Ender Inciarte (OF, ATL) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

TARGET: Late Rounds (OF3/OF4)

CURRENT ADP: 217

ANALYSIS:

I know what you're thinking right now. "Why do I want anyone on the Braves?" To that I say lay off my team, we're 'rebuilding'. Jokes aside, there is value to be found in middling clubs and Ender Inciarte is one of them.

Part of the Shelby Miller trade that sent Dansby Swanson to Atlanta, Inciarte will enter 2016 as the Braves everyday center fielder and leadoff hitter. He'll set the table for Erick Aybar and Freddie Freeman, not the sexiest names but reliable contributors. Inciarte hit .303 in 561 PA for the Diamonbacks with 76 runs and 26 steals, useful counting stats in fantasy. He's especially effective versus right-handed pitchers, hitting .331 in 384 at-bats. In contrast he managed a paltry .229 versus lefties, although he did hit .273 versus LHP in 2014. The Braves contingency plan in center is Michael Bourn (.248 career versus LHP), so they will allow Inciarte to learn on the job.

Inciarte isn't going to be your fantasy MVP, but he's an excellent hitter in a leadoff spot that will allow him to reach 80 runs and 20 steals fairly easily with a .285+ average. Grab him later in your draft as a OF3/OF4 after the flashier names have passed.