January 8, 2021

A late-round/waiver wire option heading into the 2020 drafts, Wil Myers enjoyed a bounceback 2020 campaign. He posted a .288/.353/.606 line to go with 15 home runs, 40 RBI, and 34 runs in just 218 plate appearances. Myers saw huge increases in his power metrics, including a 3.6% increase in overall barrel rate (14.8%) and a 4.4% increase in his hard-hit rate (45.8%) as compared to 2019. In addition, his overall exit velocity of 91 mph was in the 82nd percentile in all of MLB. On the downside, the percentage of 100 mph fly balls he hit decreased by almost six percent, and the average exit velocity on his top-5% hardest-hit balls in the air decreased by almost two mph in 2020. Such large declines in these areas suggest that, while Myers appeared to be hitting the ball harder than ever, it is unlikely he would have remained on his 30 HR pace over the course of a full season. His average and on-base percentage performance in 2020 was justified by an elite xwOBA and xBA and he also posted a top 15% sprint speed of 28.3 ft/sec, despite just two steals. With the Padres clearing out their pre-2020 outfield logjam, Myers has a path to regular playing time in a potent lineup irrespective of whether the NL implements the designated hitter. As a result, an expectation of Myers' continued hitting renaissance is reasonable. With an ADP of 129, Myers is an enticing option for managers who may be rewarded with a .260 average, 20-25 HR, 70-80 RBI, and potentially up to 10 steals.--Nick Ritrivi - RotoBaller