Cesar Hernandez (2B) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: Ever since his breakout in 2015 Cesar Hernandez has gone from strength to strength. In 2015, he hit one home run, had 19 steals and a .272 average. In 2016, he then hit six HRs and upped the average to .294. Then in 2017, he hit nine HRs and retained that .294 average. Now in 2018, he already has two HRs and five steals in 20 games and 88 plate appearances. The average is a little bit down but still sits at .278 and this early in the season averages can change quickly. I still expect him to be in the .280 - .300 region come the end of the season.

Hernandez is locked into the leadoff spot in Philadelphia and is therefore seeing a ton of plate appearances. He is also part of a very good line-up that feels pretty complete from top to bottom. What that means is that despite hitting leadoff he is getting both run scoring, 15, and RBI, eight, opportunities. Usually being a leadoff hitter means a hitter is limited to provide a good amount of runs scored but he struggles with RBI. Hernandez is currently on pace for 120 runs and 64 RBI which will be a great return for a leadoff hitter.

If you then add in the power we have seen far and the willingness to go steal bases early in the season then we are looking at a four category player, who is also providing some value in the fifth category, RBIs. Hernandez is a threat to hit somewhere in the region of 15 HRs and with his current pace he could smash his personal best in steals, 19, and end up somewhere in the region of 30 stolen bases. If he returns anywhere near those numbers then he is going to end up being a top-10 second baseman in 2018.