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Juan Yepez 2023 Player Outlook: Looking To Build On Solid Rookie Season
2 years agoSt. Louis Cardinals infielder and outfielder Juan Yepez enjoyed a solid debut season in the Majors last season. The 24-year-old hit .253 with a .296 on-base percentage and 12 home runs in 274 plate appearances for the National League Central club. And while he didn't draw a ton of walks or log a high on-base percentage, Yepez' wRC+ did finish nine points above the league average at 109. More importantly, he logged a quality 9.2% barrel rate. He also finished in the 95th percentile league-wide in max exit velocity with a 114.4 MPH metric. In other words, the power production in Yepez's numbers looks entirely sustainable. Elsewhere, the rookie saw playing time at first base, third base, and both outfield corners in 2022, giving him quality fantasy upside and potential with his power upside and multi-positional eligibility. The only question is how often Yepez will play. St. Louis has Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado entrenched at the infield corners, with Tyler O'Neil, Lars Nootbaar, Brendan Donovan, and Alec Burleson in the corner outfield mix. Still, with the designated hitter spot open, there should be enough opportunity for Yepez to carve out a somewhat regular role at minimum.
