Joc Pederson 2015 Projections
By Bill Pivetz
Mar 18, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson against the Chicago Cubs during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The outfield position is the deepest it has ever been. Despite the fact that each team starts three outfielders, there are replacement outfielders that can provide owners with some value. So, if you do miss on one of the top 10, you will have plenty of chances to pick up a nice sleeper option later. One of those players to keep an eye on is Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson. With the numbers he put up in Triple-A, he could easily outperform is projections.
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Pederson was phenominal in the minors. In 2013, he had 122 hits, 22 home runs and 58 RBI with a .278 average with Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts. He brought that power to Triple-A and made some big improvements. He had 135 hits, 33 home runs and 78 RBI with a .303 average in 121 games with the Albequerque Isotopes (I love minor-league team names).
Despite the awesome performances in the minors, a crowded Dodgers outfield prevented Pederson from being brought up to the majors. The team had Matt Kemp, Carl Crawford, Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier and Scott Van Slyke. When he was called up in September when the rosters expanded, he did not hit very well. He hit just .143 with no extra base hits.
With Kemp no longer with the team, Pederson will slide right in to the starting center field spot. He will finally get regular at bats and attempt to shake off his poor major-league debut from last year.
Pederson’s ADP is at 192.28, according to NFBC, making him a 20th-round pick. In Roto leagues, Pederson is a nice middle-round option. However, his high strikeout totals (149 strikeouts in 2014) make him a late-round pick in points leagues. Regardless, he should be penciled in for 20/65 as a late-round pick.
Projections: 20 home runs, 65 RBI, .243 average Drafted in Round 20.