vroom vroom, might as nicely name him Zac Vroom his velocity is so loopy. A Corbin Carroll velocity comp isn’t too far off. Final yr, Zac Veen went 11/21 throughout 4 ranges, ending at Triple-A for 21 video games with a 6/6/.220 season in 82 ABs. Issues are just a little troubling below the hood. He had a .231 BABIP in Triple-A with a 26.1% Okay%. That screams to me that he makes some extremely weak contact. It’s at 22 years of age and fewer than a month of video games, so gained’t put an excessive amount of into it, however I’d really feel quite a bit higher a couple of man simply mashing in every single place. He has not.

In Double-A in 2023, Zac Veen hit .209 with a .260 BABIP. See the sample? The Okay% was solely 21.4% there too, so, once more, that indicators weak contact. A man mustn’t have 50-steal velocity and simply randomly put up rubbish BABIPs yr after yr with out a difficulty. Between 2023 and 204, this was solely in 67 video games, and he was barely sufficiently old to drink. So, once more once more once more, not yelling fireplace within the theater of Razzball, however you need me to provide you my ideas, and I can’t cease considering those self same ideas. To take a random man with insane velocity, take a look at Elly De La Cruz’s BABIPs. They’re not even beneath .330, neglect .230! There’s two parks that may actually assist BABIP, and Coors is one, so it’s not all dangerous. I’d be mendacity if I mentioned I wasn’t involved.

What’s his ETA within the majors? Nicely, he ended the yr at Triple-A, so ought to be in camp within the Spring with an opportunity to interrupt with the workforce, however I can’t assist hear Bud Black’s whispering in my ear, “I’m going to coax Charlie Blackmon out of retirement,” and Zac Veen has me extra frightened than actually excited. Then throw-in he’s a lefty and, even when there’s no splits, managers deal with rookies like they’ve them. For 2025 fantasy baseball, I’ll give Zac Veen projections 32/5/30/.231/22 in 302 ABs with an opportunity for extra.