The Outfield Train Begins Rolling in Mock Draft Round 5
By Bill Pivetz
Mar 4, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder Justin Upton (10) follows through on a swing against the Seattle Mariners during a spring training baseball game at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
If last round was any indication, it’s that once one owner drafts a position, the rest follow suit. There were six outfielders taken in the fifth round of my mock draft. I believe I drafted one of the better options. Like I said in the intro, I was avoiding the two from San Diego, so that narrowed my choices.
There were two more starting pitchers taken and we saw the first closer come off the board. Surprisingly, there were still some highly-ranked players left off rosters after this round, which could be a steal for some in the next rounds. Here are the picks from Round 5.
5.41 SP Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers
First things first, the 2015 Greinke is not the same player he was in Kansas City. He doesn’t have the same velocity or strikeout totals. On the other side, he was able to incorporate a changeup into his repitoire to get his strikeouts. He posted a 9.2 K/9 rate last season, his highest since 2011. I wouldn’t draft him as an ace, but as a No. 2 pitcher, he is more than servicable as a fifth-round pick.
5.42 OF Matt Kemp, San Diego Padres
Kemp missed 145 games combined in 2012 and 2013. He proved his critics wrong by playing in 150 games last season. While he is far removed from his 39/126 season of 2011, Kemp is still a good No. 2 outfielder when healthy. But, health is the big question surrounding Kemp. Another knock against him is Petco Park. The Padres’ home is one of the worst parks for hitters. With his declining power, Kemp isn’t the same, which is why I avoided him.
5.43 OF Justin Upton, Padres
I was surprirsed to see Upton fall this late, and behind his older teammate. Then I remembered he joined the Padres as well this offseason. Everything I said about Kemp, you can relate it to Upton. After hitting 56 home runs in his two years in Atlanta, fantasy owners could see a decline in his performance from the former No. 1 pick. He also strikes out a lot, over 1,000 times in eight seasons, which won’t help batting average.
Pence has played in all 162 games in back-to-back seasons. Whether that’s a good or bad thing remains unanswered. The only thing I know is that he fit well as my No. 3 outfielder. He scored a career-high 106 runs batting in front of Buster Posey. Reports state that manager Bruce Bochy will have Pence hit behind Posey, giving him more RBI opportunities. While it’s unlikely for him to play every game again this season, he will still be one of the better outfielders in the league.. Outfield. San Francisco Giants. Hunter Pence. 5.44. player. 31
5.45 OF Starling Marte, Pittsburgh Pirates
The first half of the 2014 season left owners with a bad taste in their mouths. He hit .255 with a .713 OPS in the first four months. But then he hit .354 with a .975 OPS over his final 49 games and ended as the 19th-best outfielder in Roto leagues. Marte has some power potential and plenty of speed, 13 home runs and 30 stolen bases last season. A player with a possible 15/30 season is hard to find this late in the draft. He will be a great pick in a Roto league.
5.46 1B Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels
“The Machine” is worn down and outdated. He suffered from plantar fasciitis in 2013 and made a nice comeback in 2014, but not to the numbers we were hoping. Granted, it might be unlikely we ever see that Pujols again, but a decline in average, on base and slugging percentages don’t help his case. The Angels have been playing him more at DH, which could keep him healthier this season. Drafting him in the fifth round at the back-end of the first base rankings is justifiable, but don’t be surprised if he misses some games.
5.47 OF Corey Dickerson, Colorado Rockies
In his first full season, Dickerson struck out 101 times while only walking 37 times. He needs to become more patient at the plate before he jumps into the top 15 of outfielders. There is some upside to drafting Dickerson. He hits for power, especially at home, and could end with 30 home runs. He should also provide owners with a good batting average. With more patience at the plate, Dickerson will be a must-start outfielder.
5.48 RP Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds
After getting struck in the face by a batted ball, we all expected Chapman to miss a considerable amount of time. He wasn’t going to have any of that as he returned on May 11. He finished with 36 saves, just two shy of his career-high (a number he would have eclipsed if healthy). With the ability to whiff his 100 MPH fastball by batters, he is one of the few closers than can strike out over 100 hitters a season. He is worth a mid-round pick as a top-three closer.
5.49 SP Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
I’ve already talked about my feelings of Jon Lester this season here. Just a quick note. He turned around three years of poor performance and pitched well enough in 2014 to earn himself a big contract. Now, it’s up to him to be the ace the Cubs need him to be. He is a great SP2 option in 10-team leagues.
5.50 OF Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
The second CarGo ends Round 5, but it might have been a little too early. Gonzalez hasn’t played over 140 games since 2010. He played in just 70 games last season. As a result, his batting average and home-run totals were the worst of his career. It could be more of the same in 2015 as he is recoving from knee surgery. If fully healthy, he should get most of his power back. However, the speed and .300 batting average are likely gone. He is no longer an elite outfielder, and should be drafted between Rounds 7 and 8.