Alex Avila (C/1B, DET) - Waiver Wire Pickups

Pierre Camus recommends AL C/1B Alex Avila as a fantasy baseball waiver wire pickup and add in Week 9 of 2017 for his exceptional average and power stroke early on.

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team, Two-Catcher Leagues

OWNED IN: 37% of Yahoo Leagues

ANALYSIS: Alex Avila's return to the Detroit Tigers has been a triumphant one so far. After one year in exile with the White Sox, Avila has not only reclaimed the starting catcher job, he's earning himself a spot on many fantasy rosters too. Avila is hitting a shockingly high .337 over 86 at-bats, but with a .469 BABIP that is 126 points above his career average, it's not going to last too much longer. This is still a good time to strike while the iron is hot, especially considering two important factors. 1) At a thin catcher position, he ranks third in batting average, fifth in home runs, and sixth in RBI. 2) His competition, James McCann, is on the disabled list with a hand laceration, so Avila will be getting everyday playing time for at least the next week.

There are some red flags to Avila's long-term value, as he has pulled a switcheroo on his batting profile early this season. His 0.58 GB/FB rate took a huge dive from last year's 2.29. His 25% HR/FB rate will also regress eventually, as will his 56.1% hard contact rate, which is 20 points higher than his career mark. Avila is seeing the ball especially well the first part of this season and making the most of his contact, so grab him now in any league that you don't own a top-10 catcher already. Just be prepared to make another move at the position by the All-Star break when reality sets in.