RADIO
Danny Jansen 2023 Player Outlook: Health and Playing Time A Concern
2 years agoOver the past two seasons, Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen has shown what made him a top prospect before his debut in 2018, posting a 124 wRC+. This year he really hit his stride, smacking 15 home runs with a .260 average, one stolen base, 34 runs, and 44 RBI across 72 games. Jansen has the tools; he owns a 19.9% career strikeout rate and 8.7% barrel rate and produced back-to-back seasons with an average exit velocity of at least 90 MPH. The 27-year-old started hitting a ton of fly balls in 2022 (32.4%) and pulled them an insane amount (41.6%). Regardless, fantasy managers should play it cautiously. Not only did Jansen only appear in 72 games with multiple injuries, but he only played 70 games the previous year. Even if he stays healthy, everyday at-bats aren't a guarantee. Although the Blue Jays traded Gabriel Moreno, they still employ Alejandro Kirk, who was the superior defender by multiple metrics, and Jansen will have to split designated hitter duties with Brandon Belt. The backstop's 186 ADP would be a steal if he had constant playing time and a healthy track record, but fantasy managers should buy into more of a guarantee.
