If defense played a part in fantasy baseball, Andrelton Simmons would see his stock soar. However, he’s still an overlooked asset at his present price point doing just enough with his counting statistics. Last year, Simmons scored 68 runs with 11 home rus, 75 RBI, 10 stolen bases and a .292/.337/.417 slash line. He’s one of seven shortstop eligible players to record at least 10 stolen bases with 75 or more RBI. Only Jean Segura and Manny Machado hit for a higher average among qualified shortstops as well.

Simmons also registered a tidy 5.8 percent walk rate against a 7.3 percent strikeout rate with a 5.5 percent swinging strike rate. He commands the strike zone well and is currently slated to hit sixth this year for the Angels. Over the last three years, he’s accrued 1,598 at-bats with 194 runs, 30 home runs, 190 RBI, 39 stolen bases and a .285/.331/.406 slash. His propensity to hit ground balls caps power gains, but in the last two seasons, he’s starting to produce more hard hits:

It’s an imperfect science, but there’s hope Simmons could hit two-to-three more home runs to benefit his owners. According to Statcast, Simmons notched 516 batted ball events with 21 barrels, an average exit velocity of 87.8 MPH and a 7.7-degree launch angle. Again, unless Simmons changes his swing path, the power will be capped in the low-to-mid teens.

Using Simmons data on xSTATS, his expected average of .289 over the last three years sits slightly above his actual number. But, his 27.6 expected home runs puts him just below the 30 he’s hit in this same time frame. Due to the lack of upside, Simmons drifts in most drafts but represents batting average insulation past top-15 shortstop eligible players. Here’s a look at his projections:

At a time when batting average drops across the board in fantasy, Andrelton Simmons could help a team needing to balance low average power hitters. His ability to not only score but drive in runs marries nicely with his double-digit home run and stolen base production. Sometimes, a steady skill set rounds out a roster nicely.

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Statistical Credits:

Fangraphs.com

BaseballSavant.com

xSTATS.org

THE BAT courtesy of Derek Carty

ATC courtesy of Ariel Cohen

ZiPS courtesy of Dan Szymborski