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Atlanta Braves outfielder Joc Pederson is a fantasy baseball waiver wire pickup and add in Week 17 of the 2021 MLB season. I break down why he can help and continue to help your team.
BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 12+ teams
ROSTERED IN: 37% of leagues
ANALYSIS: The Braves wasted no time when Ronald Acuna Jr. went down to acquire a replacement. They didn't feel like they had a suitable one on the roster for their impending playoff run, so they sent Bryce Ball to the Cubs for Pederson. On the surface, it may look like a bit of a peculiar deal. Pederson doesn't fit the role of a prototypical leadoff hitter, a role which he was filling for the Cubs.
His .234 average is right on par with his career mark of .231, but Pederson's OBP is consistently around 33-34%. It sits a little low at .302 this season. Will that go up, or are we just chasing a hot streak with a new team? Let's take the journey and find out.
Pederson has four RBI in his first five games as a member of the Braves and seems to be fitting into the order well so far. However, the xBA of .235 suggests that he's not getting unlucky. He's just the epitome of a boom-or-bust player. In the 1980's, he would have been a left-handed Rob Deer. Pederson is a classic masher. His 113.6 mph max exit velocity is in the 95th percentile. The 91.2 mph average exit velocity is in the 83rd percentile. His hard hit percentage of 47.5 is the highest of his career.
Most of Pederson's metrics line up with his 2019 season, which was his most productive season in the majors. Pederson hit .249, a career best, and 36 homers, also a career best in a relatively modest 450 at bats. The power is still there. After a slow April in which Pederson hit just one homer the entire month, he picked it up in May with a .314 average, but still only hit three homers. The power arrived in June with seven homers, but the .211 average left a lot to be desired. So far in July, Pederson has 10 RBI in 11 starts and has only struck out three times. That's leaving fantasy owners with a glimmer of hope for the average.
So, will Pederson find middle ground with the Braves? He is hitting lefties better this year than he ever has, but it still hasn't helped his average much. The .276 BABIP is right in line with his career numbers, so don't expect much help there either. Pederson will provide the same thing for you that he provides for the Braves: power. He should get a boost in RBI playing in this lineup and a boost in runs scored as well, but he will hurt your batting average at some point. For now, enjoy the boost that the change of scenery is providing.
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