5 years agoNick Ahmed isn't a name to be targeted when filling your shortstop position, but he's shown solid improvement three straight years and is a good late-round option in deeper leagues or leagues that utilize a middle infield spot. Last season, Ahmed slashed .254/.316/.437 while racking up 19 home runs, 82 RBI, 79 runs, and eight stolen bases, all career-highs. Those numbers are a little high as Ahmed played 158 games, but there were skill-based improvements as well to back up his career-year. Ahmed improved his batted ball metrics three straight seasons culminating in career highs last year in hard-hit rate (33.8 percent), barrel rate (6.6 percent) and average exit velocity (87.5 MPH). While those numbers don't jump off the page, it's a good sign he was able to improve his batted ball numbers while maintaining strong plate-discipline metrics. His 18.1 percent strikeout rate was a career-best and his walk rate has gone up three straight years as well. The UConn product won't be a superstar, especially if he continues to hit over 48 percent ground balls, but he is a solid player that can be had for free late in drafts or on waivers. Expect Ahmed to bat near .250 again with 15-20 home runs and a few steals as well making him a nice player to have for roster depth.--Mike Schwarzenbach - RotoBaller