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Randal Grichuk 2021 Outlook: Nothing More Than One-Dimensional Pop Despite Career Year
4 years agoRandal Grichuk enjoyed a career year for the Blue Jays in 2020, slashing .273/.312/.481 with 12 homers over 231 PAs. Sadly, his peripherals don't suggest that anything has changed. His batting average spike was largely the result of an improved 21.2 K% more than six points better than his career mark of 27.7%. His SwStr% improved (11.2 vs. 14% career), but nearly all of it was because of a career-best 70.2 O-Contact%. When it came to pitches in the strike zone, Grichuk's performance was in line with his career norms (84.3 Z-Contact% vs. 83.3 career). Worse, his newfound ability to make contact with bad pitches led to a career-worst chase rate of 37.3%. His FB% also fell from 42.1% in 2019 to 36.7% last year, a problem considering that fantasy managers want guys like this to hit as many flies as possible. Grichuk can work as a one-dimensional power guy in fantasy, as last season's 11.2% rate of Brls/BBE and 95.9 mph average airborne exit velocity can attest. However, he'll strike out too often and hurt your batting average. Toronto is also projected to have the 29-year-old hit seventh, a role that won't produce too many counting stats. The profile works at his ADP of 188 as long as you're realistic about what you're adding to your roster.
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