6 years agoTexas Rangers outfielder Nomar Mazara’s performance in 2018 was very similar to 2017, but it could have been more. He finished the year with 20 HR, 77 RBI, and a .258 AVG. It was the third consecutive season hitting exactly 20 homers, this time in only 489 at-bats. Even his walk rate, strikeout rate, and a slash line of .258/.317/.436 were very similar to his previous year's performance. Mazara’s strong start to the season (15 HR, 58 RBI, .272 AVG in the first half) was derailed when he had a surgery to repair a broken thumb. His post-surgery second-half performance (five homers and a .221 AVG) didn’t resemble anything near his first-half output. At only 23 years old, Mazara already has three years of experience; he still has plenty of time to achieve some of the high praise bestowed upon him when he arrived. Mazara will never be a stolen base threat, but he can provide power and a suitable batting average, with a floor of 20 homers and a .260 batting average. The power output and plate discipline are the keys to Mazara advancing to the next level. He needs to improve upon his 55% ground-ball rate and limit his tendency to chase pitches outside the zone (33%); he is young enough to still improve in these areas, but he will have to start demonstrating the results this year. Going into the 2019 season, Mazara should be fully healthy. He will still be undervalued, ranked as the 44th outfielder, and is generally going in the 12th round of early drafts.--Ellis Canady - RotoBaller