Arizona D’Backs Chris Owings: Deep Waiver Wire Add

Chris Owings had a rough 2015, but has come alive at the plate so far this season. With his speed and solid average, should fantasy owners look to him as a waiver wire add?

When the news broke that outfielder A.J. Pollock was going to miss most of the 2016 season, fantasy owners and D’Backs’ fans alike, knew that the team had a gaping void to fill. But, one of the more pleasant surprises of their season, has been the solid play that Chris Owings has been able to provide in center.

Arizona decided to convert Owings from the infield to center as he has always been more of a glove first player, and because of the logjam at their middle infield spots. Fantasy owners ignored him to begin the season thanks to his limited track record and the fact that he had a brutal 2015 season that saw him strike out 144 times and bat .220.

I will concede that I assumed that due to Owings offensive struggles last season, that prospect Socrates Brito would take the reins in center, but Owings came out of the gates swinging this season. In the month of April he posted a, .290/6 RBI/5 SB/.729 OPS, line. So far in May he has produced another stat line of, .275/6 RBI/1 SB/.739 OPS.

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While he will not provide any power even playing in the hitter friendly Chase Field, he has shown enough in the speed and counting stats department to be worth a look off the waiver wire. While he has only attempted one steal this month, his 14 hits include three doubles and two triples, which is encouraging.

Chris Owings improvement at the plate this season has been simply the fact that he has made more solid contact at the plate. While he lacks the track record, it is positive to see tangible results from the improvement he has made at the dish. He also has the benefit of being MI eligible in fantasy formats after his playing time last season.

Fantasy owners may be worried about his playing time be cut to the point where he loses any weekly value, but he has been one of their most consistent options both defensively and offensively, so they will find him his fair share of at bats as they shuffle different combos out there.

Next: Steve Pearce: Waiver Wire Add

Chris Owings upside is capped, but he brings a solid AVG, speed potential and decent counting stat production to be looked at as a waiver add, especially as a middle infield replacement. Owners should snag him off the wire and insert him the lineup while he remains steady at the plate, with the hopes that he firmly takes over in center field.