Willy Adames (SS, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups Week 8

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OWNED IN: 32% of Leagues

ANALYSIS: Before being called up in 2018, Willy Adames was regarded as a high-floor, five-tool prospect who profiled as a perennial All-Star. Despite hitting 20 HR last year, Adames came into this season well outside the top-15 fantasy shortstops. Recently, however, he’s been making a strong argument for a place alongside guys like Jorge Polanco and Dansby Swanson. Adames’ 22 runs, five HR, 15 RBI, and .311 average have pushed him up to the 12^th most valuable shortstop in standard formats.

In the last week, Adames has popped two more homers and three doubles as he’s driven his batting average up to .311 for the season. He is playing nearly every day in a Rays’ lineup that has been the fifth-best in the league. The combination ensures respectable counting stats to complement Adames's power and average.

To be fair, there’s been some significant luck as evidence in Adames’ .458 BABIP, but there’s also been real growth in his launch angle, which has increased from 10.7° to 14.2° this season, and his hard-hit rate has improved from 29.6% in 2018 to 35.3% in 2019 to 44.2% this year. That’s the kind of year-over-year improvement that managers want to see in a 24-year-old. Adames’ average will certainly regress to something closer to .260 or .270, but even with that regression, he should provide valuable counting stats to managers who need help at shortstop.