Rejuvenated Moncada ready to bounce back in 2021

D.J. Short explains why we have to put Yoan Moncada's poor 2020 stats into perspective and why he is ready to bounce back in 2021.

Video Transcript

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DJ SHORT: The impact of COVID-19 can't be ignored when trying to put the 2020 season into context, and there might not be a better example than Yoan Moncada. The 25-year-old contracted the virus ahead of summer camp and never fully felt like himself during the shortened season. The numbers would seem to support that notion, as he hit just .225 with a .705 OPS over 52 games after hitting .315 with a .915 OPS in 2019.

Moncada saw decreases across the board in terms of barrel percentage, hard-hit percentage, and average exit velocity. His average exit velocity sat at 93.1 miles per hour in 2019, which put him in the top 2% in the league. He was all the way down to 87.8 miles per hour last year, which was in the 32nd percentile. That's a massive drop-off. And if you need any further evidence about the weakness he felt, consider that he didn't attempt a single stolen base. The good news is that Moncada is back to full strength now and could bat cleanup in a White Sox lineup that is still a lot of fun, even without Eloy Jimenez. While he probably won't ride a .406 BABIP to a .315 batting average like he did in 2019, a rejuvenated Moncada should be a useful source of counting stats in fantasy leagues.