7 years agoDavid Dahl had the very definition of a lost season in 2017. After looking like a future All-Star in 2016, Dahl was sidelined early in 2017 with a stress reaction in his rib cage. What was initially thought to be a two-week setback plagued Dahl throughout the year, and he logged just 82 plate appearances, all in the minor leagues and none after July. The good news is that Dahl has been fully cleared to resume baseball activities and is now slated to pick up where he left off in the fall of 2016. So, now a two-part question exists for Dahl. First, can Dahl stay healthy in 2018? Obviously, that’s difficult to answer. He has a history of severe injuries, having previously needed a splenectomy after a collision with a teammate, but that’s a freak injury that, for obvious reasons, can’t happen again. The rib cage issue is supposedly cleared up, but it was supposed to be cleared up last April too, so that’s more of a concern. Consider his health a bit of a risky proposition. So the second part of the question is what should be expected of Dahl if he were to remain fully healthy for a whole season? He hit .315 with seven home runs and five stolen bases in just 222 at-bats in 2016, so lots of people have high hopes for him. Unfortunately, those numbers were partially buoyed by a .404 BABIP, so hold back a little before crowning him as the second coming. That said, the good news is that he still has a high ceiling and could easily be a 15/15/.285 kind of player. Banking on the power is probably a bit risky since any lingering effects of that rib cage injury would sap the power, but he should still be a solid performer with lots of young upside. Assuming he wins a regular job out of spring training, where he’ll be competing with Gerardo Parra, Raimel Tapia, and possibly Ian Desmond for two spots, Dahl would be a strong late-round flyer for owners to take.--Billy Stonick - RotoBaller