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Eugenio Suarez 2019 Outlook: Power Numbers Appear Sustainable
6 years agoCincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez was a popular sleeper pick among owners last season after posting career-best numbers in 2017. In a show of good faith, Suarez produced another bag of career-high numbers, finishing fourth among third basemen in home runs (34) and fifth in RBIs (104). The 27-year-old Suarez wasn’t without his flaws though, as a once impressive 13.3% walk-rate dropped by three percentage points. In large part, Suarez’s decrease in walks was due to a tendency to swing and miss at breaking balls thrown down and in the zone. Fantasy owners can still rest easy though because one quick glance at his batted-ball profile suggests the power numbers are legit. While his 23.4% strikeout rate was almost identical to his 2016/2017 totals, Suarez’s hard-hit rate skyrocketed to almost 50% last year. That makes his 23.4% HR/FB rate more than sustainable, easily placing Suarez on the second tier of third basemen on draft day. When you also consider the generous park factors of Great American Ballpark, as well as the Reds’ new and improved lineup feat. Yasiel Puig, Suarez figures to be one of the safest picks to target early this year; he currently has an ADP of 52.
