Nolan Gorman

Nolan Gorman

23-Year-Old Second Baseman2B
St. Louis Cardinals
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Gorman was promoted for his MLB debut in May and had a solid rookie campaign for St. Louis with 14 home runs and a .720 OPS in 89 games. Strikeouts were an issue at times in the minors and that remained true at the big-league level with a 32.9 percent strikeout rate. His 9.0 percent walk rate and .194 ISO were solid, but he'll need to cut down on the swings and misses to have some staying power in the Cardinals' lineup. He's likely to open 2023 as a bench bat/utility player with Brendan Donovan the favorite to start at second base, but Gorman could also split playing time at designated hitter with Juan Yepez. Gorman could be the odd man out if St. Louis makes any infield/DH additions in free agency, so his fantasy outlook is limited at best to begin the campaign. Read Past Outlooks
RANKSFrom Preseason
#424
ADP
$Signed a one-year, $726,950 contract with the Cardinals in March of 2023.
Powers offense in win
2BSt. Louis Cardinals
May 25, 2023
Gorman went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, an RBI and a run during Thursday's 2-1 win against the Reds.
ANALYSIS
The 23-year-old delivered the first run of the contest with an RBI double during the eighth inning, and he came around to score on a wild pitch after stealing third base. The late double extended Gorman's hit streak to 15 games, and he's batting .377 with five doubles, six homers, 17 RBI and 12 runs during that stretch.
Read More News
Batting Stats
Loading Batting Stats...
2023
2022
2020
2023 MLB Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Loading Batting Game Log...
2022 MLB Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Loading Batting Game Log...
2020 MLB Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Loading Batting Game Log...
Minor League Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Minor League Batting Game Log...
Batting Order Slot Breakdown
vs Right-Handed Pitchers
vs RHP
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
1
23
5
10
2
vs Left-Handed Pitchers
vs LHP
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
3
Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2021
 
 
+8%
OPS vs LHP
2023
 
 
+19%
OPS vs LHP
2022
 
 
+9%
OPS vs RHP
2021
No Stats
OPS PA R HR RBI SB AVG OBP SLG
Since 2021vs Left .858 43 10 2 6 0 .229 .372 .486
Since 2021vs Right .796 466 56 25 69 5 .246 .322 .474
2023vs Left 1.088 20 4 2 4 0 .250 .400 .688
2023vs Right .916 176 18 11 36 4 .279 .364 .552
2022vs Left .664 23 6 0 2 0 .211 .348 .316
2022vs Right .725 290 38 14 33 1 .227 .297 .428
2021vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2021vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
More Splits View More Split Stats
Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2021
 
 
+9%
OPS at Home
2023
 
 
+50%
OPS at Home
2022
 
 
+15%
OPS on Road
2021
No Stats
OPS PA R HR RBI SB AVG OBP SLG
Since 2021Home .836 253 30 14 44 2 .261 .336 .500
Since 2021Away .766 256 36 13 31 3 .229 .316 .449
2023Home 1.130 93 12 8 26 2 .350 .430 .700
2023Away .755 103 10 5 14 2 .211 .311 .444
2022Home .672 160 18 6 18 0 .212 .281 .390
2022Away .773 153 26 8 17 1 .241 .320 .453
2021Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2021Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
More Splits View More Split Stats
Stat Review
How does Nolan Gorman compare to other hitters?
This section compares his stats with all batting seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 400 plate appearances)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
  • BB/K
    Walk to strikeout ratio
  • BB Rate
    The percentage of plate appearances resulting in a walk.
  • K Rate
    The percentage of plate appearances resulting in a strikeout.
  • BABIP
    Batting average on balls in play. Measures how many of a batter’s balls in play go for hits.
  • ISO
    Isolated Power. Slugging percentage minus batting average. A computation used to measure a batter's raw power.
  • AVG
    Batting average. Hits divided by at bats.
  • OBP
    On Base Percentage. A measure of how often a batters reaches base. Roughly equal to number of times on base divided by plate appearances.
  • SLG
    Slugging Percentage. A measure of the batting productivity of a hitter. It is calculated as total bases divided by at bats.
  • OPS
    On base plus slugging. THe sum of a batter's on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
  • wOBA
    Weighted on-base average. Measures a player's overall offensive contributions per plate appearance. wOBA combines all the different aspects of hitting into one metric, weighting each of them in proportion to their actual run value.
  • Exit Velocity
    The speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, immediately after a batter makes contact.
  • Hard Hit Rate
    A measure of contact quality from Sports Info Solutions. This stat explains what percentage of batted balls were hit hard vs. medium or soft.
  • Barrels/PA
    The percentage of plate appearances where a batter had a batted ball classified as a Barrel. A Barrel is a batted ball with similar exit velocity and launch angle to past ones that led to a minimum .500 batting average and 1.500 slugging percentage.
  • Expected BA
    Expected Batting Average.
  • Expected SLG
    Expected Slugging Percentage.
  • Sprint Speed
    The speed of a runner from home to first, in feet per second.
  • Ground Ball %
    The percentage of balls put in play that are on the ground.
  • Line Drive %
    The percentage of balls put in play that are line drives.
  • Fly Ball %
    The percentage of balls put in play that are fly balls.
BB/K
0.47
 
BB Rate
12.2%
 
K Rate
26.0%
 
BABIP
.318
 
ISO
.288
 
AVG
.276
 
OBP
.367
 
SLG
.565
 
OPS
.932
 
wOBA
.400
 
Exit Velocity
90.9 mph
 
Hard Hit Rate
37.5%
 
Barrels/PA
9.7%
 
Expected BA
.283
 
Expected SLG
.555
 
Sprint Speed
21.9 ft/sec
 
Ground Ball %
31.7%
 
Line Drive %
27.5%
 
Fly Ball %
40.8%
 
Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Batting Stats
Loading Advanced Batting Stats...
Additional Stats
Games By Position
Defensive Stats
Loading Games Played by Position...
Loading MLB Defensive Stats...
Batted Ball Stats
Loading Batted Ball Stats...
Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
Want more matchup stats?
Loading Matchup Stats...
Our full team depth charts are reserved for RotoWire subscribers.
Subscribe Now
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Nolan Gorman See More
MLB DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Monday, May 29
Yesterday
Dan Marcus is looking to load up on Cardinals in his Monday DraftKings lineups.
MLB Picks Today: Best MLB Bets and Player Props for Monday, May 29
Yesterday
Kevin Payne digs into the Memorial Day MLB slate and finds his best bets and props to target, including a look at a certain Nolan Gorman prop.
MLB DFS Picks: FanDuel Plays and Strategy for Monday May 29
Yesterday
Southpaw Nolan Gorman has slugged .575 and hit 13 home runs already this season, and has an 1.172 OPS at home, where he'll be Memorial Day against Josh Staumont and Mike Mayers.
MLB DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Sunday, May 28
2 days ago
Chris Morgan details a hitter who's been more than a big bat this season and continues to be undervalued in DFS.
Collette Calls: Steaks Revisited
12 days ago
Jason Collette analyzes how runs have been scored this season and expects more to come from the Blue Jays, particularly Daulton Varsho.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
2019
Gorman is coming off an indisputably good year in the upper levels of the minors, but he remains a tough player to value in dynasty leagues. His 26.7 K% at Double-A and 19.2 K% at Triple-A were his best rates to date above rookie ball, and his 129 wRC+ at Double-A was also his best full-season mark. Big raw power has always been the main selling point with Gorman, and he hit 25 home runs in 119 games (43 at Double-A, 76 at Triple-A) as a 21-year-old, so he is on schedule in the power department. He showed signs last season that he will probably make enough contact to be a big-league regular. However, we're still looking at a power-over-hit prospect, and given that his walk rates have typically been on the low end (6.8 BB% above Low-A) for someone with his power, he doesn't even comfortably project as a middle-of-the-order three-true outcomes type. The hope will be that he is a 30-plus homer bat who is a solid contributor in runs and RBI and isn't a batting average sinkhole, but players with that profile often take a year or two in the majors before they hit their stride. An injury to any number of players on the big-league roster could open up at-bats for Gorman, who is passable at second base and third base, and he could also get work at designated hitter. However, given the low batting average floor and lack of speed, he isn't a strong prospect to target in draft-and-hold leagues.
Gorman's mammoth raw power has been his calling card for a while, and it should get him to the big leagues. However, there are several reasons for skepticism regarding his hit tool. He will always run high K-rates, but to make matters worse, the best place to attack him is with fastballs up in the zone, which also happens to be where many young pitchers are being taught to attack hitters. Additionally, the left-handed hitter has a pull-heavy approach and figures to be shifted on with impunity in the big leagues. He is also a below-average runner, and given the warranted concerns about his hit tool, dynasty managers should be hoping for a three-category thumper who hits around .245. Unlike most high-strikeout mashers, Gorman may not be any more valuable in OBP leagues, given how aggressive he is at the dish. He was a standout at the alternate site and should spend the season at Double-A and Triple-A.
Gorman is who we thought he we thought he was. His 38-game run in the Appalachian League in 2018 threw some off the scent, but through a little over a season at Low-A and High-A, he is hitting .240 with 21 HR, a 30.9 K% and an 8.9 BB% in 619 PA. The power output may seem lower than expected -- he has at least 70-grade raw power. However, a below-average hit tool has held him back against full-season pitching. Gorman won't win any Gold Gloves at third base, but he should stick there. Speed is not a part of his game, so his bat needs to provide all of his fantasy value. A Joey Gallo type of outcome seemed feasible a year ago, but now a Franmil Reyes type of ceiling seems more apt, as Gallo at least had monster walk rates in the lower levels. Gorman won't turn 20 until May 10, so he is far from a lost cause, but he also doesn't look like a budding star.
Before the 2018 draft, Gorman was seen as the hitter with the most home run upside in the class (at least 70-grade power). There was also significant concern that he would strike out a lot against pitchers who could spin a quality breaking ball. The good and the bad proved true. Despite dealing with a minor wrist injury and being one of the youngest players in the class, his 17 home runs paced all draftees, while his 36.4 K% was the ninth-worst mark in the Midwest League (min. 100 PA). An underrated positive from his pro debut is that his defense at third base was good enough that evaluators now project him to stick there, which was an uncertainty before the draft. This puts slightly less pressure on his hit tool. Already one of the top power prospects in the minors, Gorman won't turn 19 until May, so he has plenty of time to cut down on the strikeouts. Realistic outcomes range from Josh Donaldson to Joey Gallo, depending where the strikeout rate settles.
More Fantasy News
Sitting versus lefty
2BSt. Louis Cardinals
May 21, 2023
Gorman is not in the starting lineup Sunday versus the Dodgers.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Slugs clutch homer
2BSt. Louis Cardinals
May 20, 2023
Gorman went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk Saturday in a 6-5 win against the Dodgers.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Stays hot, homers twice
2BSt. Louis Cardinals
May 18, 2023
Gorman went 3-for-5 with two homers and three RBI in Thursday's win over the Dodgers.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Knocks in five runs in rout
2BSt. Louis Cardinals
May 15, 2023
Gorman went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, two total runs, five total RBI and a walk in Monday 18-1 victory versus the Brewers.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Comes off bench to spark comeback
2BSt. Louis Cardinals
May 13, 2023
Gorman went 1-for-1 with one double, one RBI and one run scored in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Red Sox.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.