Milwaukee Brewers Jonathan Villar: Cheap Speed Option
By Brad Kelly
Jonathan Villar leads the N.L. in steals this season, and has proven to be a solid placeholder at short for the Milwaukee Brewers. Should fantasy owners now make the move to add him off the waiver wire?
Who would have thought that Jonathan Villar would be leading the N.L. in steals? With steals down across baseball it may be a better indicator of just how hard true speedsters are hard to find anymore, but it also adds to Villar’s value.
Villar came over to the Brewers this offseason, and his role with the team seemed to be unclear based on the presence of stud rookie, Orlando Arcia. Arcia will more than likely make his debut at some point this summer, but the way Villar has been playing, the team will certainly find a way for him to stay in the lineup.
During Villar’s tenure with the Astros he was known more for being a free swinging utility man who offered solid speed when he had his chances. He stole 18 bases in 2013 and 17 in 2014, yet only stole 7 last season in an abbreviated role with Houston. He currently sits with a, .271 AVG/1 HR/8 EBI/8 SB/.766 OPS line, and his performance has forced the team to move him up the lineup as well.
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Villar has especially been hitting the ball well over the last week or so, posting a, .333 AVG/5 RBI/3 SB/5 R line. His power is limited, his career high was 7 in 2014, but his speed and potential counting stat help atop the order, serves as a boost for fantasy owners.
He should qualify at both SS and 3B in most leagues, which gives him the advantage of being used as MI. The downside with Villar comes with his propensity to swing and miss, but he has shown the inkling to take his walks as well this season. He has 29 K already this season, but his 16 BB are only eight less than his career high 24 BB in 2013 and we are not even in June yet.
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Villar’s upside may be capped, but he looks like a solid bet to flirt with 20 SB this season from the MI spot. If he can stick at the top of the order and still be given the green light on the base paths, he has a lot of things going for him fantasy wise. Make the move and take advantage of his speed in a league where SB are worth their weight in gold.