Preseason ADP: 110.19
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista didn't have his typical dominant season in 2016, but still posted a 122 wRC+ with 22 homers, a very nice 69 RBI, a .217 ISO, and a 16.8% walk rate despite being limited to 517 plate appearances. Projections pinned him for a bounce-back campaign this year, but he unfortunately kept going in the wrong direction.
Bautista's 80 wRC+, .295 wOBA, and .674 OPS are easily the worst numbers he's produced in a single season since joining the Blue Jays, which will also likely be his last with the organization.
What's probably most concerning of all moving forward for Joey Bats is that what he's known for -- his impeccable plate discipline -- has regressed. After keeping his strikeout rate below 20.0% each season since 2009, it rose up to 24.8% in 2017 with a 10.9% swinging-strike rate that hasn't been that high since 2005. His 12.2% walk rate is still above the league average, but it was also the lowest mark he's ever produced as a member of the Blue Jays.
Bautista's 41.0% swing rate is also the highest it's been since 2008, but his 73.3% contact rate hasn't been this low since he debuted in 2004. So, when we pair that with a 31.4% hard-hit rate that also hasn't been this low in a number of years, it's not surprising that the veteran outfielder collected just 23 homers and 65 RBI in 686 plate appearances this season.