RADIO
Robinson Chirinos Impresses With Power, Little Else
7 years agoTexas Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2018. Starting the season as the clear back-up to starter Jonathon Lucroy, the 33-year old won more opportunities by producing solidly at the plate with a .255/.360/.506 with 17 home runs and an 11% walk rate on 309 at-bats. His strong play came in stark contrast to the thoroughly underwhelming Lucroy, and he’ll enter 2018 as the expected starter for Texas. Unfortunately, more at-bats are likely to expose his weaknesses, as the veteran backstop has consistently struggled against right-handed pitching to the tune of a career .224/.303/.420 with a 24% strikeout rate versus .268/.357/.505 against lefties. The power is real, and he makes a good, end of the draft option for two-catcher leagues. If you have the roster space to platoon him, you could take advantage of his prowess against lefties, but it’s like you’ll need that roster spot elsewhere. As a real-life player, Chirinos is useful. But as a fantasy starter, Chirinos is undraftable.
