Christian Villanueva

Christian Villanueva

33-Year-Old Third Baseman3B
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Christian Villanueva in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Released by the Padres in November of 2018.
Staying in Japan
3BFree Agent  
December 5, 2019
Villanueva signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters on Thursday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
ANALYSIS
The 28-year-old was sold to the Yomiuri Giants prior to the 2019 season, and he will remain in Japan in 2020 after signing with the Nippon-Ham Fighters. Villanueva performed well in his last major-league action, hitting .236/.299/.450 with 20 home runs and 46 RBI over 110 games in 2018 for the Padres before a broken finger cut his season short.
Read More News
Batting Stats
Loading Batting Stats...
2018
2017
2018 MLB Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Sorare
Loading Batting Game Log...
2017 MLB Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Sorare
Loading Batting Game Log...
Minor League Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Minor League Batting Game Log...
Advanced Batting Stats
Loading Advanced Batting Stats...
Additional Stats
Games By Position
Defensive Stats
Loading Games Played by Position...
Loading MLB Defensive Stats...
Batted Ball Stats
Loading Batted Ball Stats...
Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
Loading Matchup Stats...
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Christian Villanueva See More
The Z Files: Second Chances
May 10, 2019
Todd Zola looks at the pre and post-Memorial Day hitting leaderboards from 2018 to examine how much fortunes can change over the rest of the season, as they did last year for Max Muncy.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
August 26, 2018
Jan Levine analyzes the top free agents in the National League, including Wilmer Difo, who will take over at second base for the departed Daniel Murphy.
FanDuel MLB: Tuesday Value Plays
August 21, 2018
Derek VanRiper explores Tuesday's FanDuel slate, recommending Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado against the visiting Padres.
DraftKings MLB: Tuesday Picks
August 21, 2018
Derek VanRiper explores Tuesday's DraftKings slate in depth, recommending Rays hurler Blake Snell against visiting Kansas City.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2012
The former prospect finally found sustained big-league work with the rebuilding Padres and left the yard 20 times before a fractured middle finger ended his season in September. The 27-year-old connected with the eighth-highest average launch angle per Statcast (21 degrees) and posted the 10th-highest flyball rate (47.2%) for batters with 350-plus plate appearances. However, Villanueva struggled to make consistent contact (27.1 K%), he was abysmal against same-handed pitching (.189/.225/.319 vs RHP, compared to .336/.392/.726 vs LHP) and he was a net negative on defense. The Padres, intent on removing Villanueva from the 40-man roster, sold his rights to the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Perhaps Villanueva will resurface in affiliated ball in a year or two, but don't hold your breath.
Villanueva spent much of the decade as a promising prospect in first the Rangers' and then the Cubs' system. But as he approached the majors, Villanueva was first blocked by Kris Bryant and then, last year, hampered by a season-ending broken leg. The Padres signed Villanueva as a free agent, and he rewarded them by destroying opposing pitchers in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Villanueva significantly improved upon his first Triple-A stint back in 2015, as he showed improved plate discipline and power. He was explosive in 12 games for the big club, too, as he mashed four homers and a double over just 32 at-bats. The Padres have a few options at third base, including Cory Spangenberg and Chase Headley, but with a strong spring training, Villanueva could force his way into the Opening Day mix.
Once the 2017 season rolls around, more than a year will have elapsed since Villanueva last took the field. However, he'd shown improvement in his last minor league showing, which came at Triple-A Iowa in 2015. Although his .259 batting average comes off as underwhelming to some, it was a drastic improvement over 2014's dismal mark of .211. Largely due to newfound power that resulted in 43 extra-base hits over 123 games, his wOBA also trended in the right direction and rose to .330, up from .315. Unfortunately, while his batting improved his fielding regressed to the tune of a .931 fielding percentage, making him a liability at the hot corner. At 25 years old, Villanueva has never taken a major-league at-bat and has filled the job of organizational depth up to this point. His chances of contributing in 2017 improved after he signed a minor league deal with the Padres during the offseason.
Kris Bryant zoomed past Villanueva on the organizational depth chart, but that doesn't mean there aren't some interesting things in Villanueva's skill set. The 24-year-old third baseman hit just .257 in the minors last year, but he drove in 95 runs - including 88 for Triple-A Iowa - and had a much-improved 39:85 BB:K in 2015. His home-run power abandoned him in an injury-plagued 2014, but he bounced back with 20 home runs last year. No, he's not going to supplant Bryant, but the Cubs might find some use for him, either as a backup corner infielder or a decent trading chip.
With 19 home runs and a .786 OPS with Double-A Tennessee in 2013, Villanueva came into 2014 with optimism. Unfortunately, his bat abandoned him at Triple-A Iowa, as he struck out 64 times and hit just six home runs in 64 games. He was sent back down to Tennessee and didn't fare much better, hitting four home runs in 234 at-bats. With Kris Bryant about ready to start his major league career at the hot corner, Villanueva will need to find another position - or organization - if he wants to make an impact in the big leagues.
Villanueva spent the year with Double-A Tennessee and had 62 extra-base hits, but his 34:117 BB:K ratio indicates he still has some work to do at the plate. There are a lot of options for the hot corner in Chicago, and Kris Bryant is definitely the future at the position, but Villanueva could get to the majors first and might be able to find some success if he works on his batting eye.
Villanueva made the Sally League All-Star team in his full-season debut, hitting .278/.338/.465, and is expected to play at High-A Myrtle Beach in 2012. He could switch positions, as Texas is well-stocked at third base with Adrian Beltre and Mike Olt.
More Fantasy News
Joining Yomiuri Giants
3BFree Agent  
Finger
November 20, 2018
Villanueva (finger) was sold to the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan on Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Sold to Hanshin Tigers
3BFree Agent  
Finger
November 20, 2018
Villanueva (finger) was sold to the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan on Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Officially shut down
3BSan Diego Padres  
Finger
September 15, 2018
Villanueva (finger) has been shut down for the season, MLB.com's AJ Cassavell reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Will miss 3-to-4 weeks
3BSan Diego Padres  
Finger
August 23, 2018
Villanueva underwent X-rays on Wednesday that revealed a fractured right middle finger, which will sideline him for 3-to-4 weeks, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Headed to DL with broken finger
3BSan Diego Padres  
Finger
August 22, 2018
Villanueva will be placed on the disabled list with a fractured finger, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.