We have made it to the start of the MLB season, and there were some awe-inspiring performances. As usual, there were some great and rough performances to dig into. This weekly column will help highlight some hot and cold players for fantasy purposes. Some players are already rostered in many places so trades may be in order. Other players may be widely available, making a potential waiver wire claim in the cards. So this week, I will highlight some known and lesser-known players. So let’s see some of the risers and fallers for fantasy baseball Week 1 (3/30-4/2).
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Risers
Brendan Donovan (1B,2B,SS,3B,OF – STL)
In 2022, Donovan was good but was not out of this world regarding fantasy. He hit .281 with five home runs and two stolen bases. However, Donovan went to work this offseason and displayed a new approach at the plate in spring. He is elevating the ball more, pulling the ball more, and becoming a better offensive talent.
Those spring improvements carried over to the first weekend of action as Donovan hit .367 with two home runs, five runs scored, and four RBI. Donovan led off each game for the Cardinals and could become a significant fantasy factor if these improvements at the plate continue throughout the season.
Many fantasy managers were intrigued with Duvall joining the Red Sox, and after a rough Spring Training, some concerns were setting in. However, after the opening weekend of action, those concerns have been put to rest. Duvall hit safely in all three games with six extra-base hits, including two home runs and eight RBI.
It’s a tiny sample, but Duvall had a 36.4% barrel rate and a 63.6% hard-hit rate. Duvall will not stay this locked in all year, but the power will be there, and hitting in the middle of the Red Sox lineup will provide plenty of fantasy goodness.
Moncada was having a solid Spring Training but still felt like a forgotten man in fantasy drafts, as the last few seasons have not been good. However, Moncada carried the spring success into the opening weekend by hitting safely in all four games with three doubles and two home runs. He seems healthy for the first time in a few years and could be a late-round gold mine for those who took a chance on draft day.
Cron has showcased quality power throughout the years, but it was strictly a home/road situation last year. Cron crushed in Coors Field but was virtually nonexistent on the road. That’s why Cron’s opening weekend on the road was even more exciting. He hit safely in three of four games with two doubles and three home runs.
The power production was excellent, coinciding with an equally impressive 11.8% strikeout rate. Let’s see what Cron does in the next series on the road after the Rockies play a series in Coors.
Last year was a very disappointing season for Gorman during his MLB debut. He crushed in the Minors but never got comfortable in the Majors hitting 14 home runs with a 32.9% strikeout rate. However, he did not let that stop him and has started the season crushing for the Cardinals. Gorman hit safely in the first three games for the Cardinals with two home runs while playing DH. The Cardinals have a lot of mouths to feed, but as long as Gorman can keep hitting, he should stay in the lineup.
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