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The Low Investment Mound Aces (LIMA) Plan is a way for you to target consistent, affordable hitters who offer both solid plate discipline and the potential to help you in multiple categories.

Our latest iteration of the LIMA model suggests that we should target hitters who are projected to meet some of the following thresholds:

• CT% + BB% of 90% or greater
• PX or Spd level of 100 or greater
• Regular playing time
• Projected R$ between $10 and $30

LIMA values can vary based on your league context. We encourage you to use our Custom Draft Guides to see customized LIMA targets for your league.

Here are the top 2022 projected LIMA hitting targets in a 15-team 5x5 mixed league:

                                       -----------Projected 2022----------
Name                 League  Position  bb%  ct%  Eye   PX   Spd  BPV  LIMA
===================  ======  ========  ===  ===  ====  ===  ===  ===  ====
Franco, Wander           AL        SS   8%  87%  0.62   98  131   82    A
Hernández, Enrique       AL     CF/2B  10%  79%  0.51  108  113   57    A
Votto, Joey              NL        1B  15%  75%  0.70  129   74   56    A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hoskins, Rhys            NL        1B  14%  73%  0.62  183   79   93    B+
Springer, George         AL     CF/DH  12%  76%  0.55  144  105   76    B+
Bregman, Alex            AL        3B  13%  86%  1.00   97   87   73    B+
Marte, Ketel             NL     CF/2B   7%  84%  0.50  111   96   72    B+
Arenado, Nolan           NL        3B   8%  84%  0.58  110   92   71    B+
Acuña, Ronald            NL        RF  13%  70%  0.48  165  104   69    B+
Reynolds, Bryan          NL        CF  12%  77%  0.56  119  126   65    B+
Olson, Matt              AL        1B  13%  76%  0.60  136   77   63    B+
Semien, Marcus           AL     2B/SS  10%  79%  0.54  114  109   62    B+
Alvarez, Yordan          AL     DH/LF  10%  72%  0.38  158   83   61    B+
Altuve, Jose             AL        2B   9%  84%  0.59   92  106   60    B+
Cronenworth, Jake        NL  2B/SS/1B   9%  82%  0.58   93  116   59    B+
Alonso, Pete             NL        1B  11%  74%  0.49  143   78   58    B+
Lindor, Francisco        NL        SS  10%  81%  0.58  102   99   56    B+
Kepler, Max              AL        RF  11%  79%  0.58  110   91   54    B+
Mullins II, Cedric       AL        CF   8%  79%  0.40  101  135   54    B+
Turner, Justin           AL        3B  10%  82%  0.60   95   94   53    B+
Bogaerts, Xander         AL        SS  10%  79%  0.55  108   92   53    B+
Polanco, Jorge           AL     2B/SS   7%  81%  0.40  110   85   53    B+
Lowe, Brandon            AL        2B  11%  68%  0.37  159   97   52    B+
Rizzo, Anthony           AL        1B  10%  83%  0.67   94   71   51    B+
Dalbec, Bobby            AL        1B   7%  63%  0.19  189  100   48    B+
Cron, C.J.               NL        1B   8%  74%  0.36  138   68   47    B+
Fletcher, David          AL     2B/SS   6%  90%  0.61   47  120   46    B+
Escobar, Eduardo         NL     3B/2B   8%  78%  0.38  107   89   43    B+
Frazier, Adam            AL        2B   6%  87%  0.51   60  110   42    B+
Urías, Luis              NL  SS/3B/2B  10%  76%  0.47  103  110   41    B+
Hayes, KeBryan           NL        3B   9%  77%  0.41  101  106   40    B+
Candelario, Jeimer       AL        3B  10%  74%  0.45  113   94   39    B+
Soler, Jorge             NL     RF/DH  11%  69%  0.41  142   68   36    B+
Santander, Anthony       AL     RF/DH   5%  78%  0.24  114   68   36    B+
Hays, Austin             AL        LF   5%  78%  0.25   96  115   35    B+
Schwindel, Frank         NL        1B   5%  81%  0.25   91   93   35    B+
Lopez, Nicky             AL        SS   8%  84%  0.58   45  132   31    B+
Chapman, Matt            AL        3B  11%  65%  0.34  143  114   30    B+
Bader, Harrison          NL        CF   9%  72%  0.34  110  104   29    B+
Mancini, Trey            AL     1B/DH   8%  75%  0.34  106   92   29    B+
Carlson, Dylan           NL        RF   9%  72%  0.34  110  104   25    B+    

Let's take a closer look at a bunch of intriguing LIMA targets who could deliver significant profit in 2022.
 

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Luis Arraez (3B/2B/LF, MIN) had a 98% ct% + bb% and 136 Spd in 2021, plate skills and speed that make him an intriguing LIMA batter to target on draft day. While he doesn't barrel the ball at all (2.3% Brl%), tuck away this annual exit velocity trend as a reason to speculate on something more: 87.1 mph, 87.5 mph, 88.4 mph. At age 25, he hasn't reached his ceiling yet.

Wander Franco (SS, TAM) won't be cheap in most 2022 drafts given his top-prospect pedigree. Check out his monthly BPV during his rookie season: 39, 40, 88, 147. His plate skills matured in the second half (7% bb%, 88% ct%, 0.66 Eye), which gives him immediate .320 BA upside.

Ty France (1B/DH/2B, SEA) makes for a sneaky LIMA play heading into 2022. His contact ticked up four points in the second half of 2021 (83% ct%). He also hit lefties with authority (.874 OPS vL) for the first time in his career. And he'll qualify at several different positions in most leagues.

Austin Hays (LF, BAL) had one of the most impressive September performances in the game during 2021 (.933 OPS, 98 BPV in 106 AB). His underlying skills featured an 85% ct% + bb%, solid power (112 xPX), and untapped speed (113 Spd). In addition, after topping nothing better than a 5.5% Brl% during his first three MLB seasons, he had a 9.1% Brl% in 2021. Hays is a solid target for those looking for unheralded age-26 breakout speculations.

Sean Murphy (C, OAK) took a step backwards in 2021 (.710 OPS in 393 AB). His top-shelf walk rate (17% bb% in 2020) also regressed to a 9% bb% last season. On the plus side, his power foundation took another step forward. Check out his xPX over his three years in the majors: 99, 109, 115 xPX. And he maintained a double-digit barrel rate (11.3% Brl%), a mark that puts him in the 75th percentile among MLB batters. There's good profit potential here now.

Andrew Vaughn (LF, CHW) might not have produced at a top clip during his rookie season (.235 BA, .705 OPS in 417 AB), but his Statcast skills give his bat tons of more upside: 91.1 mph exit velocity, 10.9% Brl%. Few hitters can hit the ball harder than Vaughn (94th percentile max exit velo), and his ct% + bb% jumped from a so-so 79% mark in the first half to an excellent 90% in the second half. Profit plays don't get much better than this one.
 

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Dylan Carlson (RF, STL) is another high-upside bat that has the potential to help you in multiple categories. His plate skills were solid in the first half of 2021 (83% ct% + bb%), but the thump wasn't there (88 PX, 83 xPX). His approach eroded in the second half (79% ct% + bb%) but his power blossomed (133 PX, 127 xPX). And his legs have more upside than they showed (110 Spd, 74th percentile Statcast sprint speed). Expect his growth to continue in 2022.

Jake Croneworth (2B/SS/1B, SD) is a multi-skilled batter that is a good fit for those looking for LIMA batters. His skills spiked to an 80 BPV in the second half of 2021. He had a 93% ct% + bb% and 128 Spd, along with an 86th percentile sprint speed. Those nuggets give him .300-BA, 20-SB potential.

Nick Madrigal (2B, CHC) owns plate skills that are some of the best you'll find (97% ct% + bb%). His raw speed is impressive, too (164 Spd, 75th percentile sprint speed). This is another batter that could give you a lot of help in batting average and stolen bases.

Brandon Nimmo (CF, NYM) makes for an interesting study. He has reached 400+ AB only once in his career, but he has really good plate discipline (90% ct% + bb%) and has shown a 130+ Spd in three of the past four seasons. His Statcast sprint speed ranked in the 92nd percentile in 2021. He's another bat with more room for growth than you might realize.

Will Smith (C, LA) enters 2022 with true breakout potential. His skills in 2021 were excellent and included good contact and walk rates (88% ct% + bb%) and continued elite power (140 xPX). And his power soared late (163 xPX in 2H). He should be one of the first catchers off your draft board.

LaMonte Wade (RF/1B, SF) made some subtle gains late in 2021 that might be flying under the radar in your league. His power went from average in the first half (99 xPX) to elite after that (158 xPX). For the season, his exit velocity (90.1 mph) and barrel rate (10.6% Brl%) were by far the best of his career. Watch him in the spring to see if he has made any improvements against LHers (.389 OPS vL), which would give him the path to the 500+ AB needed for him to have a full-season breakout.

Jesse Winker (LF, CIN) took a step forward in 2021 (.305 BA, 24 HR, 71 RBI, .949 OPS in 423 AB), and it's about to get even bigger in 2022. His approach at the plate was pristine (93% ct% + bb%), and his Statcast metrics were very strong (74th percentile exit velocity + barrel rate). If he can finally stay healthy for a full season, there could be a $30 season coming here.

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  For more information about the terms used in this article, see our Glossary Primer.