RADIO
Kyle Ringstad profiles Padres outfielder Franchy Cordero as a waiver wire pickup and add in Week 12 of the 2018 MLB season for his return from injury and power/speed combo.
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues
OWNED IN: 6% of leagues
ANALYSIS: 23-year-old outfielder Franchy Cordero has been on the disabled list since May 28th due to a right forearm strain but is just one or two more Triple-A rehab starts away from making his return to the San Diego Padres lineup. He makes for a very interesting waiver wire flier, as his current stats and impressive batted ball metrics both point to continued fantasy production. While his batting average (.237), OBP (.307), and strikeout rate (35.7%) leave a lot to be desired, he has notched an impressive seven home runs and five stolen bases in just 139 at-bats before his injury. Cordero's 9.1 % walk rate and .202 ISO are also encouraging surface numbers, but his batted ball profile is where he really shines. For a minimum of 50 Batted Ball Events in 2018, Cordero ranks 18th among qualified batters in Hard Hit % (49.4%), right in between Mookie Betts and Nelson Cruz. For another comparison, the MLB average for Hard Hit % is 35%. He also ranks 22nd in Average Exit Velocity (92.6%), 41st in Barrels/Batted Ball Event (12.9), and 2nd in Average Home Run Distance (439 feet). Cordero also knocked the 2018 season's longest home run at a whopping 489 feet - this kid clearly has what the scouts would call "plus power" in his bat. Current projections have his power leveling off a bit and his average rising, but the potential for a 15+ HR, 15+ SB season is real and his current ownership levels do not reflect that. Cordero could easily become a waiver wire gem as he is capable of boosting valuable fantasy categories in home runs, extra-base hits, and steals. Just be aware that he could have a negative impact on your batting average, on-base percentage, and strikeouts when evaluating his potential to help your team.
