RADIO
Miguel Andujar 2020 Outlook: A Third Baseman for Gamblers
5 years agoAfter a prodigious 2018 during which he hit 27 home runs, Miguel Andujar suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder that effectively ended his season with just 49 at-bats. He enters 2020 without a position and an extraordinary level of uncertainty. Andujar’s injury was initially regarded as severe but potentially recoverable without surgery. Six weeks after suffering the injury, the Yankees brought him back and gave him nine games to find his swing. Andujar was so ineffective in those nine games that the Yankees opted to send him for season-ending surgery. Labrum injuries are notorious for sapping power, and Andujar was already a risky investment because of his low-walk, high-strikeout tendencies. Moreover, because Andujar comes into the season without third-base eligibility, owners will need another player to fill that gap at the start of the season. At pick 237, Andujar represents a value play. He’s low cost and offers top-100 value, but extraordinarily risky. His ceiling is probably a repeat of his rookie year. His floor is a player who ends up being platooned as the Yankees give him time to recover. Despite the uncertainty, Andujar projects for a .270 BA, 22 HR, 70 R, and 75 RBI.
