Roto Riteup March 24, 2017

This is the part where I mention the World Baseball Classic and hope someone cares. Even if you don’t, that was fun to watch and that’s all I am going to say about that.

On the Agenda

1. Hunter Renfroe is the real deal
2. Odubel HR-era
3. Luis Valbuena

Hunter Renfroe is the real deal

Padres outfielder Hunter Renfroe made a smooth transition from Triple-A to the bigs after slashing a .306/.336/.557 with 30 bombs and 105 RBI’s. He came from a hitter’s league and was able to remain dominant in the few games he played after his promotion: four home runs in 11 games for the Padres.

This isn’t taken lightly coming from the Pacific Coast League, but having physically seen these guy hit, he oozes power. Even at his 6-foot-1, 220-pound frame, he will send the ball over the fence. His fly ball and grounder rates match at a 43.3-percent so his balls will travel. Let’s hope he continues that at a park that’s not very hitter friendly.

He didn’t have a ton of exposure last season, but he’s looking at being the starting right fielder for the club.

Odubel HR-era

Odubel Herrera hit his first home run of the spring season which means this is an excuse to write about him.

He has come a long way from being a Rule 5 pick, hasn’t he? He just signed an extension worth over $35 million with the Phillies and is certainly a key to rebuilding the team.

As far as an individual performance goes, he struggles against lefties. He can walk against southpaws, but he has been working on being more patient when facing those guys and his on-base percentage will continue to increase. The only worry would be towards the bullpen late in the game, but beyond that, the risk/reward factor is low risk/high reward. That ceiling is high.

via GIPHY

Luis Valbuena

Luis Valbuena will miss 4-6 weeks with a strained right hamstring according to Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times. 

He is a natural third baseman, but the team had him at the top of the depth chart as the starting first baseman. And it was also announced Thursday manager Mike Scioscia will have Albert Pujols solely at the designated hitter position indefinitely once he returns from his injury.

C.J. Cron will be the everyday first baseman.