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Joey Wendle 2021 Player Outlook: Serviceable Production at Multiple Positions
Tampa Bay Rays infielder Joey Wendle saw his stat line improve almost across the board in 2020 despite many of his advanced metrics taking a dip. He slashed .286/.342/.435 with a .149 ISO and a 19 percent strikeout rate and 5.4 percent walk rate over 50 games. With the exception of the strikeout rate, all of those marks were his best since 2018. That performance came in spite of career-worst performances in exit velocity (86.7 mph), launch angle (5.2 degrees), hard-hit rate (32.1%). It appears that a good chunk of his 2020 performance was based in luck, as he posted a career-high 10.8 percent HR/FB rate (despite posting his second-worst fly ball rate of 27.6%) and a .338 BABIP (24 points higher than his career-average entering 2020). And when you look at his .256 xBA and .377 xSLG, it seems likely managers shouldn't expect a repeat of last season. Wendle can slot in at second base, third base or shortstop, and he should be able to provide about a .270 average with a ceiling of 10 home runs and 15 steals. His value will mostly come in 12-team or deeper leagues, but in 10-team leagues he should be considered nothing more than a waiver-wire pick-up if managers need to replace an injured player.
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