Jedd Gyorko

Gyorko is but one year removed from some single-league format fantasy relevancy, but last year was a lost one due to injuries related to his calf, wrist and back. Such an abhorrent stat line was a surprise after years of rather decent production for the Cardinals in the middle part of the decade. The Dodgers declined his club option, but he will likely have some suitors in free agency as teams seek a versatile bat available to them off the bench. His fantasy value should benefit with a move because the Dodger lineup, when healthy, did not afford much playing time on the infield. Gyorko's value will hinge on finding a team willing to gamble to see if the 2019 injuries are behind him and allow his bat another chance to do what it did in 2016-2017.

Gyorko's improved on-base skills carried over from 2017, but his power dipped precipitously. He swatted just 11 homers, his lowest total since 2014. The drop was from a decline in HR/FB as Gyorko's flyball rate was normal, a tick below 40%. His average exit velocity and launch angle nearly matched his marks from 2017, and his hard-hit rate jumped from 30.8% to 37.1%, suggesting he was snake bit when hitting the ball in the air. Gyorko's 30 homers in 2016 are destined to be his career high, particularly now that his role on the Cardinals has taken a hit. Gyorko missed time early with a hamstring issue then late with a sore groin. He's played between 125 and 128 games the last four years. Gyorko enters the season eligible only at third base but should eventually pick up eligibility at second base. The addition of Paul Goldschmidt means Gyorko enters the year on the short side of a platoon at the keystone, so he is reserve fodder at best in mixers.

After Gyorko clubbed a career-high 30 homers with a 24.4 percent HR/FB in 2016, it was wise to expect some regression in 2017. Sure enough, his power fell back more in line with career levels. What wasn’t expected was a spike in batting average on balls in play (BABIP), resulting in a career-best .272 average. It’s interesting that Gyorko hit only nine doubles in 2016, as compared to 21 two-baggers with 20 homers last season. When everything evens out, Gyorko’s baseline is in between his 2016 and 2017 campaigns, though he did add a handful of steals to his ledger last year. Heading into 2017, one of Gyorko’s assets was multiple position eligibility, however he enters 2018 only good at third base. There have been rumors that the Cardinals are looking for an impact bat, possibly at the hot corner, so Gyorko could return to a super-utility role. He's never played more than 128 games and is better in NL-only than mixed formats.

At a glance, Gyorko's .243 batting average and .801 OPS may come off as fairly standard. However, he slugged 30 home runs over 128 games, resulting in an unfathomably-low 59 RBI. Most of his power was seen when facing righties, against whom he had a .536 slugging percentage opposed to a .417 mark against southpaws. After hitting just 10 and 16 home runs in 2014 and 2015, respectively, skepticism as to whether or not last season's amount of muscle can be repeated is entirely justified. Defensively, he was used all around the infield for St. Louis last season, but in 2017 he is expected to start at third base against righties and move over to second base to spell Kolten Wong against southpaws. Having never hit above .250, Gyorko's upside is almost strictly tied to his ability to hit for power, which will likely regress somewhat in 2017.

After an impressive debut with the Padres in 2013, Gyorko signed a $35 million contract extension and has failed to meet expectations. The Cardinals acquired him from the Padres in December, perhaps in part because Gyorko hit .259/.299/.440 with 13 homers in the second half of last season. While Gyorko boasted a good eye at the plate as a prospect years ago, he's walked at a 6.7-percent clip over three MLB seasons while striking out at a 23.1-percent rate. As a member of the Cardinals, he is ticketed to be a utility option around the infield with Matt Carpenter, Ruben Tejada, and Kolten Wong occupying third base, shortstop, and second base, respectively. With Jhonny Peralta out for the first half with a thumb injury, Gyorko could get some starts at shortstop occasionally when he is not occupying the short side of a second base platoon. Gyorko's versatility makes him a nice flier at the end of drafts.

Gyorko endured a sophomore slump in conjunction with a Padres offense that was historically atrocious, as evidenced by his inability to break through the Mendoza Line until Aug. 17. The late-breaking development was aided by a bout with plantar fasciitis, which spurred a stay on the disabled for the majority of June and July. However, silver linings can be found after his return to action on July 28, as consistency slowly but surely returned at the plate. Although he managed just one long ball in September, he reached base safely in 21 of 25 contests, when he slashed .267/.365/.378 with a 14:19 BB:K in 90 at-bats. With 10 homers on the 2014 ledger, he fell well short of the standard set as a rookie (23 in 486 at-bats) just one year previous, but the 26-year-old second baseman has followed a power-laden campaign with a more patient approach to end his second season, suggesting that his entire repertoire could soon rumble to the surface.

There was seemingly no place for Gyorko as he rose through the ranks of the Padres' farm system, with Chase Headley entrenched at third base. However, multiple injuries to infielders opened up second base late in spring training, and Gyorko took full advantage, quickly assimilating himself at the position and forming a steady double-play combination with Everth Cabrera. Gyorko turned in a superb showing in the field, committing just four errors en route to a .992 fielding percentage, and he further exhibited his other tools, leading all rookies with 23 home runs. His plate discipline requires ample work following 33 walks versus 123 strikeouts, but as he grows accustomed to major league pitching, his batting line could resemble his time in the minors, when he developed at every stop. Considering position scarcity, he'll garner added recognition heading into draft season.

Gyorko did some impressive work as a 23-year-old in Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Tucson in 2012 as he hit .311/.373/.547 with 30 homers and 28 doubles over 557 plate appearances. In 2013, he appears primed for a shot at the majors as there is little left for him to prove in the minors. Defensively, he is unlikely to last at second base as scouts have nicked him for his footwork, but this shouldn't dissuade the Padres from attempting to see what he can do at the position in the short term. If he eventually ends up at third base, his stock takes a hit as that is a position where the average player hits for more power and there is Chase Headley blocking his path to everyday playing time. In an ideal world, he'll continue to hit and do so as an above average second baseman, which is what owners are banking on from the major league ready prospect.

The former 2010 second-round pick is still very much a work in progress. A shortstop in college, Gyorko was moved to third base once he joined the Padres organization, but is still having some difficulties defensively with his range. With the bat, there's potential, but he had some trouble moving from High-A to Double-A last year, as evidenced by his drop in OPS from 1.067 to .786. Still, he hit 25 home runs over the full season and led the minors in hits and doubles, which is no small feat. He makes solid contact at the plate and has quick hands, so if he can improve his all-around game, the Padres may be able to use him sometime down the road.