Rockies Chris Iannetta: Fantasy Must Add?

Chris Iannetta is off to a great start this season since returning to the Rockies. Should the veteran now be a waiver wire add?

The Rockies boast one of the most potent lineups in all of baseball. But, who would have thought that backstop, Chris Iannetta, would be their hottest hitter through the first handful of games? Well, he is, leaving fantasy owners to wonder if he deserves to now be a waiver wire add.

Chris Iannetta is in his thirteenth career season. He debuted with the Rockies all the way back in 2006, and even though he never lived up to his potential, he has carved himself a nice career thanks to his defense and occasional pop.

Last season, Iannetta was well off fantasy radars as he had not put together a productive offensive season since 2009. Arizona gave him a shot as a pseudo-backup/platoon type of role, and Iannetta seemingly found his stroke. Over 89 games, he finished with a.254/17 HR/43 RBI/.865 OPS line.

More from Fantasy Baseball

The HR total was the highest since 2008 and the RBI output was the highest since 2014. It was a shocker for fantasy owners, but Iannetta lifted the ball more and saw the results.

He maintained solid contact rates, 20% LD, 45% Med, and 36% Hard, but the clear power improvement was stemmed by him pulling and lifting the ball by more than 4% from his career norms.

Fantasy owners know that the C spot is terribly weak. Now that the season in its second week, owners could turn to Iannetta as the hot hand to ride. He has started the year 7 for 15 and has driven in two RBI. He is getting slotted in the seven hole with a ton of mashers in front of him. Add that with the Coors factor, and it easy to see why he starts to look all the more appealing.

The Rockies have Iannetta and Tony Wolters on the roster currently. Wolters is a lefty and has seen two starts so far, yet has failed to record a hit. Iannetta is the clear starter, and it is hard to justify sitting him at this point, so owners can feel comfortable that he will see the necessary at-bats.

Next: Giants Joe Panik: Waiver Wire Add?

There are few hotter hitters, let alone catchers, that are floating on the waiver wire right now for fantasy owners. Iannetta’s focus to lift the ball, home ballpark, and supporting cast, makes him just too hard of an option to pass up. He has burnt owners in the past and they should not expect the world, but he is more than likely to continue this surge long enough to help owners see a weekly edge at the position.

Make the move.

Home/Fantasy Baseball