Is it time to give up on those high draft picks? Here are two players who were drafted high in most fantasy baseball leagues, but have so far disappointed this year in Major League Baseball.
Edwin Encarnacion
Fantasy baseball owners picked up Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion for his power.
They’ve gotten some of that this year, but his other numbers haven’t kept up with his high draft position.
Encarnacion has 13 home runs, good enough for 12th highest in Major League Baseball. However, his batting average is .228, with 36 RBIs and 33 runs.
His RBIs and runs are in the top 10 for first basemen, but his on-base percentage and batting average are toward the bottom of first basemen.
In the last 30 days, Encarnacion has been even worse, batting .200 and ranking outside the top 10 in RBIs and runs.
There’s no reason to believe Encarnacion will improve his batting average over time, but if home runs are a team’s only need, then he’s worth keeping. However, if you’re considering shopping him, find players on other teams that are in need of power.
Ian Desmond
Washington Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond normally showcases power in a position that normally doesn’t feature home run hitters.
However, this year, Desmond hasn’t flashed much at the plate.
He’s batting .234, with five homers, 17 RBIs and 28 runs. He also only has one stolen base.
From 2012-14, he had 25, 20 and 24 homers respectively, and stole 21, 21 and 24 bases. His RBI numbers also were much higher during those three seasons, going for 73, 80 and 91 RBIs.
He was rated as a top three option at shortstop at the beginning of the season. Now, he ranks 16th out of 22 regular shortstops in batting average. His RBI total also is ranked 16th, while he’s in the top 10 in runs and homers.
His stolen bases are ranked 28th.
There’s not many good options at shortstop, so fantasy baseball owners are likely stuck with Desmond because his trade value isn’t high and there aren’t many shortstops available on the waiver wire who could produce quality numbers.
