Francisco Mejia (C, SD) - Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

Brady Grove profiles San Diego Padres backstop Francisco Mejia as a potential waiver wire acquisition of value for fantasy baseball leagues in Week 14 of the 2019 MLB campaign.

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OWNED IN: 24% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Highly-touted catching prospect Francisco Mejia has not had a great initial time at the highest level of baseball, and he actually got off to an awful start to 2019 through the 54 AB of April and May. He has only taken 23 AB to this point late in June, but he has taken those opportunities to turn things around at the plate in a major way. In that time (seven appearances, six starts), he has hit two home runs and produced a slash of .304/.385/.609. There have been a few key figures to drive this turnaround, and several that inspire enthusiasm towards Mejia as the season progresses.

Mejia went from striking out at rates of 27.3% and 42.9% for his time at the plate in April and May, to striking out at a much more workable rate of 15.4% while walking at a 7.7% clip for June. He is only producing 31.6% hard contact this month, but that doesn't negate too much from the product when he is producing fly balls at a 47.4% rate while turning pitches away at an 89 MPH exit velocity, 414-foot average home run distance, and 15.6-degree launch angle. Austin Hedges has been an obstacle to playing time for Francisco Mejia, but he has struggled immensely with a .577 OPS in 180 AB, and with his recent hot streak, he is a great option if you are in need at catcher in most standard leagues.