RADIO
Jon Berti 2020 Outlook: Versatile Speedster Offers Good Value
5 years agoOnly on a team like the Marlins would a guy like Jon Berti seem to be able to carve out a role for himself. A career minor leaguer, Berti began the season at Triple-A, which had been the highest level of his career to that point since 2011. But he ultimately took advantage of an opportunity to crack a Marlins roster that resembled a slight step up from the Triple-A level and Berti morphed into a the team’s leadoff hitter and super utility man in his age 29 season. He stole 17 bases in just 256 at-bats, and his Sprint Speed of 29.8 ranked 13th in MLB, indicating there is real SB upside with more playing time to come over a full season in 2020. He also sprinkled in six homers while fashioning a respectable BA of .273. His Hard Hit % of 37.5 does point to him being able to remain competitive at the plate as does his LD% of 26.2. Berti played shortstop, third base and the outfield, and ideally Miami would like to utilize him similarly this year, although he could be pressed into regular duty at any of those positions. Don Mattingly seems to like flexible types like Berti and he proved he could hold his own in MLB last season. For an ADP of 241.89 Berti is a very appealing deep mixed league choice for some real speed and flexibility. There will be consistent at-bats for him with the potential to hit leadoff often.
