Fantasy Spotlight: Gregory Polanco
Throughout the month of March, theScore examines hitters who represent their team's most intriguing fantasy plays. This edition focuses on Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco.
2015 in Review: 652 PA, .256/.320/.381, 83 R, 9 HR, 52 RBI, 27 SB
The Good: Polanco finished ninth in the majors in stolen bases, showing he has the capacity for elite speed. He has moderate power and is projected to start the season as Pittsburgh's lead-off hitter, giving him even more plate appearances.
The Bad: He hit a meager .190 against lefties in 137 plate appearances, striking out a terrifying 26.3% of the time. He also slowed down in the middle portion of the season, swiping just a single base between June 14 and August 7. He was far too streaky.
Best Comparison: Detroit Tigers outfielder Cameron Maybin
What's in Store: More stolen bases and home runs should be expected, along with a slightly improved batting average. He will score a ton of runs at the top of Pittsburgh's lineup, though the Pirates didn't make any real upgrades at offensive positions, so his upside may be limited.
Draft Outlook: Polanco will go off the board in the middle rounds, probably around the eighth, in the majority of mixed league drafts. He will be a cheap source of stolen bases and is widely ranked just inside the top 30 outfielders. While he shouldn't be the first outfielder you take, he's solid second option because of his speed and growing power.