Brandon Nimmo

Nimmo re-signed with the Mets on an eight-year, $162 million contract last offseason, and he delivered an impressive campaign in 2023 with 24 homers, 68 RBI, 89 runs and a .274/.363/.466 slash line in 152 games. Most of Nimmo's numbers were nearly identical to his 2022 production, though he clubbed eight more home runs as he set career highs in flyball rate (39.2 percent), barrel rate (9.5 percent) and hard-hit rate (47.7 percent). It's the second straight year he's played in over 150 games, as it appears the durability issues that plagued him earlier in his career are now behind him (though he did spend the final two days of the season on the IL with a shoulder sprain). He's not much of a threat on the bases with three steals in each of the past two seasons, but he otherwise provides fantasy managers with well-rounded production. Assuming the injury concerns are fully behind him, Nimmo should be a top-100 option again in 2024.

Nimmo was finally able to stay healthy for a full season in 2022, as he played in a career-high 151 games for his final year before free agency, and he ultimately re-signed with the Mets on an eight-year, $162 million deal. He had his walk rate drop to 10.9 percent, but he also cut his strikeout rate to 17.2 percent, with both figures representing career lows. The center fielder was a reliable leadoff man for the Mets and had a .274/.367/.433 slash line with 16 home runs, 64 RBI and 102 runs. Nimmo nearly doubled his barrel rate to 7.0 percent and also saw a five-point increase in his groundball rate to 50.5 percent. He's a solid defender in center field and is an ideal option atop the order given his average and on-base skills, though his reliance on groundballs lowers his ceiling. It's an encouraging sign Nimmo was able to put in a full season with no notable injuries, but fantasy managers should keep in mind it's only the second time he's topped 100 games in his career, so continued good health shouldn't yet be an expectation as he enters his age-30 season.

Nimmo provided some batting average support to his fantasy managers, but he just wasn't on the field enough to provide much overall value. He missed time with finger, hip and hamstring injuries. He has never been able to stay healthy over a full season, with 140 games being his highest total. His managers can dream back to 2018 when he had 17 homers, nine steals and was a nice fourth or fifth outfielder in 15-team leagues. His home-run power has been halved and the main culprit is a near-50% groundball rate. He's definitely going for a line-drive approach, and he started spreading the ball around with his Pull% dropping from 44.7% in 2018 to 33.1% last season. Additionally, his career 14.9 BB% puts him near a .400 OBP every season. He seems to want to run, but he's just not been successful with a 62% success rate over his career (5-for-9 last season). Stolen bases are not a part of his game to count on. When healthy, he is a nice add for batting average or on-base percentage only.

Does 2020 count as the first full season of Nimmo's career? Only once had he played in at least 75% of the games in a season prior to 2020 as he has dealt with many injuries. When he is not injured, he is an ideal leadoff candidate in a lineup as he is incredibly accepting of his walks (career .377 OBP). Sure, he has struck out quite often, but Nimmo improved greatly in that regard in 2020, lowering his strikeout rate nine full percentage points from the 2019 season. The neck and back injuries may ultimately limit his ability to hit for more power, but a strong spring would secure his spot setting the table for a once-again talented (on paper) lineup in Queens, at least on the strong side of a platoon. A healthy Nimmo could finish in the top 10 in runs scored.

Nimmo started off the 2019 campaign with the big-league club, but after slashing .200/.344/.323 through 43 games, he was sent to the 60-day injured list due to a bulging disk in his neck and wasn't cleared to return until Sept. 1. Nimmo finished the year hitting .221 with eight homers, 29 RBI and three stolen bases over 69 games. He sported an 18.8 BB% and 28 K% during that stretch, both up from the prior campaign. Nimmo's injury undoubtedly played a role in his down season and limited the 26-year-old's opportunities one year after he turned in a .263 average with a 148 wRC+ and 4.5 fWAR across 140 games. He managed to regain an everyday role in the outfield by the season's end and figures to have the starting job in center, although he will likely cede some starts and late-inning at-bats to Jake Marisnick, who is the superior defender. Nimmo should lead off against right-handed pitching.

Nimmo entered 2018 poised for a role as the Mets' fourth outfielder, but Yoenis Cespedes, Juan Lagares and Jay Bruce combined to play only 162 games. He earned an everyday role and led off for much of the season, finishing fourth among qualified hitters with a .404 OBP and sixth in MLB with a 149 wRC+. He was hit by a pitch 22 times (most in MLB), exceeding his total from the previous four seasons combined, but his 15.0 BB% was in line with what he did in 2017. The big difference last season was a spike in power. His ISO rose from .158 to .219 and he topped 15 home runs for the first time as a pro. His HR/FB rose from 12.8% to 17.5% -- a mark that ranked 35th among 140 qualified hitters. He could replicate last year's power output, but we should not expect further growth. Nimmo has established himself as one of the core pieces on this roster, and should lead off again for much of the season. He is a better asset in OBP and points leagues.

A middling prospect in the Mets' organization, Nimmo began the 2017 campaign on the disabled list before being optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas. He slashed a pedestrian .223/.365/.392 before injuries forced Nimmo into big-league action for the second straight season. The lefty swinger showcased his patience, walking 33 times in 215 trips to the dish on the way to an impressive .379 OBP. Nimmo has mediocre power, slugging only .418. He has some speed, but was successful on only 37 of 67 stolen-base attempts in his minor-league career -- not exactly worthy of a green light at the major-league level. He ended the season strong, smacking four homers in September, putting him in contention for an Opening Day roster spot, especially with Michael Conforto (shoulder) likely to begin the season on the disabled list. Nimmo is best suited for duty as a fourth outfielder, and the acquisition of Jay Bruce likely keeps him in that role. He's not mixed-league worthy.

A former first-round pick, Nimmo got his first extended look at Triple-A Las Vegas to open up the season, and after excelling there, he got his first taste of big league action. The 23-year-old wrapped up his minor league campaign with sparkling numbers, hitting .352 with a .964 OPS and 11 home runs in 97 games. He suffered through a bit of a drop off once he got to the majors, which was to be expected following his stellar showing at Triple-A. The most concerning aspect, however, was the reemergence of his free swinging ways -- a problem that plagued him early in his career but had seemingly improved as he moved up the organizational ranks -- to the tune of striking out in 25 percent of his plate appearances. If he's able to correct that issue, Nimmo looks to be on an upward trajectory and will likely be deployed as a spare outfielder on the major league roster.

The former 13th overall pick in the 2011 draft out of high school in Cheyenne, Wyoming, is finally starting to show flashes of that pedigree. His .322/.448/.458 slash line in 279 plate appearances at High-A St. Lucie turned heads, primarily because of an approach that yielded a 51:50 K:BB ratio. However, he met his match after advancing to Double-A Binghamton, where his BABIP regressed from .401 to .283, and as a result, he posted much more pedestrian numbers. Nimmo profiles as a Daniel Nava-type of big leaguer (the 2013 version), offering more value in OBP leagues and in real life, as the power and speed production will probably always be below average. The Mets will likely send him back to Double-A to start 2015, and if he can redeem himself, he should finish the season at Triple-A, with a chance to make a big-league impact in 2016.

Nimmo began the year on fire, but regressed a bit and was then sidelined for nearly a month due to hand and back injuries. When Nimmo returned in late May, his struggles continued, and despite an August surge, his overall numbers were just so-so. Nimmo's poor contact rate - just 67 percent - resulted in 118 strikeouts in 480 at-bats - but his good eye led to 71 walks. He has a long way to go, given that he didn't play high school ball, but the Mets expect him to fill out, move to left field and possibly be a 15-15 candidate down the road for the parent club. That likely won't happen until 2017, but he should begin 2014 at High-A St. Lucie, a much better hitter's park than Savannah, where he played last season.

Nimmo showed a good eye at the plate while making his debut in the New York-Penn League in 2012, drawing a walk in 15 percent of his plate appearances while carrying a .372 OBP. However, he did not make contact very often (71 percent) and it may take him significantly longer to develop moving through the Mets' system after being drafted out of high school in Wyoming in 2011, which limited his experience to Legion Ball. Given the longer development path, and that his ceiling may not be overwhelmingly high anyway, rostering Nimmo may require a league format with very deep minor league reserves.

The Mets drafted Nimmo 13th overall in 2011 despite that the fact that he did not play high school ball while growing up in Wyoming. He signed for $2.1 million just before the signing deadline, enabling him to play 10 games in rookie ball. Nimmo has been projected to possibly be a Von Hayes-like player, but don't expect him to be ready until 2014 at the earliest as he'll make his full-season debut in April.