Odubel Herrera (OF, PHI) - Waiver Wire Pickups

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OWNED IN: 58 percent of Fleaflicker leagues

ANALYSIS: Plucked away from the Rangers in the Rule 5 draft, Odubel Herrera came out of nowhere as a rookie last season to hit .297 with eight homers and 16 steals for the Phillies. A look at his peripherals indicated some cause for concern. He struck out in nearly a quarter of his plate appearances, and walked only five percent of the time. Though he had the speed and batted ball profile to maintain a high BABIP, his .387 mark seemed unlikely to repeat. It was clear that Herrera would need to make some adjustment to build on his excellent first season.

It’s still early, but Herrera has virtually transformed as a hitter. Not only has he cut his whiff rate by over eight percentage points, he’s already drawn 24 walks. That’s four fewer than he managed all of last season, in over 400 fewer plate appearances. Herrera’s not likely to maintain this pace all season, but he’s continued to hit for a high average with modest pop and speed.