RADIO
Sean Scampton profiles outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. as a waiver wire pickup and add in Week 13 of the 2018 MLB season for his speed.
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues
OWNED IN: 35% of leagues
ANALYSIS: After dealing with injury and ineffectiveness throughout 2018, Texas Rangers outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. is starting to do some things. The season line of .227/.329/.305 inspires little confidence despite the respectable 15 steals, but over the last couple of weeks the 25-year-old is showing real improvement at the plate. In his last 10 games, DeShields has hit .344/.488/.375. Ignore his power deficiencies, you are here for runs and steals; the only way he gets runs and steals is by getting on base.
There are two issues that have kept DeShields from getting the most out of his abilities: strikeouts and fly balls. The youngster has improved his K rate every year since 2016, but his strikeout rate still sits at 20.7%. This is too high for a slap hitter with no semblance of pop; seriously, this season he has a .079 ISO. For a hitter with so little power, hitting flyballs is bad news. However, over the last couple of weeks, DeShields has improved his approach, with a sparkling 2/1 BB/K ratio, and is hitting fewer flyballs than ever.
For the season, 29.6% of Deshields' contact has resulted in flyballs. For the last 10 games, that rate is just 16%. His groundball rate has jumped from 51.4% to 68% as well. If DeShields continues this trend, his steals and runs, especially with a finally healthy lineup around him, will shoot up. Grab him in deeper leagues if you can get him, and if you are hungry for steals in a 10-team or 12-team, he is worth the pickup.
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