Austin Hays

30-Year-Old OutfielderOF

Free Agent

2025 Stats

AVG

.266

RBI

Rest-of-Season Projections

AVG

RBI

Unlock Our Projections

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Hays entered last season as a reigning All-Star with a solid track record over the previous three years (.752 OPS and 108 wRC+), but he struggled early in 2024 before being sidelined by a calf injury and never fully got on track and finished with a .255/.303/.396 slash line. He also missed time down the stretch due to a kidney infection and played in just 85 games as he split the campaign between Baltimore and Philadelphia. Despite the overall struggles, Hays crushed left-handed pitching with a .941 OPS and has fared better against them throughout his career, so he should be able to land a job in the short side of an outfield platoon for 2025. He could return into fantasy relevance with a resurgence but isn't likely to have much value outside of streaming purposes. Read Past Outlooks

RANKS

Rest of Season

Dynasty

From Preseason

#360

ADP

Bats R

Throws R

40 Man No

Height 5'11"

Weight 200

DOB 7/5/1995

Born Daytona Beach, FL

College Jacksonville

Drafted 3rd Rd 2016 BAL

Enters free agency

OFFree Agent

November 5, 2025

The Reds declined Hays' $12 million mutual option for 2026 on Wednesday.

ANALYSIS
Hays will be given a $1 million buyout. The 30-year-old slashed .266/.315/.453 with 15 home runs over 103 regular-season contests for the Reds in 2025. The right-handed-hitting Hays batted .319/.400/.549 against left-handed pitching this season and could draw interest as a short-side platoon outfielder in free agency.

Read More News

Batting Stats

Loading Batting Stats...

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2025 MLB Game Log

Calculate Stats Over Time

Just click on any two dates.

Scoring

FanDuel

DraftKings

Yahoo DFS

Sorare

Loading Batting Game Log...

2024 MLB Game Log

Calculate Stats Over Time

Just click on any two dates.

Scoring

FanDuel

DraftKings

Yahoo DFS

Sorare

Loading Batting Game Log...

2023 MLB Game Log

Calculate Stats Over Time

Just click on any two dates.

Scoring

FanDuel

DraftKings

Yahoo DFS

Sorare

Loading Batting Game Log...

2022 MLB Game Log

Calculate Stats Over Time

Just click on any two dates.

Scoring

FanDuel

DraftKings

Yahoo DFS

Sorare

Loading Batting Game Log...

2021 MLB Game Log

Calculate Stats Over Time

Just click on any two dates.

Scoring

FanDuel

DraftKings

Yahoo DFS

Sorare

Loading Batting Game Log...

2020 MLB Game Log

Calculate Stats Over Time

Just click on any two dates.

Scoring

FanDuel

DraftKings

Yahoo DFS

Sorare

Loading Batting Game Log...

2019 MLB Game Log

Calculate Stats Over Time

Just click on any two dates.

Scoring

FanDuel

DraftKings

Yahoo DFS

Sorare

Loading Batting Game Log...

2018 MLB Game Log

Calculate Stats Over Time

Just click on any two dates.

Scoring

FanDuel

DraftKings

Yahoo DFS

Sorare

Loading Batting Game Log...

2017 MLB Game Log

Calculate Stats Over Time

Just click on any two dates.

Scoring

FanDuel

DraftKings

Yahoo DFS

Sorare

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

vs Left-Handed Pitchers

vs LHP

Left/Right Batting Splits

Since 2023

+23%

OPS vs LHP

2025

+34%

OPS vs LHP

2024

+65%

OPS vs LHP

2023

+3%

OPS vs LHP

	OPS	PA	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG
Since 2023vs Left	.872	362	58	8	46	2	.301	.368	.503
Since 2023vs Right	.707	875	104	28	105	12	.255	.296	.411
2025vs Left	.949	105	21	2	17	1	.319	.400	.549
2025vs Right	.708	311	39	13	47	6	.249	.286	.422
2024vs Left	.941	90	12	1	8	0	.354	.404	.537
2024vs Right	.569	165	14	4	12	2	.203	.248	.320
2023vs Left	.786	167	25	5	21	1	.262	.329	.456
2023vs Right	.763	399	51	11	46	4	.280	.323	.439

Home/Away Batting Splits

Since 2023

+12%

OPS on Road

2025

+6%

OPS on Road

2024

+45%

OPS on Road

2023

+3%

OPS on Road

	OPS	PA	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG
Since 2023Home	.713	612	75	16	76	7	.258	.302	.411
Since 2023Away	.795	625	87	20	75	7	.277	.332	.463
2025Home	.744	193	27	6	37	3	.270	.306	.438
2025Away	.788	223	33	9	27	4	.262	.323	.465
2024Home	.582	140	13	1	9	2	.227	.264	.318
2024Away	.846	115	13	4	11	0	.291	.351	.495
2023Home	.758	279	35	9	30	2	.267	.319	.439
2023Away	.780	287	41	7	37	3	.283	.331	.449

Stat Review

How does Austin Hays 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

0.27

BB Rate

7.0%

K Rate

25.7%

BABIP

.326

ISO

.187

AVG

.266

OBP

.315

SLG

.453

OPS

.768

wOBA

.331

Exit Velocity

88.8 mph

Hard Hit Rate

33.0%

Barrels/PA

7.0%

Expected BA

.237

Expected SLG

.396

Sprint Speed

24.0 ft/sec

Ground Ball %

41.9%

Line Drive %

21.5%

Fly Ball %

36.6%

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?

View Austin Hays vs. Pitcher Stats

Loading Matchup Stats...

Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Austin Hays See More

Super Early Top 300 Fantasy Baseball Rankings for 2026

62 days ago

James Anderson provides his annual super early top 300 fantasy baseball rankings for 2026 redraft leagues!

The Z Files: Underdog Fantasy MLB Postseason Contest Primer

78 days ago

Your Strategy Guide to The Pennant, Underdog Fantasy's $100K Best Ball Contest!

Weekly Hitter Rankings: Top Fantasy Baseball Batters to Target

78 days ago

Some hitters on non-contending teams may get more playing opportunities during the final week of the regular season.

Fantasy Baseball Lineup Lowdown: National League Latest Trends

82 days ago

Stay up to date with all the latest changes in NL lineups and playing time, including Harrison Bader becoming Philadelphia's everyday leadoff man.

MLB DFS Pitcher & Team Stacks Guide for Tuesday, September 16

82 days ago

Ryan Pohle takes a deeper look into team stacks and pitchers for Tuesday's MLB slate, including the Brewers' Freddy Peralta in a favorable matchup against the Angels.

Past Fantasy Outlooks

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Be it by design or happenstance, Hays struck the ball harder, but less frequently last season. His expected batting average didn't change, but his actual mark jumped 25 points over the previous season. Hays expected and actual slugging percentage increased, fueling a career high 112 wRC+ since becoming an everyday player. Curiously, even though Hays strikeout rate increased, he was less aggressive swinging on pitches in and out of the zone but when he swung, his contact dropped on pitches in and out of the zone. Hays already solid defense in left field improved even more, helping to keep his bat in the lineup even though his production is below average for a corner outfielder. Hays attempted the same six stolen bases he did in 2022, but last season he swiped five, as opposed to just two the prior campaign. It's nothing to count on, but his success from last season could manifest more opportunities. Hays defines boring in a fantasy sense, but boring can help balance swinging for the fences elsewhere.

There was some hope Hays could take a step forward in 2022 but his skills remained stagnant, though the renovations to Camden Yards appear to have slighted him a couple of dingers. Even so, Hays plate skills and batted ball profile mimicked the previous year, with a dip in Barrel% fueling an ISO downturn. Hays 105 wRC+ will play as a compiler, but he collected only two steals and isn't a candidate to benefit from the new rules, so he's capped him in OF3 territory. That said, Hays is cemented as Baltimore's left fielder and the lineup around him continues to improve, so Hays RBI and runs will benefit. With most fantasy managers expecting more steals from hitters in Hays' draft range, his market price could drop. If you're set in bags, Hays is a high floor but low ceiling lineup stabilizer.

On June 22, Hays was slashing .219/.286/.394. His season had been interrupted by two IL stints for a sore hamstring, costing a month. From that point, Hays slashed .274/.319/.494. His plate skills and batted ball profile were similar the whole time, but his BABIP went from .250 to .303 as he was mainly victimized by an unlucky hit rate. For the season, Hays posted a 106 wRC+, but his K% rose while his BB% dipped. Hays was a highly regraded prospect and teased his potential with a 146 wRC+ in 2019, albeit in just 75 plate appearances. Now, he appears to be more of a compiler, with above average but not elite skills. That said, collecting at bats in the middle of an improving lineup, with half his games at Camden Yards has fantasy allure. We likely haven't seen Hays' best season, but we're also probably not going to see a major breakout.

Hays was an interesting option last season after posting a .309/.373/.574 slash line in 75 plate appearances in 2019. Unfortunately, his 2020 campaign was largely disappointing. He missed nearly half of the short season with a fractured rib, appearing in just 33 games. His performance took a step back across the board, as he hit just four homers and stole just two bases while slashing .279/.328/.393. He at least provided fantasy players with a solid batting average, though even that may be a mirage, as Statcast pegged his xBA at just .246, with his hard-hit rate falling to 31.3%. Hays is still just 25 years old and has less than half a season (74 games) under his belt at the highest level, but his overall .272/.320/.424 slash line doesn't suggest stardom. The fact that he plays a decent center field means his 97 wRC+ is enough to keep him in the lineup, but there aren't many reasons to get too excited here.

Hays' value has peaked twice as a pro, first after a monster 2017 when he laid waste to High-A and Double-A pitching, and most recently after logging a 146 wRC+, .265 ISO and career-high 9.3 BB% in 75 MLB plate appearances to close the 2019 season. Sandwiched in between those high points were two injury-riddled seasons in the upper levels of the minors, during which he often performed as a below-league-average hitter. His MLB performance was deserved based on how he hit the ball (.303 xBA), but his 22.2 LD%, 30.9 Hard% and 40.0 Pull% were all better marks than he posted recently in the minors, so those levels may not be sustainable. Given the lack of talent around him in Baltimore, Hays will get everyday playing time for the foreseeable future as long as he keeps his head above water. If the 24-year-old can be drafted as an OF5 in mixed leagues, the risk/reward will be properly factored in.

Hays reached the majors in 2017, and seemed likely to spend a good chunk of last season back with the big club. However, he dealt with shoulder soreness in spring training and struggled to get going back at Double-A, hitting .224/.259/.374 in 43 games before suffering a stress fracture in his ankle that sidelined him for over two months. Hays returned to Double-A in early August and hit .273/.291/.535 with six home runs in 23 games before eventually undergoing surgery to repair the stress fracture. He needs to recapture his line-drive-oriented approach from 2017, as he could naturally hit 25-plus home runs by taking what pitchers give him -- he seemed to be selling out for power last season. Hays makes for a nice post-hype sleeper in 2019. He will likely return to the minors for a month or two, but will be up once he looks ready.

How many hitting prospects can say they skipped Low-A and Triple-A in the same season? Hays did just that in 2017, beginning the year in the Carolina League and finishing the campaign as the Orioles’ leadoff hitter. His muscular forearms produce high-end bat speed, which results in plus right-handed power. He currently operates with a see ball, hit ball approach, but there has been no reason for him to utilize patience, as he never faced adversity in the minors. His eye-popping production in 64 games at High-A (167 wRC+, .263 ISO, 16 HR) and 64 games at Double-A (161 wRC+, .264 ISO, 16 HR) was eerily consistent. He runs well enough to handle center field, but has not yet learned how to utilize his above-average speed on the bases, limiting him to four-category production for now. Unless he appears overmatched in spring training, Hays should open the year as the Orioles’ everyday right fielder. His future is very bright, but there could be more growing pains in his first full season in the majors.

The Orioles are not known for making quality draft picks outside of the first round, but they certainly appear to have done so when they popped Hays with the 91st pick in last year's draft. An impressive physical specimen at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, Hays was given the slot value out of Jacksonville University, so this looks like a pure scouting find. He boasts at least average offensive tools across the board, and his strength and aggressive style of play allow those tools to play up. His all-fields approach is impressive considering how much he impacts the baseball, which speaks to the strength in his wrists and forearms. With a chance to handle all three outfield spots, his glove won't hinder his ability to make the big leagues, so it will simply come down to how well he can handle upper-level offspeed stuff. Given where he was drafted, Hays has a chance to be one of the best bargains in dynasty league drafts this spring.

More Fantasy News

Back in lineup for Game 1

OFCincinnati Reds

September 30, 2025

Hays (back) will start in left field and bat cleanup Tuesday in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series versus the Dodgers.

ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.

Included on wild-card roster

OFCincinnati Reds

September 30, 2025

Hays (back) is on the Reds' wild-card roster.

ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.

On bench for regular-season finale

OFCincinnati Reds

Back

September 28, 2025

Hays (back) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Milwaukee.

ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.

Responds well to work Saturday

OFCincinnati Reds

Back

September 28, 2025

Hays (back) felt good after hitting in the batting cage Saturday, MLB.com reports.

ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.

Out again Saturday

OFCincinnati Reds

Back

September 27, 2025

Hays (back) is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against Milwaukee.

ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.

Latest Fantasy Rumors

Landing spot in Texas?

OFFree Agent

December 2, 2025

Hays could be a free-agent target of the Rangers, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.

ANALYSIS
The Rangers are likely to platoon the left-handed-hitting Evan Carter, and the club could shift Wyatt Langford to center field and install Hays -- who had a .949 OPS versus lefties last season -- in left field those days. Hays would have to be amendable to a short-side platoon role, though, and it's possible the 30-year-old will be looking for more playing time.

See All MLB Rumors