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Matt Carpenter 2020 Outlook: Can The Veteran Bounce Back In 2020?
5 years agoTo say that Matt Carpenter had a disappointing season in 2019 would be an understatement. After a career year in 2018, the veteran took a monumental step backwards by hitting .226 with 15 HR, 59 R, 46 RBI, and six SB in 129 games. Hanging with the league's best hitters in Statcast metrics in 2018, he set career-lows across the board in Barrel% (7.8%), Exit Velocity (87.2 MPH), and Hard Hit% 31.1% last year. Carpenter has remained a fairly consistent hitter over his career, so it's a bit bizarre to see his numbers fall off a cliff in one season. The three-time All-Star admitted he played the majority of the season with a shoulder injury, and after a cortisone shot at the start of September, he did go on to hit .267 over the final month. While that news is somewhat encouraging, the fact remains there are several younger players ready to insert themselves into the everyday Cardinals lineup. Carpenter's 343 ADP has attainable return value at a low cost if he can hold off the youngsters and return to the top of the batting order in 2020.
