What Vlad Jr.’s Position Switch Means for Fantasy Owners

theathletic.com

We all knew it was coming.  Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a hefty boy.  One of the highest touted prospects in MLB history, Guerrero was brought up as a third baseman.  But even with his quick feet and strong arm, his body size foreshadowed a future career at first base.  And while he wasn’t awful defensively at the hot corner throughout his rookie season last year, he showed signs that perhaps he wasn’t the best suited option for third base on the Blue Jays roster.  Given these reasons, the team has decided to go ahead and make the switch, moving the talented youngster to first base.

This switch is happening a lot earlier than we all expected, but it’s absolutely the right move by the organization.  But this article isn’t about the positive/negative affects it could have on the Blue Jays.  It’s about the positive/negative affects it could have on fantasy owners of Guerrero.  And let me tell you this: it’s great news for fantasy owners!

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a hitter.  Like I said already, he is one of the most highly touted prospects in the history of the game, and none of that is due to his defense.  His bat has the potential to be lethal for many, many years to come.  While Guerrero wasn’t necessarily a liability at third base, he still spent much of his rookie season focusing on becoming better defensively so he could become more of an asset in that regard.  But defense doesn’t mean a thing to fantasy owners.  All we care about is offense!

With the switch to first base, Guerrero will still have to focus on adjusting to an infield position and how to be a defensive asset.  But since he is making the switch sooner than later, he can go ahead and get the learning curve out of the way with sooner than later.  Especially during this 60-game season, which is almost viewed as a lost season anyway.  He can spend this shortened season getting comfortable at first base and have another offseason and Spring Training next year to do the same before the hopefully-full 2021 season.

Frank Gunn/AP

Another huge thing about the position switch is that first base is a less taxing position than third base.  His body will be thankful for the switch, which will allow him to stay healthier and more energized for the long 162-game season that he admitted wore him down last year.

With all of this being said, I haven’t even mentioned the best part: not only will he be focusing on first base from here on out, but the Blue Jays want him to spend a lot of time as DH as well.  This means the slugger can focus on what he does best and what can reel in major cash for fantasy players.  It also means that he will be able to rest his body much more than he did last season, where third base helped wear him down.  It also puts himself at a much lower risk of getting injured, which would make him a consistent mainstay in fantasy lineups.

There is no doubt that Vlad Jr. is a superb talent.  He hasn’t even scratched the surface of his potential yet because of his young age and major league inexperience.  But as he continues to learn and adjust, especially while only focusing on a defensive position that best suits him and the DH, he will become a force to be reckoned with even quicker.  And reducing the wear and tear on his body is an extreme plus because fantasy owners, and the Blue Jays, NEED him in the lineup as much as possible.  Like I said, defensive doesn’t play in fantasy baseball, only hitting, and the Blue Jays have now put him in the best position to showcase those skills as best as possible.

Garett