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Steve Janik breaks down MLB's most recent spring training news, notes, risers, injuries and position battles for 2021 fantasy baseball drafts.
Welcome to the 2021 edition of RotoBaller's Spring Training Notebook. I began this column a year ago, and made it about four or five articles in when Major League Baseball decided to shut things down, just like everything else around the globe, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We've finally made it to (real?) baseball games. Spring training games have officially begun and now we finally have some semblance of substance with a player's performance. There are still going to be some free agent moves, injuries, and roster moves from here on out, but a lot of our discourse here will be performance related, as it pertains to fantasy baseball. However, keep in mind we still have a full month of exhibition games, so everything should still be taken with an enormous grain of salt.
As fantasy baseball managers, we must perform our due diligence in understanding every team's situation heading into the season. There's so many names to keep track of so it's crucial to find a place where the most important information is in one spot. Here at RotoBaller, we have everything you need for success this season, and I'll do my part here as I bring you a quick-read, one-stop shop of 2021 spring training information with a fantasy twist.
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Injuries
Chapman Working Back From Surgery
Oakland Athletic's star Matt Chapman (shoulder) made his return to the lineup Monday, following offseason shoulder surgery. The 27-year-old served as the DH and doubled before being removed from the game. Reports say he'll assume that roll in his first few games back before taking some in-game reps at third base later in the week. He's going around pick 115, which is solid value for a hitter with a career .248 ISO, but last year's 35 K% is definitely a part of his game that will need some work to get him back into the Top 10 conversation at his position.
Polanco Set To Take Over At Keystone
Minnesota Twins infielder Jorge Polanco (ankle) is working his way back from a second offseason ankle surgery. Now the 27-year-old is going to shift from shortstop over to playing second base. It will be interesting to see how Polanco can balance the new position, fully recovering from surgery, all while trying to get the power back that saw him hit 22 home runs in 2019. His 218 ADP is a deflated number, but once he gains multi-position eligibility and if he finds his power stroke again, he could wind up being a solid value pick in the later rounds.
Jorge Polanco Feeling Healthy And Ready To Play Second Base https://t.co/7fol9jHu3u
— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) March 1, 2021
Franmil Reyes Working Off Bum Ankle
Cleveland Indians outfielder Franmil Reyes (ankle) singled and walked in his spring debut as the DH Monday. The slugger came into camp with the injury but it's encouraging he was able to hit in just the second exhibition game. He's just 25 and earned his place as the power hitter in this Cleveland lineup, slugging 10 homers in 59 games last year after dropping 37 bombs in 2019. An impressive addition to his game was the 10 BB% last season as well. As the DH, the ankle shouldn't cause too much of a concern, but his limited position eligibility makes his 152 ADP on the line between value and "just right."
Rendon Sits Monday
Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon (soreness) sat out Monday's spring training game. Of all the ailments in the baseball world, soreness is the least worrisome; however, you wouldn't expect most players to be sore before the second game. Nonetheless, don't look into this too much unless it lingers. He's flirting with a Top 5 third base rank in early 2021 fantasy drafts.
Bogaerts Dealing With A Sore Shoulder
Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (shoulder) has been dealing with a sore wing, said manager Alex Cora on Monday. The team is obviously going to be careful with the slugger that has 67 home runs in the last three seasons. At 28, Bogaerts is being overlooked a little bit and is being drafted as the seventh shortstop off the board, which could wind up as a great value if he puts out a similar season to his 2019 campaign when he slashed .309/.384/.555 with 33 homers and 117 RBI.
Xander Bogaerts Has A Sore Shoulder https://t.co/fEI1UIRSb0
— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) March 1, 2021
Around The Diamond
Hendricks Wants The Ball
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks is anxious to be named the team's opening day starter. After earning the role in 2020, the 31-year-old knows it's no guarantee to happen again. He threw two shutout innings Monday, allowing just one hit while striking out two and walking one. He's not a strikeout guy by any means, but the righty is an innings eater with a career 3.12 ERA.
Taillon Returns To Mound
New York Yankees starting pitcher Jameson Taillon threw in a game for the first time since 2019 on Monday. He needed just seven pitches to get three outs, including a strikeout. The efficiency is something that followed him through the minors as a Pirate farmhand, but now with his new team, he has a fresh start following two Tommy John surgery's and a full recovery from testicular cancer. Taillon is 29 and still looking to stake his claim as a former number two overall draft pick. Of course, if he is able to live up to expectations we briefly saw in his time in Pittsburgh, his 219 ADP could prove to be incredible value in mixed leagues.
Jameson Taillon Efficient On Monday https://t.co/DkaZbqOPCL
— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) March 2, 2021
Sanchez Power Stroke On Show
New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez had just one plate appearance Monday and he used it to hit a 429-foot home run. No one has ever questioned his ability to mash baseballs, with 115 homers in 421 career games, but his career-high 36 K% and career-low .147 average in 2020 were definitely down points in his career thus far. Sanchez has a long way to go to get back to being the top rated fantasy catcher. If he can even find his way back to the .232 average of 2019, his 175 ADP will provide some nice value for managers.
Keller Struggles In Spring Debut
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller made his spring debut Monday, starting a game against the Toronto Blue Jays. He had his issues, allowing two runs on three hits, but finished his outing by striking out Danny Jansen on a 97 mph fastball. He rose through the Pirates system to be named the team's top prospect, but has had a rough go of things, registering a 2-6 record with a 5.81 ERA over 69.2 innings. Due to the state of this Pirates roster, Keller is going undrafted in a lot of formats, but if he is able to find his way back to his minor league form, a 310 ADP could make the 24-year-old one of the better post-hype sleepers this season.
Glasnow Carries Inconsistent Ways Into 2021
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow threw 1.2 innings Monday. He allowed two runs, on two hits, while walking and striking out a trio each and also serving up a home run in his second inning of work. Glasnow has proven to have some of the nastiest stuff in baseball, but in turn he has showed some incredible volatility when it comes to his control, coupled with his injury history. Fantasy managers can expect high strikeout totals but shouldn't be surprised by a blow up effort every few starts. His 51 ADP is fair given his upside and as long as he can stay healthy to start the season.
Closer Battle Brewing In Beantown
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Matt Barnes and Adam Ottavino will duke it out to be the team's closer to start this season. The former is the front runner after notching nine saves in the COVID shortened 2020 season, but a lessened K% and a 13 BB% along with a 23 HR/FB% make you raise your eyebrows a bit. Closer roles have become one of the most volatile positions in all of fantasy sports, but this is a situation worth monitoring through the rest of the spring.
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