Fansided

5 darkhorse players we never thought could have a great 2020 season

By Tre LyDay

SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 22: Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres plays during a baseball game against Houston Astros at Petco Park on August 22, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 22: Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres plays during a baseball game against Houston Astros at Petco Park on August 22, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /
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BUFFALO, NEW YORK – AUGUST 14: Teoscar Hernandez #37 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates after hitting a one run home run during the sixth inning of an MLB game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Sahlen Field on August 14, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. The Blue Jays are the home team and are playing their home games in Buffalo due to the Canadian government’s policy on coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NEW YORK – AUGUST 14: Teoscar Hernandez #37 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates after hitting a one run home run during the sixth inning of an MLB game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Sahlen Field on August 14, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. The Blue Jays are the home team and are playing their home games in Buffalo due to the Canadian government’s policy on coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) /

2. player. Pick Analysis. Toronto Blue Jays. Teoscar Hernandez. 39. Scouting Report. OF

If you wanted a definition of dramatic jumps from one year to the next then look no further than Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez. We’ve seen this kind of ability from him before back in 2018, but not like this. He only posted a 107 wRC+ and a 109 OPS+ in 2018. This season he’s bumped those numbers up to 162 and 159 respectively.

The difference is partly because he’s not missing fastballs anymore. In 2019 and 2018 he whiffed on 31 percent of fastballs and when he did make contact his xSLG was only .546 and .568 respectively. This season he’s only whiffing on 25 percent of fastballs and his xSLG on the pitch is an astronomical .907.

Breaking balls are still his kryptonite, but he’s counteracted that by doing more damage with the offspeed pitches he sees with increases in actual and expected numbers across the board. He’s also ninth amongst all outfielders with a 162 wRC+ ahead of guys like Charlie Blackmon, Mike Trout and Eloy Jimenez.

Hernandez’s exit velocity, hard hit percentage, xSLG and barrel percentage are all top five percent in the league. Even with his near 30 percent strikeout rate his performance his very much sustainable simply off his ability to demolish fastballs and be good enough against offspeed. It remains to be seen if pitchers will start throwing him more breaking balls but until then there’s no signs of him slowing down.

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