India isn’t a place where American companies look to manufacture products. Rather, it became a haven for the service economy, especially for call centers. Recently, though, a plethora of office parks have been built in India by US companies for high-paying, skilled jobs in all genres of work. Despite the many fundamental problems in India, the number of educated degrees handed out on a yearly basis is bountiful, but the public perception still remains tepid at best. The same can be said for the Kansas City Royals Jonathan India, who still has an ADP over 200 despite the rise over the last few weeks.
Our Laura Holt highlighted some Deep(ish) League Risers last week and here’s what she wrote about India:
Now here’s a guy where I not only understand his helium, I may have added to it myself the last few weeks. I think he’s been getting underdrafted in deeper leagues, and is a nice pick at this point if he just repeats close to what he did last year. If he can improve his production in Kansas City, and establish himself as their leadoff man while also possibly gaining outfield eligibility? Even better.
India is 28 years old, 5’11”, 200 pounds and bats from the right side. He was selected fifth overall by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2018 MLB Draft.
Throughout his minor league career, the plate discipline was always excellent, with a walk rate consistently in the double-digit range. The strikeout rate was manageable in the low-20s. The batting average was never great – .240 to .260 – and the ISO was all over the place.
When he got the call to the majors for the 2021 season, he rammed through everything like the Kool-Aid man. In 631 plate appearances, India slashed .269/.376/.459 with an 11.3% walk rate, 22.3% strikeout rate and .190 ISO. He ended that season with 21 home runs, 12 stolen bases, 98 runs and 69 RBI. As a result, he was named Rookie of the Year.
Injuries marred his next few seasons – hamstring, calf and ankle.
He was then traded to the Kansas City Royals after the conclusion of last season. When I put the tinfoil hat on, India had to be moved because he could no longer operate in Great American Ball Park.
So, why do I like India?
I love curry and Bollywood! I kid, I kid, although I do love both.
India is slated to bat leadoff for the Royals, right in front of Bobby Witt Jr. I always get googly eyes for batters at the top of the lineup. Steamer has India projected for 600 plate appearances. There are only 42 players projected for at least 600 plate appearances this upcoming season.
But India also has a projected slash of .255/.350/.402 with a 10.7% walk rate, 19.1% strikeout rate and .147 ISO. The counting stats are projected for 14 home runs, 12 stolen bases and 80 runs. There are only 42 players in all of baseball projected for at least 80 runs.
Kauffman Stadium isn’t great for home runs but, overall, it has the fourth-highest mark for park factors according to Statcast, with big boosts in doubles and triples. India is projected for the 35th-most doubles.
Did I mention that he’s cheap?
When Laura wrote about India, he had moved up 80 spots to 234th overall. He’s moved up 16 spots since, but he’s still in the 200s, and being drafted as the 19th second baseman!
Finally, I do think there’s some power upside. That may not manifeset at home, but he still plays 81 games on the road. The projected ISO is .147, but he’s shown the ability to post an ISO in the .190s. Let’s not forget that he’s dealt with a bevy of injuries. If he’s healthy, and he’s going to get plenty of good pitches to hit batting in front of Witt, it’s well within the range of outcomes that he far exceeds the current ISO projection.
I have quite a few shares! If he is league average, what is there to lose grabbing him late. We go 500+ deep in a few leagues, so I was thrilled with his ADP. Carlos Santana was Uber cheap too. I am in points leagues though. So….
We riding on the same horses. Yee haw!!!! Hopefully they take us to the horizon where the sun rises and sets, and not down the crack in the earth, where it is deep, dark and bottomless
Ive been trying to buy but cant get owner to budge. He has plenty of 2B and OF. Offered Soler, Mullins, Meadows (back when healthy), and didnt get any traction. Were those decent offers in a 18 teamer dynasty 6×6? He wants more but I feel the cost is around there.
They are fair, but that’s kind of irrelevant. When trying to acquire a player from someone else’s roster, you have to entice and motivate them to sell. But you have your line of demarcation, which is good thing, especially in this scenario because I wouldn’t overpay for India in a dynasty league. You want to reserve the overpay bullets for young difference makers.