FantraxHQ

The Home of Fantasy Sports Analysis

MENUMENU
  • MLB
        • Baseball Home
          • FantraxHQ 2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit [Updated!]
          • Fantasy Baseball Rankings
          • Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Busts
          • Prospect Rankings
          • Top 500 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings
          • Analysis
        • Research
          • ADP
          • Prospects
        • Podcasts
          • Five Tool Podcast
          • Triple Play Fantasy
          • Fantasy Prospect Toolshed
          • SP Streamer Podcast
        • Games
          • MLB Commissioner League
          • MLB Cash League
        • 2021 FantraxHQ Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit
  • NFL
        • Research
          • All Things Fantasy Football
          • Dynasty Football
          • ADP
        • Rankings
          • Dynasty Football Rankings
          • Superflex Dynasty Rankings
        • Podcasts
          • The Individual Defensive Podcast
        • Games
          • NFL Commissioner League
        • Nick Foles NFL Free Agency
          CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 06: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles (9) passes the ball as Chicago Bears linebacker Khalil Mack (52) pressures in the 4th quarter during an NFL NFC Wild Card football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Bears on January 06, 2019, at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Icon Sportswire)
  • NBA
        • Research
          • Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire
        • Games
          • Fantasy Basketball Commissioner
        • 2019-20 Fantasy Basketball Draft Kit
          Fantrax has your back whether you're looking for rankings in your favorite format or on the lookout for the sleeper everybody else missed. Our 2019-20 Fantasy Basketball Draft Kit is a slam dunk!
  • NHL
  • EPL
        • Weekly Content
          • EPL Waiver Wire
          • EPL Player Rankings
          • EPL Start and Sit
          • EPL Sleepers XI
          • EPL Weekly Rankings
          • EPL Community Special
        • Special Features
          • EPL Draft Strategy
          • Fantasy EPL 101 – How to Play Draft Premier League
          • EPL Draft Rankings
          • EPL Draft Guides
          • EPL New Signings
          • EPL Team Previews
          • ADP
          • 2020 Fantrax HQ Fantasy EPL Draft Kit
        • Podcast
          • The Kick Around
        • Games
          • Play Fantasy EPL
        • 2020 Fantasy EPL Draft Kit

          2020 Fantasy EPL Draft Kit
  • NCAAF
        • Games
          • NCAAF Commissioner League
        • Podcasts
          • CFF On Campus
        • College Fantasy Football
          BRONX, NY - DECEMBER 27: Wisconsin Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor (23) runs during the fourth quarter of the 2018 New Era Pinstripe Bowl between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Miami Hurricanes on December 27, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)
  • MY LEAGUES
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

2018 Player Profile: Andrelton Simmons

January 9, 2018 by Fantrax Staff Leave a Comment

FantraxHQ is the official content sponsor of Fantrax.com, the hottest Fantasy Site of 2018 and 2019.
Andrelton Simmons

Andrelton Simmons – Always Bet on Athleticism

How would you best describe Andrelton Simmons’ defense using just one word? For me, the first word that I think of is “freak.” No, not “Big Time Timmy Jim” Tim Lincecum, “The Freak.” I think of an athletic freak. What Simmons has done at the shortstop position since coming up has been unmatched by any other defender in the big leagues. His 163 defensive runs saved since 2012 is best in all of baseball and more than double Brandon Crawford (70) as the second most at his position. Simmons, known much more for his glove than anything he has done with his bat, goes relatively overlooked in most fantasy leagues, and for good reason. Simmons hadn’t finished as a top-15 fantasy shortstop until last year.

Simmons is coming off a career year offensively. He hit .278 with 14 home runs and 19 stolen bases. He scored 77 times for an Angels team that ranked bottom-10 in baseball with 710 runs scored, and he drove in 69 runs. In the four years prior, Simmons had averaged (per 162 games) just 10 home runs, seven steals, and a .262 batting average. Current Fantrax ADP has Simmons being taken just outside the top 200 as the 14th shortstop off the board, right behind Orlando Arcia and Zack Cozart and right before Tim Beckham and Amed Rosario. Not exactly a group that screams “safe bet.” Of that group, however, I’d give the considerable edge to the shortstop with the defensive skills to keep him in the lineup 150-160 games per year. Simmons’ profile as a hitter is a fairly safe one. Better yet, he has shown substantial growth over the past three seasons.

Simmons is actually a patient hitter despite taking only 47 walks last season, and he rarely gets fooled at the plate. In fact, according to Statcast, he swung and missed only 143 times in 2017 despite playing 158 games. To put this in better context, Tim Beckham, who is being drafted only a few spots after Simmons, whiffed on 362 pitches last season while playing in 21 fewer games. If we have learned anything in the past several years, it’s that strikeouts and swing-and-miss tendencies are not the end all, be all. With that said, hits are achieved by putting the bat on the ball, so I’d prefer someone who can do that consistently. Simmons’ 10.4% strikeout rate (third-best in MLB) is anchored by his 88% contact rate (sixth-best in MLB). As solid as his bat-to-ball skills are, his quality of contact needs improvement. Simmons’ average exit velocity and hard-hit rates rank in the bottom-third among qualified hitters. So if Simmons lacks power, where did his double-digit increase in home runs come from last year? Pay close attention; this is the best part.

Join or start a fantasy baseball league at Fantrax today! Keeper, dynasty, re-draft. Fully customizable. A+ customer service. Play for free!

Simmons has made clear adjustments to his approach over the last three seasons. His fly ball percentage increased from 22% in 2015 to 26% in 2016 and then up to 31% in 2017. In addition to his increased loft on his swing, he’s made a concerted effort to pull the ball more. As you can see in the batted ball chart below, Simmons’ pull percentage has been altered from a very balanced 34% in 2015 to a much more aggressive 45% last season. These changes both in fly ball percentage and pull percentage have resulted in some very favorable outcomes. Simmons’ hard-hit rate increased by more than 26% from 2015 to 2017, and his slugging percentage followed a similar trend, going from .338 to .421 in the same time frame. The incredible feat, which is something that gives me hope for Simmons’ future, is that his contact skills stayed strong with his new swing. With more than enough contact% to sacrifice for some additional power, the adjustment seems like a calculated one. We saw a similar adjustment from Elvis Andrus in 2017.

In addition to the power boost Simmons has received, his wOBA has been steadily rising for the last four seasons. Simmons’ wOBA, or weighted on base average, is above the league standard for the first time in his career. If he continues to develop offensively, he could earn a more lucrative lineup spot in the Angels’ much-improved offense. Another positive trend for Simmons is his willingness to swipe the occasional bag or two. His 19 steals last year won’t win the category for you, but they were well above his career norm. And like his power, his stolen bases are treading in the right direction.

#Angels Andrelton Simmons

SB Per 162 Games

2015 – 5.5
2016 – 13.1
2017 – 20.9

HR Per 162 Games

2015 – 4.4
2016 – 5.2
2017 – 15.4

— Keith Farnsworth (@fantasy_keith) September 20, 2017

Shaking the glove-only tag for Simmons will be tough based on his marginal hitting performance prior to 2017. That may also provide a discounted price in most leagues. The truth is, Simmons is improving in almost every offensive metric, and the production is real. A .270-280 batting average along with around 18 homers and 18 steals seems reasonable, with a notable boost in runs and RBI production. This may still not earn him a top-10 shortstop ranking, but I’m not willing to bet against him. Remember, this guy’s a freak.

2018 Player Profiles

Starling Marte

Greg Bird

Zack Godley

Nicholas Castellanos

Lance McCullers, Jr.

Alex Bregman

Chris Taylor

Tommy Pham

Carlos Carrasco

Rhys Hoskins

Jackie Bradley, Jr. 

Josh Harrison

Wilmer Flores

Christian Yelich

Jake Lamb

Scooter Gennett

Marwin Gonzalez

Ozzie Albies

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fantasy Baseball, Player Profiles Tagged With: Andrelton Simmons, Angels, Fantasy, Fantasy Baseball, featured, Los Angeles Angels, MLB Fantasy

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Trade Away Your League for Fantrax
Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings

Dynasty Fantasy Baseball

Top-500 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: February 2021

PODCASTS

Triple Play Fantasy Baseball EP. 65: An Interview with Former All-Star Shortstop, Jack Wilson

Five Tool Podcast |EP 48 | 2021 Redraft Rookie Mock Draft

Triple Play Fantasy Football 2021 Bounce Back Candidates with Bob Harris of Football Diehards!

Kick Around | EP 93 | Gameweek 26 Preview

Fantasy Hockey Life | EP. 99 | Pens, Flyers, Caps and Rangers with Rachel Nones

MLB Player Analysis

2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit

2021 State of the Bullpen: National League Closer Preview

February 26, 2021 By Jorge Montanez Leave a Comment

2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit

Brady House: 2021 MLB Draft Scouting Report

February 26, 2021 By Chris Clegg Leave a Comment

2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit

Third Base Tiers – Bouncebacks, Young Stars, and Ones to Love

February 25, 2021 By Corbin Young Leave a Comment

Latest Fantasy Football

dynasty fantasy football

Joe Mixon: 2021 Offseason Dynasty Buy or Sell?

dynasty fantasy football

NFL Free Agency Analysis: Dynasty Buys at Tight End

dynasty fantasy football

NFL Free Agency Analysis: Dynasty Buys at Wide Receiver

Prospects/Dynasty

2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit

Brady House: 2021 MLB Draft Scouting Report

February 26, 2021 By Chris Clegg

2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit

Chicago Cubs Top Prospects for Fantasy Baseball

February 25, 2021 By Chris Clegg

2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit

Top Pitching Prospects for 2021 Fantasy Baseball Redraft Leagues

February 24, 2021 By Eric Cross

Fantasy Basketball Analysis

Fantasy Basketball

Fantasy Basketball Stock Report: All-Star Edition

February 26, 2021 By Kevin Arnold

Fantasy Basketball

Top 100 NBA Fantasy Basketball Dynasty Rankings

February 26, 2021 By Jackson Paine

Fantasy Basketball

Fantasy Basketball Streamers: Weekend of Feb 26-28

February 26, 2021 By Michael Tomlinson

Footer

Follow @Fantrax
Fantrax The Home of Fantasy Sports

AUTHORS
CONTACT US
WRITE FOR US
PRIVACY POLICY

© 2021 Fantrax All Rights Reserved.