RADIO
CURRENT ADP: 261
RANKINGS STATUS: Undervalued
ANALYSIS: There is no doubt that Jedd Gyorko's 2014 season went disastrously awry. He managed to hit just .210 with 10 HR as he was held back by plantar fasciitis in the first half. There is hope for a rebound, however, as there are numerous signs that last year's failures were injury driven and otherwise flukey.
Gyorko was a highly-touted prospect, drafted in the second round in 2010. Despite his horrific numbers last year, his plate discipline actually improved. His 8.1% walk rate was up from 6.3% in 2013. While this is obviously helpful in leagues that count walks or OBP, it is also a general indicator that Gyorko is maturing as a hitter.
Gyorko had some awful luck on batted balls. His .253 BABIP was 34 points lower than his 2013 mark of .287, which itself is lower than what we might expect considering Gyorko's healthy 22% line drive rate. He did get pull-happy last year with his grounders, making him susceptible to the shifts that led to so many down years in 2014. As Gyorko's power continues to develop and he starts putting more balls into the air, we should expect Gyorko's BABIP to improve.
Gyorko will probably never be a .300 hitter, as he is potentially vulnerable to the shift and still strikes out too much. He should be able to hit .260, though, which would go very nicely with the 20+ HR power he proved he was capable of in 2013. San Diego's active offseason should provide him with additional R and RBI opportunities, creating a desirable fantasy package that can be had on draft day for a song.
