BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~150
CURRENT ADP: ~170 overall
ANALYSIS: Jorge Polanco was fantastic in the first half of 2020, earning his first all-star nomination. He ended up playing in a career-high 153 games and hitting .295 with a .841 OPS. Polanco had career highs in .190 ISO and 22 home runs, fueled by an increased launch angle and jump up in average exit velocity. He's 26-years-old and about to enter the prime of his career. Like his teammate Max Kepler, he gets a boost based on the fact that he plays on an elite offensive team and is expected to hold a prominent spot in the batting order for a stacked lineup.
Polanco did have offseason ankle surgery which may be part of the reason why his ADP sits at 170. However, his above average walk rate (8.5%) and lower than average strikeout rate (16.5%) give him a great floor in most leagues, but particularly in leagues that factor in OBP. With the depth of the shortstop position, many fantasy owners are waiting on the position, but Polanco would be a tremendous option as a shortstop in deep leagues or a middle-infielder in shallower leagues.
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