Fantasy Baseball Hot Take Alert: Red Sox Kiké Hernandez a serious fantasy asset?
Kike Hernandez will be a serious fantasy baseball asset this season
— Matty Kiwoom (@MattyKiwoom) March 7, 2021
It is Fantasy Baseball season and owners are feverishly preparing for their upcoming drafts. Players have already reported to Spring Training, games have been played and teams have begun to reassign players to their minor league camps.
In order for you and try and get the upper hand and dominate your league, we take a look the second base position.
This season, second base offers a lot positional options for owners. While you are planning your roster to meet various needs, you’ll need contingency plans for player injuries and COVID-19.
If you are looking to create a versatile lineup, the second base position offers players who’ll be able to play all over the diamond. The cream of the crop at second base this season is Yankees DJ LeMahieu, Braves Ozzie Albies and Royals Whit Merrifield.
These three players bring you average, power, steals and OBP. Furthermore, Albies and LeMathieu offer versatility, which for owners will be very important this season.
High Heat Fantasy Baseball podcast host Matty Kiwoom has been ranking positions leading up to the drafts. Here are his top-15 second base rankings heading into this season.
Versatility
The ability to draft players who will not only be productive but offer versatility will be extremely valuable this season. Fully expect these multi-position eligible players to come off the board early.
As you are evaluating the second base position, you shouldn’t let good value pass you by at your draft. Players like Gleyber Torres, Brandon Lowe, Max Muncy and Ian Happ offer tremendous value because of their position eligibility.
Where does Red Sox utility player Kiké Hernandez fit into the mix this fantasy season?
Kiké Hernández solo BOMB to CF! 💪🏻
pic.twitter.com/pEP4bVQwo6— Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34) March 2, 2021
According to FantasyPros, Hernandez average ADP is 348, ranking 269 on ESPN and not even ranked on CBS. Despite the ADP rankings, he offers value as he qualifies at second base, short stop, and all three outfield positions.
Last season, Hernandez had a down year with the World Series champion Dodgers. He would up playing in 48 games at six different positions. Offensively, he hit .230 at the dish with a .270/.410 slash line and a subpar 83 wRC+.
Hernandez barely walked, he had a 4.1BB% and he popped up way too much with a 14.0 IFFB%. In addition, he also posted a negative WAR last season for the first time in his career.
According to FanGraphs, they predict Hernandez will have 427 plate appearances with a slash line of .244/.316/.439. Hernandez versatility makes him more valuable because he can play in multiple positions.
The 29-year-old has a career .240/.313/.425/.738 line in 690 big league games. His best season came in 2018 when he slashed .256/.336/.470/.806 with 21 home runs, 17 doubles, three triples, 52 RBIs and 67 runs in 145 games (402 at-bats) with the Dodgers.
The Verdict
In Boston, Hernandez will be the primary second baseman while offering shortstop Xander Bogaerts time off or depth if he spends time on the IL. This spring, Hernandez has been hitting the cover off the ball. He has been contributing from the leading off spot. Hernandez should be a consistent presence in their lineup but does he offer true fantasy value?
Hernandez is a good complementary player for the Red Sox and will benefit from playing everyday. At this stage, until he can show consistency, he is not a must start this season. I’d even argue that he may not be a must roster at this time until owners can gauge what he could potentially be this season.
There are just other players with better offensive upside than Hernandez. St. Louis Cardinals Tommy Edman, Seattle’s Dylan Moore, Padres Jake Cronenworth, Nick Solak and David Fletcher all hold more value than Hernandez.
Red Sox fans will draft Hernandez higher than he’s worth because they’ll be a typical homer fan and reach. He will be serviceable this season, unless he surprisingly breaks out, I am not starting Hernandez. I might not even roster him.
The beauty of fantasy baseball is no matter how much planning you do, something always goes sideways. Players get hurt, COVID-19 is still a reality and players underachieve. In the words of Robert Burns, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”
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