X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Cesar Hernandez Is the Bargain 20/20 Player You're Looking For

The Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez has produced solid fantasy results in his last few seasons and it’s time to start taking him seriously in drafts.

Second base can be a tricky position to get good value after the first few rounds; Hernandez can help owners later in the draft with a quality option at a position filled with question marks. Will Jonathan Villar continue his late-season success in Baltimore? Does Dee Gordon still have 30 steals in him? Is Brian Dozier a legit bounce-back candidate?

Hernandez isn't an exciting name, but he brings consistency that any fantasy owner can appreciate. He can help in every category in standard 5x5 leagues and an improved Phillies lineup will only add to his value. Let's dig a little deeper to see how Hernandez can help you on draft day.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and weekly lineup resources:

 

The Perfect Situation... Maybe

The recent addition of Bryce Harper, along with the previous trades for J.T. Realmuto and Jean Segura, puts the Phillies leadoff hitter in an elite position for run-scoring opportunities. In roughly 2,000 at-bats since 2015, Hernandez spent 72% of them in the leadoff spot (93% in 2018). A healthy Hernandez batting leadoff for the Phillies would be a steal at his current 175 ADP (NFBC). Although, he isn’t a lock to hold down the top spot in Philly.

We’ll leave the speculation to the roster projection websites, who mainly have him hitting ninth, and focus on what Hernandez will give fantasy managers regardless of where Gabe Kapler decides to slot him in. Consider the potential of him getting at-bats at the top of the lineup a boost to his already intriguing value.

The 28-year-old consistently gets on base as evidenced by a .339 or better on-base percentage in the last four seasons. This is supported by excellent walk and strikeout rates. Over the past four seasons, he’s averaged a 19.4% walk rate and a 10.4% strikeout rate. Despite a four-year low batting average of .253 in 2018, that was due to a dip in BABIP, Hernandez still managed an impressive .356 OBP. His .315 BABIP in 2018 was unusually low compared to his prior seasons. Fantasy managers can expect a bounce back in BABIP and BA in 2019. If he does stick at the top of the lineup, he could approach a career high in runs, possibly eclipsing the 100-run mark.

 

Seeing 20/20

In addition to on-base skills, another ideal attribute in a leadoff hitter is speed. Hernandez has produced 15-plus steals in each of the last four seasons with a high of 19 in both 2015 and 2018. The sustainability of the steals is a valid question as Hernandez recently suffered a grade one hip strain. Per reports, he’s already back taking batting practice which is a good sign for his availability for opening day or possibly sooner. He played through a broken foot last year, so his grit isn’t a question (more on the broken foot to follow). If he’s healthy for the full season, he is capable of grabbing 15 bags with room for more, as he had 14 in just the first half of 2018. Temper those expectations a bit until he’s back playing in games at full speed.

Based on Statcast data, Hernandez increased his launch angle to 9.4 degrees in 2018, a fairly significant increase from between 2.3 and 3.3 degrees in the prior three seasons. This resulted in a 9% increase in fly ball rate (to 33.6%) and a career-high 15 home runs in 2018. If he can maintain the fly ball rate, we can expect to get similar HR totals going forward, especially considering his exit velocity was essentially the same as the prior three years. Additionally, Citizens Bank Park ranks first in HR by righties, and sixth in HR by lefties (2017), which benefits Hernandez whether he's hitting from either side of the plate.

If he has a profile of a 15/15 player with upside for more, why is Hernandez so under-appreciated? Hernandez’s poor 2018 second half has dropped his draft stock in 2019. He broke his foot in July of 2018 and expressed his discomfort affecting his play for the remainder of the season. His stats suffered after the All-Star Break as he hit a slash of .228/.324/.333 with 5 steals, a sizable decline from his first half slash of .270/.378/.382 with 14 steals. The potential of a fully healthy season should have fantasy owners excited to select him around picks 150-175.

 

Bottom Line

Cesar Hernandez can certainly out-earn his current 175 ADP if he is healthy and maintains his increased launch angle and fly ball rate. A 15 HR/15 SB player with a .270-plus BA is a valuable fantasy asset regardless of lineup spot. Take Hernandez as a high-end backup 2B, as he offers the consistency that can’t be found with higher ADP guys like Moncada, Odor, or Dozier. Benefit from the consistency and immense upside if he hits at the top of a very dangerous Phillies lineup.

More Fantasy Baseball Sleepers and Undervalued Players




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Dallas Cowboys1 hour ago

Micah Parsons Expected To Play In Week 10
Dereck Lively II2 hours ago

A Late Scratch On Monday
2 hours ago

Amari Cooper Listed As Day-To-Day
2 hours ago

Joe Flacco Named Week 10 Starter
Robert Williams III2 hours ago

Returning On Monday
Jordan Hawkins2 hours ago

Out Versus The Blazers
Zion Williamson2 hours ago

Sidelined Again Versus Portland
Rudy Gobert2 hours ago

Available For Minnesota On Monday
Immanuel Quickley2 hours ago

Still Out On Monday
Jalen Smith3 hours ago

Available Against Jazz
Brandon Miller3 hours ago

Will Play Versus Minnesota
Josh Giddey3 hours ago

Suiting Up Monday
Lauri Markkanen3 hours ago

Sidelined Again On Monday Night
3 hours ago

Browns "Highly Unlikely" To Trade David Njoku
John Konchar3 hours ago

Ruled Out Monday Versus Nets
3 hours ago

Chase Brown Appears To Be OK Despite Suffering Bruised Rib
3 hours ago

Tee Higgins Estimated As DNP On Monday
3 hours ago

Jameson Williams' Suspension Is Lifted
4 hours ago

Alex Bregman Given Qualifying Offer
4 hours ago

Saquon Barkley Will Be Ready For Week 10 Despite Back Soreness
4 hours ago

Juan Soto Receives Qualifying Offer
Anthony Davis4 hours ago

Available Monday Versus Detroit
4 hours ago

A.J. Brown Considered "Day-To-Day"
Austin Reaves4 hours ago

Suiting Up Monday
4 hours ago

Tyler O'Neill Not Given Qualifying Offer, Headed To Free Agency
Ryan Blaney4 hours ago

Wins At Martinsville And Has Chance To Earn Second Straight Championship
4 hours ago

Bucky Irving Officially Active Against Chiefs
Christopher Bell4 hours ago

Penalized At Martinsville, Removed From Championship Four
D'Angelo Russell4 hours ago

Available Monday
4 hours ago

Nick Pivetta Receives Qualifying Offer
4 hours ago

Colin Rea Heading To Free Agency
4 hours ago

Tigers Decline Casey Mize's 2025 Club Option
4 hours ago

Drake London Considered Day-To-Day
Dean Wade4 hours ago

Won’t Play Against The Bucks
Caris LeVert5 hours ago

Remains Out Versus Milwaukee
Noah Clowney5 hours ago

Won’t Suit Up Versus Memphis
Ben Simmons5 hours ago

Out Against The Grizzlies
Kevin Huerter5 hours ago

Still Out On Monday Night
Jake Allen5 hours ago

Faces Oilers On Monday
Stephen Curry5 hours ago

Back For Monday’s Game
BOS5 hours ago

Tyler Johnson Signs One-Year Deal With Bruins
Giannis Antetokounmpo5 hours ago

Won’t Face The Cavs
Zach Benson5 hours ago

Considered "A Possibility" For Tuesday's Game
Artem Zub6 hours ago

Logs Full Practice On Monday
Bryan Rust6 hours ago

Will Join Penguins Road Trip
6 hours ago

Braves Exercise Marcell Ozuna's 2025 Option
Juraj Slafkovsky6 hours ago

Practices On Monday
Macklin Celebrini6 hours ago

Ready To Return On Tuesday
6 hours ago

David Fry To Miss 6-8 Months After Having Elbow Surgery
6 hours ago

Gerrit Cole, Yankees Agree To Stick Together
Samuel Ersson7 hours ago

Misses Monday Practice
Carolina Panthers7 hours ago

Panthers Haven't Decided Starting QB For Week 10
Connor McDavid8 hours ago

Ahead Of Schedule In Recovery
8 hours ago

Panthers Optimistic Jonathon Brooks Will Debut In Week 10
Philip Broberg8 hours ago

Will Miss Several Weeks With Lower-Body Injury
8 hours ago

Derek Carr To Start In Week 10 For Saints
Valeri Nichushkin8 hours ago

Will Return When First Eligible
8 hours ago

Texans Non-Committal On Nico Collins For Week 10
8 hours ago

Erick All Jr. Officially Out For The Year With Knee Injury
8 hours ago

Mike Macdonald "Optimistic" DK Metcalf Returns In Week 11
8 hours ago

CeeDee Lamb Tagged As Week-To-Week, Optimism He Can Play In Week 10
Tyler Reddick9 hours ago

Not A Factor At Martinsville And Looks Ahead To Phoenix
Kyle Larson9 hours ago

Misses Advancing Through Playoffs Despite Top-Three Finish
Brad Keselowski9 hours ago

Has A Solid Top-10 Performance At Martinsville
Chase Elliott9 hours ago

Loses Out On Winning At Martinsville
9 hours ago

49ers Open Christian McCaffrey's Practice Window
9 hours ago

No Timetable On Zack Moss' Return
9 hours ago

Dak Prescott Expected To Miss Multiple Weeks, IR Trip A Possibility
10 hours ago

Nathan Eovaldi Declines His Player Option
10 hours ago

Brewers Decline Option On Devin Williams
10 hours ago

Michael Wacha, Royals Agree To Three-Year Deal
10 hours ago

Braves Sign Reynaldo Lopez To Three-Year Deal
Rose Namajunas13 hours ago

Drops Decision Matchup
Erin Blanchfield14 hours ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Dustin Stoltzfus14 hours ago

Gets First-Round Knockout At UFC Edmonton
Zach Hyman14 hours ago

Records Two Points In Battle Of Alberta Win
Marc-Andre Barriault14 hours ago

Knocked Out At UFC Edmonton
Matt Boldy14 hours ago

Hits Overtime Winner Versus Toronto
Jared Spurgeon15 hours ago

Delivers Two Assists In Sunday's Win
Trevin Giles15 hours ago

Losses Third Fight In A Row
Alex Ovechkin15 hours ago

Extends Goal Streak To Four Games
Dmitry Orlov15 hours ago

Nets Two Goals Against Capitals
Jeremy Swayman15 hours ago

Collects First Shutout Of The Season
Connor Bedard15 hours ago

Records Three Assists In Sunday's Win
Mike Malott15 hours ago

Wins Decision At UFC Edmonton
NASCAR1 day ago

Speeding Penalty Foils Martin Truex Jr.'s Last Realistic Shot At Winning
Denny Hamlin1 day ago

Fails To Advance To Championship 4 But Runs Well
Shane Van Gisbergen1 day ago

Shane van Gisbergen Earns Best Oval Finish at Martinsville
William Byron1 day ago

Tentatively In Championship 4 Pending Ruling On Manufacturer Orders
MMA1 day ago

Ariane Lipski Submitted At UFC Edmonton
Jasmine Jasudavicius1 day ago

Gets Submission Win At UFC Edmonton
Caio Machado1 day ago

Still Winless In The UFC
Brendson Ribeiro1 day ago

Edges Out Split Decision At UFC Edmonton
Amir Albazi1 day ago

Falls Short At UFC Edmonton
Brandon Moreno1 day ago

Dominates At UFC Edmonton
Artturi Lehkonen1 day ago

Activated From Injured Reserve
NJ1 day ago

Nathan Bastian To Miss "Several Weeks"
Brayden Point1 day ago

Exits With Injury Sunday
2 days ago

Austin Barnes Returning To Los Angeles
2 days ago

David Robertson To Test Free Agency
2 days ago

Giants Exercise Club Option On Wilmer Flores
2 days ago

Owen Miller Shipped To Colorado
2 days ago

Merrill Kelly Staying In Arizona
2 days ago

Eloy Jimenez Headed To Free Agency
Daniel Suarez2 days ago

Will Start 20th At Martinsville
Zane Smith2 days ago

Might Be An Underrated Value Play For Martinsville
Tyler Reddick2 days ago

Is A Top DFS Recommendation For Martinsville Lineups
Joey Logano2 days ago

Will Be One To Watch At Martinsville
Brad Keselowski2 days ago

Should DFS Players Rely On Brad Keselowski For Martinsville Lineups?
Carson Hocevar2 days ago

Is A Great DFS Option For All Martinsville DFS Lineups
Ty Gibbs2 days ago

Is Ty Gibbs Worth Rostering At Martinsville This Week For DFS?
Austin Cindric2 days ago

Could Have A Top-20 Performance At Martinsville
William Byron2 days ago

Might Be Usable Only In DFS Tournaments At Martinsville
Chris Buescher2 days ago

Should DFS Players Roster Chris Buescher At Martinsville?
Alex Bowman2 days ago

Expect A Solid Top-10 Performance From Alex Bowman At Martinsville
2 days ago

Joc Pederson To Test Free Agency
2 days ago

Anthony Rizzo Headed To Free Agency
Rose Namajunas3 days ago

An Underdog At UFC Edmonton
Erin Blanchfield3 days ago

Returns At UFC Edmonton
Marc-Andre Barriault3 days ago

Dustin Stoltzfus Set To Face Marc-Andre Barriault At UFC Edmonton
Marc-Andre Barriault3 days ago

A Favorite At UFC Edmonton
Trevin Giles3 days ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Mike Malott3 days ago

Opens Up UFC Edmonton Main Card
Brendson Ribeiro4 days ago

Searching For 1st UFC Win At UFC Edmonton
Caio Machado4 days ago

Drops Down To Light Heavyweight At UFC Edmonton
Jhonata Diniz4 days ago

Gets Big Step-Up At UFC Edmonton

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP