Fantasy Baseball Drafts: Bo Bichette Great Value at Current ADP

During his first year in the MLB Bo Bichette had a batting average of .311 and 11 home runs in just 46 games

During his first year in the MLB Bo Bichette had a batting average of .311 and 11 home runs in just 46 games. Fantasy baseball players are noticing his knack for driving in runs and getting on base and as a result, his Average Draft Position is starting to rise. He’s currently the No. 13 shortstop coming off draft-boards and the 66th player overall. Sports Illustrated’s fantasy baseball analysts Shawn Childs and Jaime Eisner both believe Bichette can offer tremendous value in the middle rounds. 

Read the full transcript from their conversation below:

Corey Parson: Hey, what's up, it's Corey Parson, the fantasy executive here for SI.com. Fantasy baseball could be on the way back. Joining me to help break down Bo Bichette is SI's fantasy and gambling analyst Shawn Childs and Jaime Eisner. Shawn, I'll start with you on this one. Last season at 196 at-bats, Bichette hit over 300. What do you think his prospects look for this season?

Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

Shawn Childs: He was a guy that is a buy and hold on a lot of teams last year, but unfortunately, three weeks in the year in the minors, he got hit by a pitch and broke his left wrist. But when he came on, he came to the majors. He showed a lot more power than expected early in his career. Early in the minors, he looked like a guy that would maybe hit 15 home runs, steal 30 bases. Yet, when he got to the majors, his power came fast with his speed. He had 15 steals and 220 bats at Triple-A but in the majors, only four with 196. So he's a guy that his approach isn't where it's ideal, but he has the skill set to be a top of line hitter. His strikeout rates around 24% last year. Walks a little below where you expect. But that should develop with more experience and more playing time in the majors. In the early draft season, his ADP is actually probably jumped two rounds since the beginning of January, and someone actually drafted in with a high of 28 in some of the league's research before this. So he's the type of guy that you want to buy and I would, you know, bet on the come in, draft him early because he's an explosive and I really think he's gonna be special.

Corey Parson: Jaime, I want you to touch on with Shawn just said about his draft status right now. Is he going up too high? You think it's just right? How would you value Bichette?

Jaime Eisner: I actually have him higher than what the standard ADP is in more of the Redraft leagues on ESPN, Yahoo, Fantrack, some of them... Right now he's going as pick 67. I have him as a top 50 pick. I have him 43rd overall. I think he just sneaks inside my top 10 shortstop rankings. As you mentioned, hit .311, 11 home runs last year in only 46 games. That 260 ISO when the home runs every 18 at-bats, that's not going to continue into this year. Yet, I think you're looking at a pro-rated version of a guy that can get you 90 plus runs, 20 plus homers, you know, mid-70s RBI is north of 20 steals and probably at least hit you 280. I think that's very doable this year in a pro-rated version, which will give you a top 10 player at the position. So if you can get him in round 5, I'd absolutely pull the trigger. 

MORE FROM SI FANTASY

• D.J. Moore is the Quintessential Third-Year Receiver, Break Out Ain't Over
• All-In on Nick Chubb, Even in PPR Formats
• The Hype is Real! All Aboard the A.J. Brown Express!
• Don't Expect The Adam Thielen of Old
• Devonta Freeman's Ideal Fantasy Landing Spots
• T.Y. Hilton 2020 Outlook
• Draft or Pass: Patriots WR Julian Edelman
• Draft or Pass: Ravens RB Mark Ingram
• Draft or Pass: Falcons RB Todd Gurley
• Thomas vs. McCaffrey: Battle For First Fantasy Pick
• Drafting CeeDee Lamb Will Only Boost Amari Cooper's Fantasy Value