RADIO
BALLER MOVE: Target in Late Rounds
ANALYSIS: Jedd Gyorko was a popular sleeper candidate for 2014, but a .210/.280/.333 slash line with only 10 HR doesn’t cut it in fantasy. After last year, Gyorko's 2015 draft value has been questioned. 2013 wasn’t a fluke, though. Power has always been a part of Gyorko’s game, extending well into his time in the minors. Last year, however, Gyorko’s fly ball distance numbers dropped to 278.05 ft from 287.58 ft in 2014, placing him 154th in baseball. That's concerning, but Gyorko wasn’t exactly healthy in 2014. Plantar fasciitis cost him nearly two months, and it was likely a major cause for his lost year. Also, his second half, post-injury triple slash line of .260/.347/.398 shatters the .162/.213/.270 line he posted before he hit the DL in June.
If Gyorko can stay healthy and carry this production into 2015, he will make for an attractive package on draft day. You won’t find many second basemen in the late rounds with a league average batting average and 20 HR upside. With the improvements in the Padres' lineup, Gyorko should see a spike in RBI and runs scored. There’s risk involved, but I think Gyorko warrants a late round pick, even in standard leagues.
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