No Joshing, Donaldson is Legit

After a breakout 2013 where Josh Donaldson hit .301/.384/.499 in 158 games, there was no shortage of vocal skeptics. The third baseman posted that strong triple slash in part due to his .333 BABIP, a rate unlikely to continue given his skillset and 6-foot, 220-pound catcher-esque frame. His MLB body of work prior to 2013 was a brief stint in 2010 strictly as a catcher and 2012 as part catcher, part third baseman. Combining for a total of 328 plate appearances, Donaldson posted a sub-.85 wRC+. Whether or not Donaldson could be taken as a serious fantasy third baseman was still up in the air.

Given his strong 2014 season, it’s pretty clear to see Donaldson has become one of the best third baseman around. Despite questions on his rate stats — he posted a .278 BABIP this season — he still managed a .255/.342/.456 line, equating to a 127 wRC+. His 29 home runs represent a single season high, though power was never really a question. The converted catcher posted 17 home runs in 2011 at Triple-A, 22 dingers in 2012 between Triple-A and the majors and 24 homers all at the major league level in 2013.

One shouldn’t need to be told the fantasy significance of home run power, but for perspective the table below show his 2013-14 numbers compared to other qualified third baseman. Donaldson ranks among the very best offensive third baseman around.

	HR	HR/FB%	Runs	RBIs	Total Bases	AVG	OBP	BB%	wRC+
Donaldson #s	53	14.4%	182	191	566	.277	.363	11%	138
Donaldson Rank	4th	T-3rd	3rd	2nd	3rd	12th	4th	T-2nd	T-2nd

His rate stats are a touch inflated by his BABIP from 2013, however Donaldson has done enough in other categories — specific BB% and HR/FB% — to warrant him some credibility. His value shoots up even higher if you play in Scoresheet leagues or any format that values his defense. The brilliant August Fagerstrom tackled Donaldson’s defensive prowess in the 2014 Gold Glove review and it is a great read. Just know Donaldson rated at +15.5 UZR this year and +9.9 in 2013. The kid can handle a bat and a glove.

By just about any metric, be it old school 5×5 numbers or newer linear weights, Donaldson received high marks all around for the second straight year. The only downside to Donaldson is you’ll no longer be able to get him on the cheap. He is a very good fantasy third baseman and while he’ll already be 29 years old next season, durability shouldn’t be a question. Donaldson has played in 158 games in back-to-back seasons and despite his age, he has appeared in only 405 major league games. Now that he isn’t catching, expect him to continue to play nearly every day. Rather than skepticism of this spring, go into 2015 and target Donaldson with confidence.