Jordan Pacheco

Improved health from Todd Helton at first base and the arrival of Nolan Arenado as the everyday third baseman in late April significantly reduced Pacheco's at-bats in his sophomore season. The lack of regular playing time appeared to hurt his approach at the plate, as his batting average and OBP both fell nearly 70 points from 2012. In an effort to prevent such a collapse from happening again, the Rockies have committed to Pacheco as their No. 2 catcher, a role he filled largely on an emergency basis last season. Although his lack of power limits his upside as a corner infield option, it’s much less of an issue at catcher, where his exceptional contact-hitting skills could make him something of an asset on the approximately two nights per week he’ll be starting. He could already have catching eligibility in some leagues after he was behind the plate for 15 games in 2013.

Pacheco turned in a commendable rookie season for the Rockies, finishing fifth in the National League in batting average (.309). Pacheco's gap hitting skills are legitimate, but because of the premium placed on power at the corner-infield positions, his production (five homers, 54 RBI) proved to be rather empty. While Pacheco's below average defensive ability and dearth of power make him best suited as a utility player long term, he will likely retain the starting gig at third base until top prospect Nolan Arenado is deemed ready for the majors, which could occur at some point this season. Because his value is almost exclusively tied to one category, Pacheco is best optimized in fantasy when paired with a power-hitting, low-average corner infielder. Pacheco would also garner additional value in leagues where he is catcher-eligible after appearing in five games last season as an emergency catcher for the Rockies.

In addition to constant turnover at second base, the Rockies struggled to find an everyday option at third when Ian Stewart fizzled out early in the year. Pacheco became a part of the equation there at the end of the season, while his defensive versatility (including the ability to catch) should help his chances of earning a roster spot coming out of spring training. There's some question as to whether he will hit for enough power to be an everyday corner-infield option, but as a gap hitter with signs of ample on-base skills in the minors, he could wind up delivering value in NL-only formats depending on his long-term placement in the batting order.