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Rafael Devers 2020 Outlook: Will the Breakout Be Believed?
5 years agoYou might not realize it, but as the title implies, Boston Red Sox Rafael Devers was a top-10 fantasy player in 2019, and in fact, was the number-six overall player according to Yahoo. On his way to spinning fantasy gold across 4.5 categories, Devers had a career year by slashing .311/.361/.555 with 32 home runs, 115 RBI, 129 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. The .311 AVG may be a little much to expect again in 2020, with his .338 BABIP likely to regress back to the mean; but a .295 xBA (and a .284 AVG in 2017) makes it easy to believe that Devers' .240 AVG in 2018 was just a glitch in his average matrix. It probably isn't prudent to expect the bonus of the eight stolen bases that Devers wrangled last year, though, as he stole his last base on June 5 and only made five more attempts the remainder of the season - with his final attempt coming on August 13. Even without the stolen bases, and with a little less batting average, Devers will still be a fantasy monster if he puts up similar counting numbers to last season. Currently being taken as the number-five third baseman - with a 23 ADP in NFBC - Devers could somehow end up again being a steal on draft day in 2020, even after the numbers he put up in 2019.
