Kike Hernandez (2B/SS/OF, BOS) - Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups

3 years ago by Andrew Ericksen

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12-Team Leagues

ROSTERED IN: 40% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Boston Red Sox infielder/outfielder Kike Hernandez returned from the injured list this past week and was reinserted right back into the top of the team's lineup right away. He led off each of his first three games back upon his return and went on to record six hits including a double and a home run while scoring three runs.

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The Red Sox currently rank second in the league in both team batting average (.266) and team runs scored (232). They also rank first in the league in total at-bats (1,536). So clearly there's a lot value in just the base element of being the leadoff hitter for the hot-hitting Red Sox - especially in points leagues where high at-bats totals are gold.

Hernandez's solid start to the year also suggests that he'll remain the team's leadoff hitter for the foreseeable future.

Over 33 games this year, Hernandez is slashing .260/.312/.457 with five home runs, eight doubles, 12 RBI and 22 runs. His low walk rate (6%) is a bit concerning, especially for a leadoff hitter, but he's been able to maintain double-digit walk rates for multiple years in the past, so it's very reasonable to think he can get that number up this year, which will help increase his on-base percentage and runs.

Hernandez should be added in all leagues of 12 teams or deeper. His positional versatility varies based on the platform you play on, but his triple 2B/SS/OF eligibility on multiple platforms gives him extra value.