Yandy Is Dandy – Razzball Fantasy Baseball

Yandy DIaz is the dandiest of the Yandys

Legend has it that deep throughout the coronary heart of the baseball universe, there exists a participant whose energy and grandeur are unmatched by any mortal or deity. For years, baseball followers have whispered tales of his would possibly, dreaming of the day when he would lastly unleash his full potential and lead his workforce to glory. Many have speculated that he’s really a demi-god, descended from the nice Hercules himself, despatched to save lots of the world of baseball from unfathomable darkness. Season after season, we prayed to Zeus, pleading with him to elevate him up on eagles’ wings, that he would possibly lastly hit for energy and fulfill his future. He wanted solely to hit the ball within the air. That is the story of the one they name… Yandy Diaz.

In 2019, Yandy Diaz gave us the primary glimpse of his nice potential. In 79 video games throughout his first season with the Tampa Bay Rays, Diaz smacked 14 dongs. He additionally posted a slugging proportion of .490 which was considerably increased than something he had proven to that time. He was making higher contact with the ball along with his first barrel price above 7 %. The facility although light after a powerful April that 12 months during which he hit 6 HR. It was a tease, a glimpse on the Backyard of Eden. It proved to be nothing greater than a shadow and a whisper.

The facility didn’t final and within the shortened 2020 season he totaled solely 2 HR with little energy. He recaptured some extent of kind in 2021 however in the end couldn’t ascent the mountain high and regain the previous glory of April within the nineteenth 12 months after 20. His SLG that season regardless of the 13 residence runs was nonetheless beneath .400 whereas accumulating solely 20 doubles. Then, final 12 months in 2022, one thing occurred. The house runs didn’t come, however the further bases lastly did as he compiled 33 doubles. Possibly there was nonetheless hope.

Up to now this season, as of the final edit to this piece, Yandy Diaz has hit 6 HR within the first a part of this season. The identical whole as that fabled season of yore with one other week to go. Might we lastly be seeing the season that was promised? Is that this what the portents are saying? Is it time?

Evaluating the two thunderous Aprils, there are loads of similarities. He’s hit for roughly the identical slash line and scored the identical runs. The primary distinction within the stats this 12 months is it has are available in 25 fewer plate appearances. And regardless of how related it’s on the floor, what we discover below the that rather more intriguing. Maybe that is what now we have been searching for all this time.

Yandy is doing one thing he has by no means accomplished earlier than, not even within the storied April of 19, his finest month to this point. This 12 months, Yandy is hitting the ball extra persistently within the AIR. Up to now in 2023, Yandy is getting elevate by sustaining a 43.8% flyball price and preserving his groundball price beneath 36%. Again in 2019, it was way more of a mirage as he was nonetheless hitting 54%+ floor balls and in some way conjuring a 29% HR/FB price. However this time round he has been getting the flyballs and hitting the ball more durable with a lot much less comfortable contact, beneath 10%. All indicators level to this being way more sustainable.

Moreover, there are marked enhancements within the statcast information in comparison with 2019. Yandy has been hitting the ball more durable extra persistently with the next max EV and higher contact. And the loudest distinction is none aside from that elusive holy grail, launch angle. For the month of April, he’s obtained it up almost to 14 (within the splendid window) for the primary time in his profession. Has he lastly turned the nook with a definite effort to hit the ball up? Up to now it seems to be that approach.

So what can we anticipate the remainder of the season? To me, the louder contact and the sustained flyball price are the principle indicators. Yandy Diaz has all the time hit the ball with nice authority. It’s the principle motive why all of us had hoped he would study to raise. Even Eric Hosmer was in a position to maintain two seasons of 25 residence runs with a barrel price beneath 9%, a 4-degree LA, and a flyball price below 25%. He did that twice. So with a a lot better batted-ball profile, why not Yandy? There’s undoubtedly an opportunity that he may regress into previous Yandy, as a result of additionally, why not? Entropy instructions all issues to return to chaos.

The factor is although, this isn’t noise like the primary month in 2019. This time, all the info helps the transformation on high of scraping the toast of statcast launch angle. The flyball information suggests he may settle in round a 17% HR/FB price with just a little regression however with this a lot elevating that might nonetheless put him in line for round 22 extra residence runs. Is that doubtless? In all probability not, we’ve been burned earlier than; hope crushed below the burden of regression. However, this season, it’s not less than within the playing cards as a risk… And that’s a dandy when you do.

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