With June just around the corner, the clock starts ticking on the countdown to the next wave of rookies. The super two deadline will pass soon meaning it will not be long before we are seeing some of the uber-prospects making their debut. As we wait for Trea Turner, Tyler Glasnow, Orlando Arcia, and the like to join their big league clubs, let’s breakdown some of the top rookies in fantasy through the first two months.
Every couple of weeks, the Rookie Report will keep you up to date on the latest comings and goings in the world of major league rookies. We aim to provide you with news and information about some of the first-time major league players who are making an impact in fantasy so far and break down the expectations for their future.
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Infielders
Dae-Ho Lee (SEA – 1B)
With a 15-year career and over 320 home runs in the Korean and Japanese leagues, it is a bit unfair to group Lee with all the other rookies. But with only 75 MLB ABs, the lumbering first baseman qualifies. Known as a power hitter overseas with an average of 25.9 homers per year the last 12 seasons, Lee has continued his baseball barrage in the Pacific Northwest. As the righty half of a platoon with Adam Lind, the 33-year-old leads all rookies with a home run every 10.7 ABs.
HIs .267 average ranks Lee in the top 10 of rookies, while his slugging of .547 puts him behind only Trevor Story. The main detriment to Lee’s fantasy value is, of course, the limited playing time, but with Lind hitting .247 with only five homers, don’t be surprised to see the 6’4″ rookie start to see the lion’s share of plate appearances at first for the Mariners.
- 2016 stats: 75 AB, 10 R, 7 HR, 16 RBI, 0 SB, .267 AVG
Corey Seager (LAD – SS)
With the explosive start of Trevor Story and the hot-hitting of Aledmys Diaz and other rookies, Seager gets lost in the shuffle when thinking of the top rookies this season. Perhaps it is because of his impressive debut last September, that we seem to forget the Dodgers’ shortstop is still a freshman in his own right. Not at the top of the rookie leaderboards in any one category, Seager has been the most steady in a year of up-and-down performance by the first-year players.
On pace for 100 runs, 25 home runs, and 80 RBI, the 22-year-old is impressively leading the Dodgers in hits (55) and home runs (8). While some may be disappointed that Seager is not continuing the ridiculous .337/.425/.561 slash line he posted in 2015, the shortstop remains a top-six fantasy option at his position and has bested both Story and Diaz over the past month. By season’s end, I have no doubt Seager will find himself at the head of the 2016 freshman class.
- 2016 stats: AB, R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG
Other notable infielders: Trevor Story (COL – SS), Tommy Joesph (PHI – 1B)
Outfielders
Whit Merrifield (KC – OF)
With the Royals ranking near the bottom in runs scored, Alex Gordon sitting on the DL, and Omar Infante posting an average south of .250, Kansas City needed a spark and called up the versatile Merrifield on May 18. In his brief MLB tenure the 27-year-old has played all over the field: second base five times, outfield four, and third base once. While his defensive flexibility has been a welcome addition, his bat has been exactly what the Royals needed.
In the past seven games, Merrifield has hit second and provided immediate results. Besides his .375 average and eight runs scored, the Royals are 6-1 and have averaged just under seven runs scored per game. With 32 stolen bases in Triple-A last season, a minuscule career strikeout rate of 15.2 percent, and looming multi-position eligibility, When all is said and done this season, Merrifield may well end up being one of the best rookie waiver adds.
- 2016 stats: 40 AB, 8 R, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, .350 AVG
Nomar Mazara (TEX – OF)
As the weather heats up in Texas, so does Mazara’s bat. With only 14 home runs in 490 ABs in the minors last year, the power surge this month is a little unexpected. In the month of May, and in only 102 ABs, the Rangers’ outfielder has hit seven home runs or half the entire amount he blasted in Double and Triple-A in 2015.
His recent run of dingers, has led to the Rangers shifting him from the two spot in the lineup down to the five hole where his newfound power will add to his AL rookie leading 24 RBIs. At only 21-years-old and hitting in the heart of a tough Rangers offense; Mazara’s best numbers are ahead of him. That makes it a mistake that he is still unowned in over a quarter of Yahoo! leagues.
- 2016 stats: 165 AB, 22 R, 9 HR, 24 RBI, 0 SB, .309 AVG
Other notable outfielders: Tyler Goeddel (PHI – OF), Hyun-Soo Kim (BAL – OF)
Pitchers
Michael Fulmer (DET – SP)
Arriving in Detroit last summer in the blockbuster Yoenis Cespedes trade, Fulmer assumed the role as the top prospect in the Tigers’ organization. After fifth starter Shane Greene had gone down with an injury in late April, the 23-year-old fireballer got his chance to prove he was worth the big cost. However, through his first four MLB starts, Fulmer disappointed as he allowed nine walks and four homers in only 19.1 IP. He seemed destined for demotion with a 6.52 ERA, but his 10.2 K/9 rate and .431 BAbip left many thinking better days were ahead, and they were right.
Showing resolve and confidence, Fulmer battled back with a pair of gems against the Rays and A’s to secure his spot in the rotation for the time being. In a combined 14.2 innings, he allowed only seven hits, two walks, and one run while striking out 14. Available in over 75 percent of Yahoo! and ESPN leagues, Fulmer requires your immediate attention and makes for a priority pickup.
- 2016 stats: 6 GS, 34.0 IP, 36 K, 4 W, 3.97 ERA, 1.38 WHIP
Junior Guerra (SP – MIL)
A former catcher in the Braves organization, Guerra decided he was much better at tossing pitches than receiving them. Despite the position switch, the 31-year-old rookie found himself out of the majors from 2009-15 as he toiled in his native Venezuela before getting another crack at big leagues. With 128 Ks in 106.2 minor league innings, the last two years, the Brewers decided to give Guerra his first major league start May 3.
Pitching against some of the best offenses, Guerra was impressive. He tossed seven innings, allowing only three runs and striking out 11 versus the Cubs. In his last start, he limited the Cardinals to three earned runs while striking out six and walking none but was still dealt his first loss of the season. With solid ratios and a strikeout rate pushing 9.0, the Brewers’ starter is in the rotation for the long haul and deserves to be in your consideration for a waiver add this week.
- 2016 stats: 6 GS, 36.1 IP, 36 K, 3 W, 3.47 ERA, 1.16 WHIP
Other Notable pitchers: Steven Matz (NYM – SP), Tyler Wilson (BAL – SP)
Dale Redman is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Dale, check out his archive and follow him@DTRedman.