Fantasy Baseball Profile: Don't Sleep on Kevin Kouzmanoff

Kevin Kouzmanoff made the jump from the National League to the American League this year going from the San Diego Padres to the Oakland A’s. While he’s not in the most potent offense, he still has the opportunity to be a low-end fantasy starter at third base (click to see 3B rankings ).

While his average leaves plenty to be desired—career .261 hitter—he has shown some pop despite spending the last three years in PETCO Park. His last three years he has 18 HRs & 74 RBI, 23 HRs & 84 RBI, and 18 HRs & 88 RBI. 

The thing that troubles me is the 59.3 runs he’s averaged over the past three years. Considering a third of his runs came via his HRs, that number is just staggering. There were 197 players who scored more than the 50 runs Kouzmanoff did last year. He was the only player with at least 500 ABs that didn’t top 50 runs. Only three other players (Aubrey Huff, A.J. Pierzynski, Jhonny Peralta) had 500+ ABs with fewer than 60 runs. 

I realize he hit after the Padres’ only other RBI threat, but that number is ridiculous. Oakland’s isn’t much better, but I can’t imagine that he doesn’t see significant improvement in that category.

I wouldn’t want him as my starting third baseman but would absolutely be fine with him as a corner infielder or as bench depth.

Prediction: .270, 65 runs, 20 HRs, 85 RBI

Past profiles :
Arizona Diamondbacks: Brandon Webb
Atlanta Braves: Yunel Escobar
Baltimore Orioles:  Adam Jones
Boston Red Sox:  Clay Buchholz
Chicago Cubs:  Geovany Soto
Chicago White Sox:  Jake Peavy
Cincinnati Reds:  Joey Votto  
Cleveland Indians:  Grady Sizemore
Colorado Rockies: Ubaldo Jimenez
Detroit Tigers: Miguel Cabrera
Florida Marlins: Cameron Maybin
Houston Astros: Lance Berkman
Kansas City Royals: Billy Butler
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Howie Kendrick
Los Angeles Dodgers: James Loney
Milwaukee Brewers: Corey Hart
Minnesota Twins: Joe Nathan
New York Mets: Jason Bay
New York Yankees: Robinson Cano