Throughout the month of March, theScore examines hitters who represent their team's most intriguing fantasy plays. This edition focuses on Chicago Cubs catcher and outfielder Kyle Schwarber.
2015 in Review: 273 PA, .246/.355/.487, 52 R, 16 HR, 43 RBI, 3 SB
The Good: There has been a dearth of talent at catcher for years, so the catcher-eligible Schwarber immediately becomes the No. 2 fantasy option to Buster Posey heading into 2016. The Cubs' C/OF has one of the highest raw power tools in the game and should surpass 30 HRs if healthy.
It doesn't hurt that the Cubs' lineup is stocked for a deep playoff run. They added high-OBP men in Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward and are counting on continued growth from youngsters Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler and Addison Russell - not to mention clean-up hitter Anthony Rizzo. No matter where Schwarber hits, he'll be in a position to drive in 90-plus runs.
The Bad: A 28.2% strikeout rate is in line with other big-swinging power bats and is reminiscent of Adam Dunn's early years with the Reds. The difference is that Dunn went on to hit 38-plus HRs in eight of nine seasons during his peak. Dunn was a generational slugger and it's not clear if that's Schwarber's trajectory at this point.
Best Comparison: Colorado Rockies 1B Mark Reynolds
What's in Store: Schwarber's power is tantalizing, but with only 69 games in the majors, he could just as easily regress as break out in his first full season. Schwarber will have to stay patient at the plate - not always an easy thing for a young slugger - or may see his average slip below .250.
Draft Outlook: His range is anywhere from the early fourth round to the late fifth round. As soon as Posey comes off the draft board, expect to hear Schwarber's name shortly after; it's a long drop off in talent from these two to the third-best catcher, which could prompt a panicked drafter to reach for the sweet swinging Cubbie.
