Jose Fernandez (SP-MIA)

Injury – He suffered an elbow injury which required Tommy John surgery.

2014 Season – Fernandez followed up his stellar rookie season in 2013 by winning National League Pitcher of the Month in April 2014.  However, things started unraveling in May when it was discovered that he had an elbow injury.  Fernandez made just eight starts and compiled a 4-2 record with a 2.44 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and a dominant 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

Reason For Optimism

 

  • Fernandez is only 22-years old and has already established himself as a great pitcher in a short amount of time.
  • Barring any setbacks, he should begin throwing off of a mound by the time spring training begins.
  • Tommy John surgery is no longer a death sentence for pitchers, and many come back stronger than before.  

Reason For Concern

  • Many pitchers who have undergone Tommy John surgery typically struggle initially upon their return.
  • It will still be quite awhile before Fernandez pitches against live batters in a game situation.
  • At best, fantasy owners can only expect half of a season from him.

2015 OUTLOOK –The Marlins are hopeful that Fernandez will return to the big leagues by June 15.  Realistically, it will likely take longer and a more likely scenario is that Miami waits until after the All Star break.  Because he hasn’t started throwing off of a mound yet, it is difficult to gauge his progress.  The Marlins will unquestionably be cautious with their ace which means that any setbacks will exponentially delay his return.  He maintains value in keeper leagues because he is so young, but he is a risky option in redraft leagues.  If he is able to return by June or July, he could be a great value pick in the teen rounds and essentially be a significant mid-season acquisition.  If he avoids any setbacks during spring training, then he is certainly worth stashing on your bench once you have drafted other starting pitchers to fill out your rotation.  If fully healthy, there is no reason to expect anything less than a stellar BB/K ratio along with his typically dominant ERA and WHIP.

If you are wondering the best way to evaluate players such as Fernandez so that you can be prepared for your draft, then be sure to find out how to get your free copy of the incredible 2015 Fantasy Alarm Baseball Draft Guide.

Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service, and co-host of the Fantasy Alarm Podcast.  You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment),