Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Pacheco's fantasy outlook
By Jason A. Churchill
Jordan Pacheco is not likely to be a superstar in Major League Baseball. Maybe not even an all-star. He is a solid hitter, however, and if the Rockies stick with their plan to work him back in at catcher in 2013, fantasy owners will benefit greatly.
The catcher position is the thinnest in baseball and that fact bleeds over into the fantasy realm. If Pacheco, who batted .309/.341/.421 takes another step forward at the plate and gets enough time behind it to qualify, he'd likely be viewed as an absolute steal in later rounds.
Pacheco, reports Troy Renck of the Denver Post, has spent some time this winter working with catching instructor Jerry Weinstein after catching in just five games for the Rockies in 2012. Pacheco caught regularly in the minors the three previous seasons, but the club had him focus on third base a year ago. His bat certainly profiles better behind the plate, though it's difficult imagining more than the occasional start at catcher with Wilin Rosario the projected starter and veteran Ramon Hernandez back for a second year with the club.
For fantasy owners, Pacheco just needs to qualify at catcher -- and hit -- to be a fantasy all-star.
