FAN Projection Targets: Five Players Returning from Injury

Last week, FanGraphs CEO and founder David Appelman announced that the ballots for the 2014 FAN Projections are now available for the tender ministrations of this site’s readership. With a view to ensuring that all notable players are addressed sufficiently — and also to producing content while managing editor Dave Cameron is away this week on a pleasure vacation — the present author is highlighting certain players who are lacking in ballots.

Before casting a ballot, don’t forget this note from Appelman’s announcement post:

Please note that everything this year is a rate stat. You’re projecting 2B+3B, HR, SB, and Fielding as a measure of 150 games (basically a full season). The player’s previous stats are shown per 150 games in the projection ballot too. This will make changing playing time projections much easier as you’ll only have to change the games played portion.

Now, here are five players for the reader’s consideration — all of whom are returning from some manner of injury:

Player: Josh Beckett, 34, RHP
2013 Line: 43.1 IP, 8.52 K/9, 3.12 BB/9, 1.66 HR/9, 4.66 FIP at MLB
Notes: Sent to Los Angeles in giant trade with Boston that also included Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. Missed majority of 2013 season after surgery to relieve nerve impingement in shoulder. Remains candidate for Dodgers starting rotation.

¡Submit Projection for Josh Beckett!

Player: Yasmani Grandal, 25, C
2013 Line: 108 PA, .216/.352/.341, 16.7% BB, 16.7% K, 100 wRC+ at MLB
Notes: Began 2013 season in late-May after serving duration of 50-game suspension for PED use. Ended 2013 season in early July after injury to both his ACL and MCL. Remains optimistic that he’ll be ready for spring training.

¡Submit Projection for Yasmani Grandal!

Player: Corey Hart, 32, COF
2012* Line: 622 PA, .270/.334/.507, 7.1% BB, 24.3% K, 124 wRC+ at MLB
Notes: Missed entire 2013 season with all manner of knee injury. Agreed to one-year contract with Seattle in December. Expected to split left-field and DH duties with Logan Morrison.

¡Submit Projection for Corey Hart!

Player: Cameron Maybin, 27, CF
2013 Line: 57 PA, .157/.232/.235, 7.0% BB, 15.8% K, 29 wRC+ at MLB
Notes: Limited to just 57 plate appearances in 2013 due to combination of knee and wrist injuries. Expected to be healthy before spring training. Also expected to start for Padres in center field, probably.

¡Submit Projection for Cameron Maybin!

Player: Oscar Taveras, 22, OF
2013 Line: 186 PA, .306/.341/.462, 4.8% BB, 11.8% K, 109 wRC+ at Triple-A
Notes: Regarded as one of baseball’s top prospects entering 2013 season, due to advanced contact skills and capacity for driving ball. Limited to just 186 plate appearances at Triple-A because of ankle injury. Expected to begin season in minors.

¡Submit Projection for Oscar Taveras!





Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.

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VORP is too nerdy
10 years ago

Where’s Grady Sizemore? I can still have hope, can’t I?