So What About This Kyle Schwarber Dude?

[Greg Ambrosius]

One of the more polarizing players in NFBC drafts this year is Kyle Schwarber, who is coming off knee surgery after missing all but three games last season. In 2016 when he qualified at catcher, his ADP was 38. But this year as an outfielder only player, his ADP is 73. Opinions are so varied on Schwarber's value this year that he's gone as high as 34 in NFBC drafts and as low as 106. Few players have as wide a range of picks as Schwarber does this year.

A lot of that has to do with his position eligibility. He played two games in left field last year and thus according to NFBC rules he only qualifies in the outfield this year. It's interesting to note that Yahoo.com actually made an exception for Schwarber this year by giving him Catcher eligibility as well, even though he didn't catch at all last year and likely won't catch this year, either. We'll stay true to our rules here in the NFBC and make Schwarber play 10 games at catcher before he gains that position eligibility. He's OF-only in 2016 and that's definitely hurting his value.

Schwarber is expected to start in left field for the Cubs, but he said he wants to report with pitchers and catchers and get some action in behind the plate. We'll see if the Cubs allow him to do that or not. Joe Maddon also hinted that he may put Schwarber in the leadoff spot against right-handers, since he does have a career average of .272 against righties. The problem comes when he goes up against left-handers as his career average is .143 vs. southpaws. It's one of the reasons that Baseball Forecaster is projecting only 431 at-bats and a season of .243-28-65.

But what do you think? Do you expect better numbers than .243-28-65? Do you think he's worthy of a pick higher than 73? Would you take him that late in the 5th round or earlier? Inquiring minds want to know.

Schwarber should be fully recovered from his knee injury by now and ready for the season. Remember that he tore his ACL and MCL during the third game of last season. He missed the entire regular season, but came back in the playoffs to hit .412 in 17 at-bats with two RBIs, one stolen base and two runs.

Schwarber was the 4th overall pick in 2014 out of Indiana and it didn't take him long to reach the major leagues. His power is elite and he has such a good eye at the plate that his career OBP is .353. He hit .333 in 147 minor-league games with a .429 OBP before his callup to the majors in 2015.

So what do you think? Are you ALL IN on Schwarber in 2017 or is he going too high for your tastes. It's obvious that our owners have a wide range of opinions on him, so let's hear a few right here. Thanks all.

[Edwards Kings]

I for one am all in. I believe honestly that Schwarber is (or will be) one of those special hitters. I mean REALLY special. When in the game, he will produce, but at-bats after the seventh inning in 2017 with the Cubbies? Paging Jay or Almora or Zobrist or Baez...whomever is on the bench. May not reach 450 AB. Good results for someone with only 450 AB, but it does kind of move him down on my lists.

So I am all in...as soon as he achieves his natural position...DH.