After a bit of a slow start at the plate, Detroit Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario is now putting the finishing touches on a very solid month of April.
Last summer, the Detroit Tigers acquired third baseman Jeimer Candelario in a trade with the Chicago Cubs. Candelario ultimately found his way to the big league club and was very impressive, hitting .330/.406/.468 (130 OPS+) with two home runs and 13 RBI over 27 games.
Over the offseason, most expected that Jeimer Candelario essentially had the hot corner locked down after his strong showing last year. Sure enough, he entered the 2018 season as the Detroit Tigers starting third baseman.
He got off to a tad of a slow start, hitting .220/.303/.407 over his first 14 games. However, he was still showing a good eye and drawing plenty of walks. As of late, Jeimer Candelario’s bat has heated up considerably.
Hot streak
Over his last eight games, Jeimer Candelario is hitting .412/.459/.794. On the season, he is now hitting .290/.359/.548 with four home runs, six doubles, three triples and 11 RBI. His walk rate now sits at a very healthy 8.7 percent.
Yesterday: #Tigers Guys: Jeimer Candelario 3-for-6, 5 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR. Miguel Cabrera 4-for-6, 3 R, 2 RBI. Nicholas Castellanos 4-for-5, 2 R, 4 RBI, 1 HR. Mookie Betts #RedSox 2-for-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 HR. #FantasyBaseball #MLB #DFS pic.twitter.com/c7IvaZLIJo
— DK Double Ups Diary (@FanBallAddict) April 26, 2018
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While Jeimer Candelario is currently slotted in as the Detroit Tigers No. 2 hitter, he is clearly showing that he has plenty of extra-base power and could potentially be a middle-of-the-order hitter.
At only 24 years of age, it is certainly possible that he could unlock even more power potential further down the road as well.
Last season, when combining his numbers from the major and minor leagues, Jeimer Candelario hit a total of 18 home runs. With four homers already in April, it wouldn’t at all be surprising to see him approach the 20-homer mark this season at the major league level.
In addition to his power, Jeimer Candelario puts the ball in play quite regularly and appears to be a player who should be able to hit for a high average as well.
His strikeout rate is currently 21.4 percent, which would rank right around the league average in most years. His tracks record in the minor leagues suggests that swings and misses shouldn’t be a big issue for him.
Jeimer Candelario also seems to have given the Detroit Tigers a defensive upgrade as well. From 2014-17, Detroit had Nicholas Castellanos playing third base, and his defense was shaky. Castellanos, whose offense has become a significant asset for the Detroit Tigers, has now made the move to right field.
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Apparently, it is still early in the season and very early in Jeimer Candelario’s career. That being said, it is looking more and more like he is going to have a very bright future in the Motor City.