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Yuli Gurriel A Tough Bet To Improve On 2017 Numbers
7 years agoHouston Astros first basemen Yuli Gurriel really came into his own in his second year in the major leagues, hitting .299 with 18 home runs and 75 runs batted in. The 32-year old became an integral cog in last year's dangerous Houston lineup but can he take his game to the next level this season? That remains to be seen and some numbers support the possibility of a slight regression. Gurriel was money with runners in scoring position, hitting .315 with 57 runs batted in during 137 at-bats in that situation last year. He also saw plenty of success against right-handers, posting a slashline of .317/.344/.521 with 15 home runs and 33 doubles against righties. If he can duplicate those numbers he could drive in more than 90 runs. Chances are Gurriel could be in line for a slight dip in batting average and may not drive in as many runs. All of this is also capped by his surgery on his hamate bone, which could mean that he will not see the field until the middle of May. With the first base position representing one of the deepest positions in fantasy, Gurriel will be no more than an above average bench piece in upcoming drafts.
Source: Houston Astros
Source: Houston Astros
