Oakland Athletics Josh Reddick: Value Pick?

By Brad Kelly | Mar 17, 2016

Jul 30, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics right fielder Josh Reddick (22) hits a RBI double against the Cleveland Indians in the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports /

Josh Reddick had a breakout season for the Oakland A’s in 2012, but has struggled with injuries since. But, after a strong 2015, is he now a value pick?

The Oakland Athletics may struggle this season in a tough A.L. West, but they do have their fair share of fantasy assets. One of their most overlook pieces is outfielder, Josh Reddick, who quietly looks poised to produce another solid fantasy season.

Reddick came to Oakland via Boston in 2011, after being a well-regarded prospect in the Red Sox system. He awarded the A’s with a, .242 AVG/32 RBI/85 RBI/11 SB/.768 OPS line, in his first full time season with the club and emerged as a true breakout fantasy star.

Expectations were high for Reddick the following season, but injuries and ineffectiveness derailed his follow-up season. In 2014, it was more of the same as the injury bug got Reddick again, but he showed a slight change in his plate approach which served as the genesis for his maturation at the plate.

More from Fantasy Baseball

When he broke out in 2011, he struck out 151 times while only walking 55 times. Even though his next two seasons were a smaller sample size, he reduced his K% incrementally over that time. Which leads to us last season, where he cut his K% in half compared to 2012, leading to his stellar, .272 AVG/20 HR/77 RBI/10 SB/.781 OPS line.

Reddick has made it a point to become more patient at the plate, and that has already parlayed itself into immediate all around success. Oakland does hitters no favors in the power department, but it was nice to see him post a respectable, .261/7 HR/51 RBI/.799 OPS, line at home. The added presence of, Khris Davis, behind him and Billy Burns at the top of the order for a full season, should go a long way in ensuring that his counting stats stay respectable as well.

If owners are still not convinced based on his new plate approach, further encouraging improvements are seen in his batted ball data. His 21% LD rate was the highest it has been since his breakout, he dropped his Soft contact rate down to a career low 16%, and raised his Med% was a career high 58%.

He has also shown the newfound ability to hit the ball to all parts of the field. His Pull% and Cent% were both 35%, a big difference from the close to 40% Pull rate he once had. His Oppo% rate came in at 29%, which was a career high as well, a great addition to any hitter’s game.

Across most leagues, Reddick’s ADP is being taken around 200^th overall in drafts. For fantasy owners that should scream as a great value pick thanks to the upside that he has shown and the improvements that he has made.

Next: 2016 Fantasy Baseball OF Rankings: 50-21

Injuries are impossible to predict, and he certainly has a checkered history, but fantasy owners are always in search for those guys that are being overlooked. Keep him in mind of draft day and do not be afraid to enlist him as a solid OF3, all for the price of an OF4 or OF5.

Home/Fantasy Baseball