2019 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

Congratulations on landing the first pick. Your reward is Trout, a super-duper-star who is somehow getting better. The Angels stud set career highs in walk rate (20.1%), OBP (.460), wOBA (.447), and wRC+ (191) during his seventh season. He has cleared a .300 batting average in each of the last three years and averaged 33.6 homers per season after popping 39 in 2018. The floor and ceiling remain sky-high despite missing time over the past two years.

It may be tempting to snag Betts with the 1st pick over Trout, after the ridiculous season he just put together, but remember that he is just one year removed from batting .264 with 24 homers. There is a chance Betts outproduces Trout, but that isn't a risk you should gamble on.

Drafters know what they're getting in Arenado, who has batted no lower than .287 with at least 37 homers and 110 RBI in the last four years. He has played all but 16 games in those four seasons, making him a durable beacon of consistency worthy of a first-round selection. He signed an extension during the offseason, so investors no longer need to worry about a midseason trade removing him from Coors Field. A lack of steals is an unfortunate, but acceptable tradeoff for locking in bankable production at every other category.

Martinez is a rare first-round hitter who rarely runs, but he'll make up for it in every other spot. While the 31-year-old probably won't win another batting title at .330, he's a .307 hitter since 2014's breakout who has exceeded .300 in three straight years. He boasts an MLB-high .655 slugging percentage in the past two seasons with 88 long balls. Last season, he placed within the 97th percentile or better in exit velocity, hard-hit%, xAVG, xSLG, and xWOBA. Hitting in the middle of Boston's lineup also makes him a strong bet to drive in and score over 100 runs. Limited fielding reps helped him stay healthy, but he played enough OF (25 games) to maintain fantasy eligibility, making him a strong four-category star.

A second-half slump removed Ramirez from the AL MVP and No. 1 pick conversations. Don't punish him too severely for the .218 batting average after the All-Star break, as the 26-year-old infielder still tallied 39 homers, 34 steals and 26 more walks (106) than strikeouts (80). Given his excellent plate approach and career 88.0% contact rate, his average should improve from .270 closer to his .285 career norm if he curtails last year's pop-up woes (13.0%). After giving everyone a late scare in spring with a knee injury, he's expected to be ready for Opening Day.

Fantasy owners may have been disappointed with Turner's performance last year, but he still averages 20 HR, 56 SB and 106 runs with a .289 average per 162 games. Only Rickey Henderson and Joe Morgan have matched those totals over a full season. Turner is an extraordinary fantasy baseball asset and well worth a top 15 pick

There is no denying that Yelich was a first round value in 2018 and perhaps even the #1 fantasy asset thanks to a .326 average with 36 homers, 22 steals and 110+ runs and RBIs. These numbers blew away his career marks, however, so projection models all have him regressing to a high-end second round value this year

Acuna met the seismic hype, and then some, by hitting .293/.366/.552 with 26 homers and 16 steals in 111 sizzling rookie games. He flaunted his MVP ceiling by posting a .429 wOBA and 19 of those long balls after the All-Star break. Challenging Mike Trout as baseball's best player is a real ceiling he could reach as soon as 2019. Before drafting him accordingly, beware a 25.3 K% and 74.6% contact rate sending his average backyard in his age-21 season. He may also run less often in the leadoff role.

Harper may have posted just a .249 batting average in 2018, but the rest of his fantasy production was tremendous, plus his underlying metrics indicate the average returning closer to the .270 mark in 2019. His fantasy value improved when he signed with Philly because their ballpark is great for lefties, but he is still just a 2nd round pick.

Judge had a down year in 2018 which means his OPS was merely .919. If he can get back to playing 150 games this year, fantasy owners can bank on 45 homers, 110 runs and 100 RBIs. That may have you ready to grab him in the first round, but he comes with more injury risk than anyone else in the top 20

It can be easy to be discouraged by Altuve "only" batting .316 with limited power and steals, but the injury seemed to influence his performance much more than most realize. You can expect a return to his 20 homer, 30 steal, 110 runs season with a batting average north of .330

Bregman had 83 extra-base hits last season to go with 105 runs and 103 RBIs despite being just 24 years old. Chances are high that his fantasy value continues to trend north. With that said, he is currently recovering from elbow surgery so be sure to keep an eye on his progress before picking him up in the 1st round this spring.

You can snag Story in the late second, or even third round despite the fact that he outproduced top-five pick, Francisco Lindor in BA, SB, RBI and was just one behind him in homers. There is more risk with Story, but his 2018 campaign was among the all-time greats for fantasy shortstops

Regardless of what you think about Machado, he has been a reliable force of nature the last few years and likely hasn't even come into his prime yet. The landing spot in San Diego isn't quite what you would think, as it has actually been a top half of the league ballpark for right-handed hitters since they moved their fences in. So don't hesitate to snag him at the end of the first round, as he seems destined for another 35+ homer, 90+ RBI, 90+ run season

After obliterating pitchers in 2017, Stanton cooled off in a big way last year, striking out 211 times and hitting just .266 with 38 homers. There is upside for 60+ bombs this year, but believe it or not, he has only hit 40 or more once his entire career

Goldschmidt was incredible over his last 100 games, posting a .334/.424/.608 line. You may think his stats will take a big hit moving out of Chase Field, but with the humidor in place, it was actually among the worst park for hitters last season. In St. Louis, he should continue his run of 30+ homers, 95+ runs and a .290+ batting average

First basemen isn't as deep as it once was so commodities like Freeman are well worth investing in toward the middle of the third round. He is a lock for 90 runs, 90 RBIs and a .300 batting average each year and that type of player doesn't grow on trees

Baez was excellent last year, hitting 34 homers with 21 steals, 101 runs and a league-leading 111 RBIs. While he is surely a star, every projection model sees those numbers regressing in 2019, especially his batting average which was propped up by a .347 BABIP

While Blackmon wasn't the number one fantasy asset like in 2017, he still knocked 29 homers, led the league in runs and batted .291, and don't forget, that was a down year. If that is his floor, fantasy owners are getting a steal in the late 2nd round.

Originally expected to return from a calf injury in early April, Lindor suffered an ankle ailment while rehabbing. There's now no timetable for his recovery, and it's increasingly hard to see Cleveland letting him run once back on the diamond. Investors have little choice but to wait and hope for the best, but they shouldn't expect him to return first-round value.

Benintendi is a spectacular real life player, but in fantasy, he was extremely similar to Jean Segura who happens to be going five rounds later. The arrow is pointing up for Benintendi, but not enough to warrant a top 30 draft pick

Bryant missed 60 games last year and had his least efficient season of his career by quite a bit. There is some risk in drafting Bryant in the 3rd round, but he also comes with 40 homer upside, a batting average near .300 and both 100+ runs and RBIs

Soto was every bit as good as top-ten pick, Alex Bregman per plate appearance last season, but is going 20 picks later. Keep in mind, he accomplished that as a teenager. Don't hesitate to reach an entire round to grab him before he progresses even more

Rizzo took a major step backwards in the first half last year, but his final line of 25 homers, 101 RBIs and a .283 batting average ended up being about as good as his average season. We were drafting him in the 3rd round last year so don't hesitate to scoop him up for a discount this season

Marte bounced back from his 2017 suspension season with another big year. He stolen 33 bases, knocked 20 homers and batted a quality .277. While he may not swipe 45 bags anymore, that power/speed combo makes him well worth a fourth round pick in standard leagues

Although his slugging percentage dropped from .618 to .496, Hoskins still popped 34 homers in his first full season. Boasting MLB's highest fly-ball rate (51.7%) and launch angle (22.6°) of all qualified hitters, drafters can expect more of the same. Yet it will come at the cost of batting average, and he'll only offer a handful of steals when pitchers aren't looking. Last year's 48th-ranked hitter on ESPN's Player Rater probably needs 40-plus homers to validate his hefty cost. At least he'll get plenty of RBI opportunities hitting alongside Bryce Harper.

Every single season, fantasy owners draft Rendon in the fourth or fifth round and every single year he outproduces that draft value. 2018 was no different, as he hit .308 with 24 homers, 92 RBIs and 88 runs scored in just 136 games. Don't make the mistake of letting him slip by you in the fourth again this season

Looking for 40 homers? Draft Davis and write it in ink. He has knocked 133 over the last three seasons with 335 RBIs in that time. The floor is as high as you'll find in the first five rounds but the batting average is almost certainly going to be around .250 again

With the Royals not expected to compete in 2019, there is little doubt that Merrifield will surpass 40 stolen bases again. He doesn't have much in the way of power, nor will he score a load of runs in this offense, but the batting average should end up around .300 once again

Last year was a major disappointment for Bellinger owners after he hit 39 homers in just 132 rookie games in 2017. He still managed to hit 25 bombs with 14 steals, however, so the floor is plenty high. At just 23 years old, we clearly haven't seen the best of Bellinger so don't be surprised if he breaks out for 50 bombs this year or next

Xander has been around for so long that it is easy to forget he is still just 26 years old. Although there have been periods of disappointment in the past, Bogaerts still has averaged 15 homers, 91 runs, 84 RBIs and a .295 BA over the last four seasons. Add in that 2018 was his best yet and we may be looking at another big step forward this season

Springer is one of a handful of stars who started off their season with a rough patch. He started to turn in around in the second half before his injury, but only enough to get his final line to 22 homers and a .265 batting average. If he can stay healthy, Springer might lead the AL in runs scored along with plenty of homers and RBIs, but the speed has essentially disappeared

Correa has missed a significant chunk of time in each of the past two seasons, and while he struggled in 2018, don't forget that he is still just 24 years old and one year removed from being the MVP front-runner prior to his injury. There is major upside here and he may prove to be a league winner

Few people could have foreseen the impact Mondesi would make down the stretch last season, finishing as a top-five overall hitter in standard roto/categories leagues from August 1 on. His plate discipline left a lot to be desired, but his 14 HRs and 32 SBs in 75 games led a lot of fantasy managers to the championship circle. If you believe most of the projection systems, he's due for a 20-40 kind of season in 2019, production that would again place him right alongside the very best roto options in the game. His limited track record makes him a risk-reward pick, but his skills are very real and his current sixth-round draft cost is very reasonable.

In the first half last year, Suarez was sensational, hitting 19 homers with 71 RBIs while batting .312. The second half wasn't as pretty, so we may see him take a step back in 2019, but you can still bank on 30+ homers and around 100 RBIs with a decent batting average

Votto did not return second round value or even close to it last year, but his ADP should be around the fifth this year. You can expect his batting average to bounceback above .300, and don't forget that he had 94 HRs in the previous three years before his 12 in 2018

It might not feel sexy drafting Segura, but you can expect a .300+ batting average and 20+ steals for the fourth consecutive season from him. If he finally plays a full season, we may be looking at a 20/30 year with a .310 batting average which would make Segura a top 25 fantasy asset

Albies got off to a torrid start in his first full season in the Big Leagues, hitting nine home runs in April and heading into the All Star break with 20 HRs and nine steals. He struggled mightily in the second half of the season, but still finished as a top-three second basemen in standard 5x5 formats. There are some concerns that the Braves' acquisition of Josh Donaldson could push Albies down towards the bottom half of the lineup, hurting his counting stats and ability to steal bases, but it's also possible he'll stick in one of the first two lineup spots. Regardless, Albies has already proven he has 20-20 potential and should even be able to improve a bit on last season's .261 batting average.

Forget the groundhog seeing his shadow; there's no better sign of spring's arrival than seeing Cruz get drafted criminally late. After merely clobbering 37 homers-his lowest tally since 2013-the stud DH has a consensus ADP outside of the top 100. That's an absurdly low price for a dependably elite slugger who finished in the 98th percentile of hard-hit rate, exit velocity, xwOBA, and xSLG. Despite logging a .282 xBA for the third straight year, his actual average dropped from .287 and .288 to .256. Even if he merely splits the difference and reverts to .270, he'd be a better version of Rhys Hoskins going multiple rounds later. So what if he doesn't have a position? Were you planning on leaving a utility spot empty?

Cain didn't experience the power growth that many were expecting when he moved from Kansas City to Milwaukee, and his fantasy value was somewhat lessened by an absurdly low RBI count (38). But he did hit north of .300 for the fourth time in five seasons and collected a career-high 30 stolen bases. It's probably time to accept that he is not going to be a 20 HR guy, but he doesn't need to be one to be a top-50 hitter in standard 5x5 leagues. And he could be even better than that if everything clicks and he goes .300-15-30 with over 100 runs scored.

Since Abreu joined the league, he is fifth in the majors with 288 RBIs and #1 among that group with a .295 batting average. As you know, he provides plenty of homers and runs as well. It may not feel interesting to draft Abreu, but with first base more shallow than years past, he is an excellent 6th round pick

Puig was a steady-if-unspectacular performer over his last two seasons in Los Angeles, settling in as a player who could hit around .265 while approaching 30 HRs and 15 SBs. He'll get a nice ballpark upgrade in his new home of Cincinnati, Ohio, and there is some belief that he will also benefit from being away from the distractions of LA, but it is hard to justify drastically raising our expectations for Puig until we see some evidence of it on the field. Don't overrate him, but he's certainly worth considering at his current ADP of 91.3.

Despite playing 34 fewer games than Andrew Benintendi over the last two seasons, Pham has outplayed him from a fantasy perspective. Pham is being drafted four rounds later and is coming off one of the best second-halfs in the MLB

Murphy's overall stat line wasn't all that impressive last year, but once he was healthy in the second half, he returned to hittin .315 with a 25 HR pace. Move that to Coors Field and we may be looking at the NL Batting Champion with plenty of homers, RBI and runs. Be mindful that he rarely plays a full season, but when he is on the field we are looking at a top 30 fantasy asset

Ozuna's massive 2017 season seemed destined to go down as an outlier, and that's exactly what happened as he experienced a major drop-off in every offensive category last season. A shoulder injury reportedly impacted his performance last year, but the fact remains that Ozuna now has three full seasons where he has hit exactly 23 home runs with a batting average between .265 and .280 and 75-90 RBIs. That's the player we should expect in 2019, not the one that went .312-37-124 in 2017.

Rosario produced nearly identical stat lines in 2017 and 2018, suggesting he is a pretty safe bet to produce around 25 HRs, 10 SBs, and a batting average in the .290 range. He may lack the upside of some of the other names coming off the board around pick 80, but if you're looking for a steady across-the-board contributor, don't hesitate to call Rosario's name.

It can be easy to forget that as a rookie in 2016, Seager was not only the rookie of the year, but an MVP finalist. He was plenty useful in 2017 fantasy baseball too, but missed most of 2018 with Tommy John surgery and hip surgery. He should be ready to roll by opening day so while there is some risk, consider that he is still just 24 so we may not have seen his best yet

Nobody is doubting Guerrero's skills. Especially not Steamer, as the typically pessimistic projection system has the 19-year-old batting .306/.368/.511 with 22 homers in 550 plate appearances. Toronto's teenage prodigy has nothing left to prove in the minors after collectively batting .381/.437/.636 in Double-A and Triple-A. The problem is opportunity, with the Blue Jays almost certain to hold baseball's top prospect back for service-time manipulation. Since he was never going to make the Opening Day roster, supporters shouldn't get cold feet because of an oblique injury that guarantees a delay to his anticipated arrival. With Ronald Acuna's sensational debut fresh in everyone's mind, there's still little chance of snagging Vlad Jr. at a discount. Don't bite so soon in re-drafts, but it'll get tougher to resist if he lasts to the late fifth or sixth round.

Torres is a former elite prospect who is coming off an excellent rookie season in New York. He strikes out a bit too much at this stage of his career to be a reliable asset in batting average, but he won't kill you there and should be able to match or exceed last season's 24 home runs while also chipping in 5-10 steals and solid run and RBI totals. At just 22 years old, there's also a chance that Torres takes a big step forward this year and jumps into the upper echelon at the position, but his fifth-round ADP means you'll be paying for that upside if you draft him.

Realmuto's .277 batting average with 21 homers and 74 RBIs doesn't seem all that impressive, but the fact of the matter is that he blew the rest of the catcher scene away with those numbers. Realmuto is as safe as it comes at the position and should produce far above the lousy replacement level once again. This is especially true now that he has been traded to a great hitter's ballpark in Philly. Don't hesitate to reach for him so you don't get stuck with an awful catcher

Over the last five years, Carpenter has a remarkable 468 walks, which obviously has contributed to his 483 runs. In that time, his power has steadily improved, all the way to 36 homers last year, and while that total may not be repeatable, 30 homers with 100 runs makes him well worth a sixth round pick in 2019 fantasy leagues

Haniger built on his impressive 2017 debut with the Mariners in 2018, producing a .285/90/26/93/8 roto line that ranked 10th among outfielders. The power and speed numbers look completely sustainable for Haniger, but his batting average could be due for a bit of regression and it may be challenging to produce 90+ runs and RBIs again in a rebuilding Mariners lineup. Haniger is unlikely to be a bust, but last season's numbers are probably closer to his ceiling than his floor.

There's no doubt that Castellanos is a solid fantasy option, but last season's .298 batting average looks due for quite a bit of regression, he doesn't run, and his run production numbers could also take a hit as the Tigers enter into a full-on rebuild. There are better outfielders available at his late-seventh round ADP.

How why are you willing to take a guy who batted .186 last season? Turns out the answer is pretty high for Sanchez, who's challenging J.T. Realmuto as the top catcher off the board. He did, after all, hit .284/.354/.568 in 754 prior MLB plate appearances. A groin injury also hampered his production, and he additionally underwent offseason shoulder surgery. He struggled mightily against breaking balls, but actually deposited more walks without significant contact declines. The average could easily rise back to .250 with around 30 long balls, but is that enough to justify an investment around pick 60? Catcher is worse than usual, but that's still too steep in one-catcher formats.

After hitting .265 with 16 HRs in 279 at-bats in 2017, Aguilar got the chance to be a full-time player in 2018, and took advantage to the sweet tune of a .274/80/35/108 line that made him a top-three first baseman in standard 5x5 roto leagues. Aguilar is a zero on the base paths and he strikes out too much to be of much help in batting average, either, but the power is very real and his run production numbers should continue to be excellent in a loaded lineup and great home park. Call Aguilar a HR/RBI specialist if you must, but at least recognize that he is one of the better HR/RBI specialists in the game.

There is plenty of reason to be excited about David Dahl, as his upside is a true five-category contributor. With that said, he has been among the most injury-prone players in baseball so even 400 plate appearances is no guarantee.

We've seen enough of Conforto by now to know that the hype was overblown. Sure, he has had some extremely promising stretches, but over a full year of health in 2018, he wasn't as good as Randal Grichuk who is going over 100 picks later because of the difference in name value.

Gallo has reached 40 HRs in each of his two full Major League seasons, and will enter 2019 as one of the best pure power hitters in the game. Unfortunately, that power comes attached to a .203 career batting average, meaning that fantasy owners who draft Gallo in standard 5x5 formats will need to either punt batting average or make a concerted effort to offset the damage he'll do there. Whether you draft Gallo or not is largely a matter of roster construction, but expect him to finish right around the top-100 players in terms of overall fantasy value. He does walk quite a bit, giving him a major boost in OBP formats.

Turner has played more than 130 games just once in his eight-year career, but he's been consistently excellent when he's on the field. If you pro-rate his stats over a full season, you are typically looking at 25 home runs and 90 RBIs. Most importantly, with a batting average of at least .312 in three of the last five seasons, Turner is on the very short list of players who are capable of winning the batting title. His value gets a big boost in leagues with daily lineups and/or multiple DL spots -- he is highly underrated in those formats.

Erratic over the course of a season, Upton is consistent on a year-to-year basis. Even if he never lived out Ken Griffey Jr. comparisons, the outfielder has logged over 600 plate appearances in each of the last eight seasons with at least 30 homers in the last three. A rise in ground balls and fall in fly balls, however, puts that streak in jeopardy. So does a toe injury that will likely send him to the IL to start 2019. That's a big blow since stability was a major driving force in drafting Upton.

Pollock was a fantasy monster in 2015, but then an elbow injury cost him almost the entire 2016 season and he hasn't been quite the same player since. A 20-20 season is in the realm of possibility here, and Pollock should score plenty of runs atop the Dodgers lineup as long as he can stay healthy. Just don't reach too early while dreaming of 2015.

Shaw has back to back seasons with 30 homers, and while his batting average may linger in the .240's again, that type of power is difficult to come by after pick 100, especially for someone who qualifies as a second basemen in most leagues.

McCutchen's strikeout rate has grown and his batting averaged has dipped over the last few seasons, but he has continued to be a very reliable source of 20+ homers, 10+ SBs, and solid run and RBI totals. Now, at age 32, he is finally set to play a full season in a hitter's park while surrounded by a potent lineup. McCutchen's numbers may fluctuate a bit based on where he ends up hitting in the lineup, but it's not unreasonable to expect his power and run production numbers to trend upward a bit in the best hitting environment of his long career.

Donaldson was one of the very best hitters in fantasy in 2015 and 2016. A calf injury cost him a big chunk of the 2017 season, but he still hit 33 home runs in 113 games. Then, in 2018, calf and shoulder injuries limited Donaldson to 52 games -- and had a huge impact on his performance while on the field. It's possible that Donaldson's body is falling apart and he'll never be the same, but it's also possible that he has one or two more big years left in the tank. That makes Donaldson a boom-or-bust pick, but the potential reward far outweighs the risk at his current ADP of 98.7.

While it may be appealing to draft incredible real-life players, there is a major difference between fringe AL MVP candidate and top 80 fantasy baseball player. Chapman's defensive prowess doesn't transfer over, unfortunately, so rather, we are looking at a mediocre power hitter with some batting average concerns.

Myers will play the outfield in San Diego this year, but will carry over third base eligibility from last season, making him one of the very few options for speed at 3B. He averaged 29 home runs and 24 stolen bases between 2016 and 2017, and was on pace to again go 20-20 last year if not for missing nearly half the season due to a host of different injuries. You can't expect Myers to do much better than his .253 career batting average, but his combination of power and speed makes him a sneaky contender to finish as a top-12 third baseman in roto/categories leagues if he can stay healthy.

Andujar flew under the radar until his major breakout last season. We've seen players like that face major challenges in their sophomore campaign so beware of the risk associated with picking him, but as we've seen, the upside is tantalizing and may prove well worth a mid-round pick.

For all the hype bestowed upon Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Jimenez is oddly getting a bit lost in the shuffle. He has nothing left to prove in the minors after hitting .355/.399/.597 with 12 homers in 55 Triple-A games, so the White Sox can't justify keeping him down too much longer. He should now start the season in Chicago after signing a six-year extension that eliminates any need to manipulate his service time. Jimenez could brandish top-shelf power from the start. Steamer agrees, projecting .293/.341/.502 with 25 homers in 130 games. Often available beyond the top-100 picks before the signing, the hype hadn't gotten out of hand yet. Barring a substantial uptick, he's especially an intriguing upside pick in shallower mixed leagues with three starting outfielders.

After back-to-back 30 HR campaigns, Odor managed to hit just 18 in 129 games last year, but there is little in his batted ball profile to suggest the power drop-off will be permanent. Of greater concern is the fact that Odor's strikeout rate has increased significantly over the last two seasons, and his stolen base success rate plummeted last season. Odor is certainly capable of producing a .250-30-15 season, but that outcome feels a little closer to his ceiling than his floor at this point. Still, unless he gets the red light on the base paths, Odor is a solid bet to again finish among the top-12 second basemen in standard 5x5 leagues.

Cano isn't nearly the player he once was, but he's proven over the last several seasons that he is still fully capable of hitting 20-25 HRs with a batting average north of .280. He is 36 years old and coming off of a PED suspension, so the risk for a collapse exists, but it's worth noting that he was actually better following the suspension last season. The move from Seattle to the Mets should be fairly neutral in terms of both ballpark and lineup.

Peraza broke out last season with 13 homers, 23 steals and a .288 batting average. Whether or not the power stays is a question, but he seems to be a safe source for runs, steals and batting average in the middle of drafts.

Peralta is a .293 career hitter, so it wasn't exactly a surprise that he hit .293 last year. What was shocking, however, was that he hit 30 home runs after never hitting more than 17 in any of his previous four Major League seasons. The power spike was backed up by a ton of hard contact, but his ground ball rate remained high, making a repeat quite unlikely. Buy Peralta for the batting average, and consider anything more than 20 home runs to be a bonus.

Batting average tends to be an underrated ability in fantasy baseball, and that is an area in which Brantley excels. But durability is also an underrated commodity, and that has been Brantley downfall for big chunks of his career. If Brantley can just manage to stay healthy, he should be able to contribute enough balanced production across all five roto categories to be a valuable third outfielder in mixed leagues.

Robles has been somewhat overshadowed by Juan Soto in Washington, but he had success in a brief stint with the Nationals last year and looks poised to break out in 2019. The projection systems generally expect Robles to steal at least 25 bases with low-double digit home runs and a batting average in the .275 range, which would probably be enough to make Robles worth deploying immediately, even in three outfielder leagues.

Moustakas has been an excellent source of power for several years running now and doesn't have as much swing and miss in his game as you might imagine. Now that he qualifies at second base and is back in Milwaukee, there is a strong case for drafting him within the top 100 overall.

Villar was Adalberto Mondesi version 1.0, posting an unreal .285-19 HRs-62 SBs line in 2016 before falling back to .241-11-23 in 2017. He split the difference last year, and with regular playing time ahead of him in Baltimore, he seems likely to post another .250-15-30 season. It's rarely pretty with Villar, but he could be a solid roto/categories league value going outside the top-100 picks in fantasy drafts.

Encarnacion may be getting up there in age, but there are few hitters who have produced consistent power at the rate he has. There is little reason to expect a sudden drop-off but with that said, his RBIs and runs should take a hit with Seattle losing some of their best offensive pieces.

Devers was somewhat disappointing in his first full Major League season, hitting just .240 and missing some time with a hamstring strain. But the low batting average was largely due to an unusually low .281 BABIP -- his batted ball profile was nearly identical to his promising 2017 debut. He also managed to produce 21 homers and five steals in just 121 games, not too shabby for a guy who was just 21-years old. The full breakout could be coming this year.

Gordon is going to absolutely destroy you in two categories and his batting average isn't anything to write home about. With that said, the potential of 60 stolen bases makes him worth the price of admission toward the middle of drafts.

For a guy who just tallied 27 homers and 11 steals in 137 games, Hicks isn't getting much love. He also scored 90 runs thanks to sporting a 15.5% walk rate in a stacked Yankees lineup. Even without adding in the stats gleaned by his lineup replacement, the outfielder still performed well enough to demand top-100 consideration. A rise in contact (78.0%) and hard-hit rate (39.5%) should lead to a higher average and sustained power, and his cost more than bakes in the substantial injury risk. He's an especially wise choice in shallower three-outfielder mixed leagues, where it's easier to fill in the gaps when he misses some time. That will happen early, as a back injury will keep him out to start 2019.

Muncy was 2nd in HR-rate among all MLB hitters last season. Granted, he slowed down toward the end of the year and his batting average wasn't ideal, but that type of power certainly warrants a top 100 pick. This is especially the case when he qualifies at second base and third base too.

Having hit 20 homers in each of his first three MLB seasons, Mazara has yet to validate his high prospect pedigree as an above-average hitter. Drafters paying for upside instead keep receiving a boring compiler with a career .258/.320/.425 slash line. Last year, he needed a career-high 20.0% HR/FB rate on a career-low 26.6% FB rate just to reach his usual 20, half of which he notched in May. All of this points to a steady hand rather than an upside play, but Mazara only turns 24 in April. His upside hasn't expired just yet, but don't overpay for unfulfilled hype.

Dozier may not have had the best season last year, but he still hit 21 homers with 12 steals. The batting average is expected to rise in 2019 and let's not forget that he has 40 homer, 20 steal upside.

Inciarte is not the kind of player that fantasy managers drool over, but he is a strong bet to steal 20 bases and hit 10 home runs while batting close to .300. If he does that again, he'll be well worth starting in standard 12-team mixed leagues.

Smith had a very impressive first full season in the Big Leagues, nabbing 40 stolen bases while hitting .296. He may not be able to quite duplicate that batting average again, but he won't kill you there and another 40 steals seems very possible.

Anderson was remarkable in the first half but really slowed down to close the season. Even still, he managed 20 homers and 26 steals. While he may be hard pressed to repeat that this year, 15 and 15 would make him a useful mid-round pick so long as his batting average doesn't plummet further.

Piscotty waited to get dropped in most leagues before delivering a bounce-back season. After batting .160 in May, he hit .286 with 24 homers and a .386 wOBA (.365 wOBA) from June 1 onward. Given his down 2017 (.235, 9 HRs), drafters should seek a near repeat of 2018 rather than extrapolating his late surge to a full season. Last year's 27 homers already set a career high, so aim for 25 from a solid, mid-tier option.

Hosmer was a wreck in the second half, posting a negative average launch angle. While that is no guarantee to be fixed, he is still a career .280 hitter with excellent durability and sufficient power. Eventually every player becomes a value and Hosmer's ADP may have fallen enough that it has become the case.

Moncada has both double-digit power and speed, but the batting average is lackluster. You can make the case that he has more potential as a former #1 overall prospect, but more likely, the holes in his game will prove too much for a big breakout to be a possibility.

You may be inclined to believe Cabrera is done since he has had two subpar seasons in a row, but he is apparently in the best shape of his life. Add in the fact that he will be spending most of his time as the Tigers DH and we might just have the biggest bounceback player on our hands.

Grandal's batting average may not seem all that appealing in the .240s range, but that is actually at replacement-level for the position so he won't hurt you there. He will definitely help in HRs, RBIs and runs, though. Over the last three seasons, he trails only (the injured) Salvador Perez in homers, and that was before he moved from an awful park for hitters in L.A. to a hitter's have in Milwaukee.

Braun isn't often healthy, but when he is on the field, he has continued to rake over the last three years. In that time, his per 162 game average is 30 homers, 18 steals and a .279 batting average. If he can finally stay on the field, fantasy owners will hit the jackpot this year.

Desmond has now gone 20/20 in five of his last six healthy seasons. His .236 batting average isn't what you'd hope for, but keep in mind that he batted .285 and .274 the previous two seasons so he should jump back in 2019.

Contreras was a major disappointment for fantasy owners in 2018 after starting off his career with 33 HRs, 109 RBIs and a .278 batting average through 629 at-bats in his first two years. He is still young, however, and expected to improve from last season.

DeJong is one of the better power options at shortstop, but he doesn't project to be of any help in batting average or stolen bases, meaning he'll need a big boost in runs and RBIs to become interesting in standard 5x5 leagues.

Profar finally got a full chance last year for Texas and posted 20 homers and 10 stolen bases. He takes a hit in projections moving from Texas to Oakland's ballpark, but keep in mind that he just turned 26 years old and very likely hasn't hit his prime yet.

Rosario is a former top prospect but that doesn't mean he has much more upside with the bat that we have already seen early in his career. A dozen homers and a .260 batting average is likely his cap, but with 25 stolen bases, that makes for a decent depth piece.

Andrus was downright awful in the 97 games he played last year, batting .256 with 6 homers and 5 steals. With full health, however, don't be surprised if he returns to the .300 hitting, 20 homer, 25 steal player that finished 2017 as a top fantasy shortstop.

Santana had some of the worst BABIP luck in baseball last year so you can expect his batting average to jump back into the .250s this year to go with his usual 20+ homers and 80+ runs. That makes him a quality late-round corner infielder as always.

The Mets finally found playing time for Nimmo, who responded in kind with 17 homers, nine steals, and the sixth-highest wRC+ (149) among all qualified hitters. Because of his stellar 15.0% walk rate, the Mets are likely to deploy him in the leadoff role (at least against righties) ahead of a refurbished lineup. He should deposit plenty of runs with 20-homer, 10-steal potential, but beware a low batting average because of his precise pickiness at the plate. A solid mid-draft investment in five-by-leagues, Nimmo's gold in OBP formats.

Because he stalled in Triple-A and was blocked by a crowded Pirates outfield, Meadows' arrival came later than anticipated. Yet he promptly made up for lost time, storming out of the gate with a 1.221 OPS, four homers, and three steals in May. He then struggled and lost playing time before and after a midseason trade to Tampa Bay. This time, however, he clobbered Triple-A pitchers to 10 dingers in 27 games after offering 12 in 636 prior Triple-A plate appearances for the Pirates. Don't forget that Meadows, once considered an elite prospect, still boasts an enticing power and speed profile. Plus, he only turns 24 in May. He could go 20/15 in an untethered starting role.

Schoop takes a hit this season in home ballpark factor, but even still, has been a consistent enough source of power that fantasy owners can accept his .233 batting average from last year. Keep in mind, also, he carried a .293 mark in 2017 so the upside is there for a big season again.

If he stays healthy, Eaton could go down as one of 2018's biggest steals. Pun somewhat intended, as he swiped nine of 10 opportunities in just 95 games when not sidelined by an ankle injury. Probably more important to his stock, he hit .301 with a .394 OBP, giving him an average and OBP above .280 and .360, respectively, in each of the last five seasons. That could give him an opportunity to bat ahead of Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto atop Washington's lineup. If his body cooperates, he'd become 2019's Michael Brantley.

Santana, who submitted 30 homers and 15 steals in 2017, once again has a regular role after getting shipped from Milwaukee to Seattle. He also struggled in scarce playing time last year, settling for five homers and 77 strikeouts in 235 plate appearances. Don't expect a full bounce-back to 2017; he was never going to sustain a 30.9% HR/FB rate. As a late pick for those who drafted before his two home runs in Tokyo, 20-25 long balls and a handful of steals would get the job done. But consider selling high if he stays hot in the U.S. in early April.

Hernandez may be about as boring as it gets, but you should be glad to welcome 15 homers, 20 steals and 90 runs onto your roster. That is the production he gave fantasy owners last year and you may want to keep in mind that he had a .294 batting average the two previous seasons.

The experts (146) and ADP (179) are still dreaming of what Schwarber could be rather than accepting who he is: a left-handed Evan Gattis with more walks and strikeouts. Both burly sluggers, unfortunately, no longer have catcher eligibility. While Schwarber can contribute in OBP or OPS leagues, the career .228 hitter is an average liability who won't make up for the glaring liability if the Cubs keep limiting his playing time. If lucky, drafters will get a .240, 30-homer outfielder with more intriguing power bats (Hunter Renfroe, Justin Smoak, Jake Lamb, a much cheaper Jay Bruce or Randal Grichuk) still on the board. Drafters could stay in Chicago and take the same power gambit on Daniel Palka over 100 picks later.

Ramos missed most of 2017 and struggled while he was healthy, but that seems to be the outlier, as he was tremendous in both 2016 and 2018, batting over .300 both seasons with plenty of power. Ramos is one of the safest fantasy catchers and may have as much upside as anyone besides Sanchez and Realmuto.

Before most of the majors even started the season, Olson got hit on his right hand by a pitch in Tokyo. He underwent hamate surgery, which will keep him out of action for at least a month. A tricky injury from which to recover, he may also need some time to rediscover his power upon returning. Just like that, a popular breakout pick throughout the offseason becomes someone to ignore -- unless given a sizable discount -- in drafts right before the league-wide Opening Day.

Catcher's don't often get 450 trips to the plate, but Tadi has done it every year since 2008. As you can imagine, the runs and RBIs pile up with extra playing time, and it certainly helps that he increases your team's batting average and may add another 20 homers this season.

Voit was extraordinary for the Yankees once they acquired him from St. Louis last year. In fact, he may have been one of the best hitters in baseball. Don't expect that for all of 2019, but don't be shocked if he puts up a Jesus Aguilar type of season either.

 

Once deemed a future superstar, Buxton spent most of 2018 in Triple-A after batting .156 with a -3 wRC+ in 94 dreadful big league plate appearances. It's understandable to write him off, but he remains an elite defender who posted Statcast's highest sprint speed. While his 20-homer, 40-steal hasn't vanished, it's an increasingly less likely dream that would get accompanied by a minuscule batting average. He should have to fall beyond the top-200 picks before taking the high-risk plunge.

Polanco batted .288 for fantasy owners in a shortened season last year and offers respectable power and speed. Don't be surprised if he knocks 15 homers with 15 steals this season.

Although Posey isn't likely a .300 hitter anymore, his .280s batting average is the equivilant of a .310 hitter when compared to the replacement-level at his position. Add in a dozen homers, if he can stay healthy this year, and you've got yourself a boring, yet extremely useful top 8 fantasy catcher.

It is too bad we can't track web gems for fantasy baseball because Simmons just isn't as valuable in fantasy. Despite the lack of power, he doesn't offer some value in the fact that he should hit in the .280s with double-digit steals and near 70 runs scored.

 

A quiet difference-maker down the stretch, Laureano batted .288/.358/.474 with five homers and seven steals in 48 games with the A's. He's unlikely to sustain that average with a 28.4% strikeout rate, and his .388 BABIP is likely to fall in a larger sample. He also had no answer for major league breaking balls (.188 wOBA), a weakness pitchers should attack after getting a better scouting report. Yet the 24-year-old outfielder, who offered 14 homers and 11 steals in Triple-A before last summer's promotion, offers an intriguing power-speed repertoire as an OF4 or 5. His glove should also keep him on the field. He hits the ball hard enough to reasonably draft for a .260, 15/15 output while hoping for more.

You won't get much help from Semien in terms of batting average, but he is a good bet for 15 homers and 15 steals, plus last season he provided fantasy owners with 89 runs scored. Expect more of the same from this durable and reliable depth piece.

 

The latest byproduct of Cardinal Devil Magic, Bader broke out with 12 homers, 15 steals, and a 3.5 fWAR in 138 games. The WAR doesn't directly help fantasy investors, but stellar defense in center field should preserve a starting job on a crowded Cardinals roster with one corner-outfield spot left for Dexter Fowler, Tyler O'Neill, and Jose Martinez. A 29.3 K% and .220 xBA threaten his passable .264 batting average and said security, but there's also a high steals ceiling with last year's ninth-highest Statcast Sprint Speed Score (29.9 feet/second). Don't go overboard on his rookie success.

 

Hamilton is going to give you no power, of course, and his batting average will almost certainly drag you down, but 50 steals will more than make up for both of those problem spots. If you are low on steals in the middle of your draft, Hamilton can quickly solve that problem.

Bell has shown us a .273 batting average before and another year he swatted 26 homers with 90 RBIs. Last year was a little bit in between, but he has the potential to do both one day and perhaps this year.

Kepler's incremental raises in home runs (17, 19, 20) and wOBA (.313, .315, .316) suggest he's still a boring player not progressing nearly rapidly enough to target in most mixed leagues. Yet he made some significant gains in 2018 that point to more significant development. The outfielder improved his walk (11.6%) and strikeout (15.7%) rates to personal bests while also making notable leaps in fly balls (46.2%) and hard hits (37.1%). These gains should yield a higher batting average than last year's .224 with the potential for 25 homers if given another 611 plate appearances. Most drafters have already closed the book on Kepler as a meddling depth piece after three full seasons, but the 26-year-old could finally expedite his growth with a full-fledged breakout.

Although Bauers was awful last year with a .201 batting average, there is plenty of reason for optimism. Bauers should provide 15 to 20 homers with double-digit steals and a significantly better batting average in 2019.

 

Smoak may not have hit 38 homers with 90 RBIs again like he did in 2017, but there is certainly nothing wrong with the 25 and 77 line he put together. His .242 batting average hurts, but at this stage in the draft, you have to give a little to get this type of power.

 

 

 

 

Mancini's batting average dropped 50 points last year, but much of that was due to a rough BABIP. While he likely won't bounce-back up to the .290's his batting average likely won't kill you while he provides another 25 homers for fantasy owners.

Looking like no more than a short-end platoon bat, Renfroe unearthed his raw power to rake 19 home runs in 60 second-half games. That late surge helped secure some fantasy titles, but the price isn't rising since he must compete with Wil Myers, Manuel Margot, Franmil Reyes, and Franchy Cordero for playing time in San Diego's outfield. A 112 wRC+ against righties should give him a shot to avoid a small-portioned timeshare, but any slump could promptly cost the 27-year-old playing time. He's also a solid bet to pop 30 long balls if given just 500 plate appearances, so don't sleep on him if competitors are avoiding a crowded outfield.

You may not feel great about drafting Lamb after his trainwreck 2018 season, but he is just one year removed from 30 homers and 105 RBIs so don't sleep on him bouncing back. With that said, the move to the humidor in Arizona makes it seem as though his ceiling is a bit lower than what we saw from him in 2017.

Gurriel isn't going to mash 25 homers like many of the others going in his late-round range, but he is a sure-bet to boost your batting average which is difficult to find as the draft comes to a close.

Franco has always had plenty of potential, but has yet to put it together for a full season. Over his final 350 at-bats last year, he was excellent and now that the Phillies bulked up their lineup, it is possible that Franco could break out for a .280, 25 homer, 100 RBI season.

While Jed Lowrie and Todd Frazier both starting 2019 on the IL, Alonso forced the Mets' hand and won an Opening Day by displayed his Herculean power throughout spring training. The rookie could promptly crush 30 long balls if locked into the starting role all year. Their infield, however, could get crowded when Lowrie and Frazier return, so he may need to hit out of the gate to preserve a big league role.

While he won't help much in batting average, Cron did hit 30 homers in just 140 games last season. He may see a further bump with full playing time and a ballpark upgrade from Tampa to Minnesota.

Gennett will miss two to three months to start 2019 after spraining his groin at the end of spring training. Those who drafted the second baseman who stash him beyond the shallowest of mixed leagues, as he was one of eight players to bat at least .300 with 50 homers through the past two seasons. Yet the Statcast data remains skeptical. No hitter with a least 350 plate appearances had a wider gap between wOBA (.362) and xwOBA (.311) in 2018.

White closed out the season on a terror for Houston, finishing with an .888 OPS. He likely will open the season as their DH and has a chance at breaking out, but may be pushed out of the lineup by Kyle Tucker if he slips up.

After batting .323 across three minor league levels in 2017, Jansen hit .275 with 12 homers and five steals through 88 games in AAA in 2018 before earning an August call-up to the Blue Jays. He hit .247 with three homers over 31 games in Toronto, and it's reasonable to expect him to maintain a similar pace over his first full Big League season with the potential for more. Given the sorry state of the catcher position, it could make sense to take a chance on Jansen's unknown upside once the seven or eight surefire starters at the position are off the board.

Entrenched in a heated battle for Colorado's second-base gig, Hampson has teased immense fantasy upside with three homers and five steals in his first 13 spring games. The career .315/.389/.457 minor league hitter has swiped 125 bases in three professional seasons, so he could be a major difference-maker if given the opportunity to start regularly while calling Coors Field home. Drafters still must be careful, as Ryan McMahon and Pat Valakia are also making compelling cases for playing time this spring. Hampson, however, would help fantasy investors the most, and thus warrants a late-round gamble.

We have seen enough from Marte to know he will never produce useful batting averages or the speed he teased as a prospect. There is something to be said for an everyday player in terms of counting stats, but outside of that, he is replacement-level.

With LeMahieu now away from Coors, you can't expect him to hit .348 again, or even .300. His stolen bases have essentially disappeared over the past few seasons and we aren't likely to get double-digit homers either. At this point, LeMahieu is a replacement level fantasy asset.

 

Senzel can't catch a break. Shortly after getting optioned to Triple-A, he suffered a sprained ankle that will sideline him for a few weeks to start the season. That derails his chances of replacing the injured Scooter Gennett (groin) at second base. Most scouts believe the 23-year-old can make an immediate mark, but injuries and a crowded Reds lineup could continue to delay his anticipated debut. The latest setback makes it tougher to stash him in standard mixed leagues.

Adames broke onto the scene last year as a 22-year-old posting a 19-homer, 11 stolen base pace with a .278 batting average. It was a limited sample size, however, and there are still some holes in his swing. Think of him on the same terms as Dansby Swanson who also had a nice rookie campaign before everyone realized he had quite a bit to go offensively.

On a 162-game pace, Gurriel was a 27 homer hitter with a .281 batting average and 87 RBIs. He may not keep up that pace with a full season's worth of at bats, but you can argue that is his upside which would make for an exceptional value late in drafts.

You may not feel sexy drafting Ryan Zimmerman, but he is just one year removed from hitting 36 homers with a .303 batting average and 108 RBIs. Last year wasn't bad either with an .824 OPS, but he caught the injury bug again. He is a classic boom or bust late-round pick.

Martinez rakes, there is no doubt about that, but he also lost his path to playing time when Paul Goldschmidt was acquired this off-season. Now, he requires an injury to either Marcell Ozuna or Dexter Fowler/Tyler O'Neill to see more than 300 at-bats.

Castillo only saw 49 games worth of action last season, but his bat was still quality when he played. Over the last five years, he averages 26 homers with a .261 BA and 85 RBIs per 162 games, so now that he is starting, fantasy owners can expect useful production out of him.

Now that Cabrera is with the Rangers and expected to play every day, we can feel comfortable grabbing him late in drafts as a reliable source of power to go with a decent batting average.

The Padres presented a pleasant surprise by including Tatis on their Opening Day roster. Arguably MLB's best prospect behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the 20-year-old shortstop batted .286/.355/.507 with 16 homers and steals apiece in 88 Double-A games last season. He also recorded a 27.7% strikeout rate, so expect some growing pains in his debut. An early slump could send him back to the minors, where Luis Urias will wait for another call-up. Like Yoan Moncada, Tatis could offer double-digit homers and steals with a low batting average, but he's certainly worth rostering just in case he breaks out sooner than expected.

 

 

Belt still hasn't surpassed 20 homers in any season and over the last two seasons, his batting average has dropped down below .255. If he can stay healthy for once, however, Belt may reach 25 homers if he keeps up his HR-rate.

Steven Souza's season-ending knee surgery will likely clear up a starting spot for Jones, who still hit .281 with 15 homers in a down 2018. The durable veteran has averaged 151 games played over the past nine seasons, and he had gone seven straight seasons with at least 25 long balls before last year's decline. He's a boring depth piece who can help fill an injury void in deep leagues.

 

 

Castro went from one of the best ballparks to the worst possible offensive ballpark last season and it showed in his stats as he dropped from a .300 batting average and 20 homer pace to 12 homers and just a .278 average. More than likely, that is the mediocre type of production fantasy owners will get this year.

Outside of Marwin's huge 2017 season, he hasn't offered much from an offensive perspective. There is some power, but his batting average will hurt fantasy teams and the depth chart doesn't guarantee even 450 at-bats for him.

Sano is out until at least May with a heel injury so he may not be worth drafting unless your league has DL spots available. If not, he is a great waiver wire pickup a few weeks into the season as his career per-162 profile is near identical to fifth round pick, Rhys Hoskins.

 

Alonso wasn't especially impressive last year with a .250 batting average and just 23 homers, but he is just one year removed from posting an .866 OPS with Oakland and Seattle so don't discount a big bounce-back campaign.

Longoria had a rough season for fantasy owners in 2018, but the batting average was held back by an abnormally low BABIP and his power was right on track for another 20 to 25 homers had he been healthy for the full season. In deeper leagues, his reliability is exactly what you should be targeting.

It is easy to look at a .300 batting average and assume a rookie will only get better. Wendle likely played over his head last year, though, and was a 28-year-old rookie. There is no power to his game, and while he may offer 15 to 20 steals, it won't be enough to make him anything more than a late-round pick.

The Dodgers will oddly relegate Taylor to a super-utility role after recording 7.9 fWAR over the last two years combined. Although he didn't fully repeat a breakout 2017, he was still a productive starter (113 wRC+, 3.1 WAR) in 2018. He's versatile enough to still play more often than not, and an injury (or poor performance from Enrique Hernandez as the full-time second baseman) could propel him right back into an everyday role. He's droppable in shallow mixed leagues with three starting outfielders and no corner/middle infielders, but everyone else should stand pat.

Over the last four seasons, Flores has been a useful fantasy player when he gets at-bats, posting 21 homers, 72 RBIs and a .267 batting average per 162 games. He should see plenty of playing time in Arizona this year and qualifies at second base, driving up his value.

There is nothing sexy about drafting Candelario, but you can anticipate his batting average coming up 20 points this year, as he was among the most unlucky hitters in that department last year. Along with that, fantasy owners should get around 20 homers from him.

Lowrie gave fantasy owners a surprising boost in power last season in Oakland and always offers a decent batting average. He might start the season on the DL with a knee injury, but once he returns, Lowrie should be owned in every league.

 

 

Zunino killed his fantasy teams in batting average last year, but he was up at .251 the year before so you'd have to think he will settle somewhere in between this year. When it comes with 20 homers and 50 RBIs at the catcher position, the batting average is much easier to swallow.

 

 

 

Hernandez's production has risen (67, 92, and 118 wRC+) along with playing time (244, 342, 462 PAs) over the past three seasons. The latter trend will at least continue, as he will open 2019 as the Dodgers' starting second baseman. He no longer needs to hide in a platoon after popping 12 homers and a 123 wRC+ against righties last season. His strikeouts also continue to decline, so the featured role could lead to a solid average with 20-25 homers. The 27-year-old is also eligible at least three positions (2B, SS, and OF), making him a useful spark plug to pluck off the waiver wire.

 

After hitting .424 with nine doubles and three homers in spring, McMahon made the Rockies' roster and Opening Day lineup. Also heavily hyped entering 2018, he managed a meager .232/.307/.683 slash line in 202 plate appearances. He'll also still have to compete with Garrett Hampson for playing time at second base, but all managers need to pay attention to a promising 24-year-old hitter who gets to play in Coors Field. The breakout may be coming a year later than anticipated.

 

Seager is starting the season on the DL after hand surgery and may miss the first six weeks. As a result, you may not want to draft him, but he should be in the back of your mind as a waiver wire pickup within a couple of weeks. He is a reliable source of power and shouldn't hurt you in batting average as much as we saw last year.

Among all catchers with 200 plate appearances, Cervelli corralled the second-highest wOBA (.355) behind Wilson Ramos. His modest 12 homers comfortably cleared his previous high of seven, but concussions limited him to 404 plate appearances. He's unlikely to turn into a big bopper during his age-33 season, but Cervelli is a fine placeholder while healthy.

 

Kang may not open the season as the starter in Pittsburgh, but with the way he is playing this spring, you'll want to keep a close eye on him. After all, we've seen Kang be a useful fantasy piece in years prior.

Catcher is so bad that prospect pedigree has kept Mejia in top-10 consideration despite batting .176 (12-for-69) in the majors. Even his Triple-A production dipped (.279/.328/.426) after getting traded from Cleveland to San Diego, where Austin Hedges is still clamoring for reps behind the plate. Contact and power upside still makes the 23-year-old Mejia a viable dart throw for anyone who missed out on the big names. Those in one-catcher leagues, however, should move on quickly if he's not playing much in April.

The Astros don't currently have a spot for Tucker with Michael Brantley now joining George Springer and Josh Reddick in the outfield. With prospects like Tucker, however, there is no need for a spot. He is good enough that they will make room. When he gets the call, expect him to be a top 35 fantasy outfielder right away, and perhaps even more. Tucker may be the top draft and stash prospect this year if you've got room on your bench.

 

Surprisingly demoted to Triple-A, Happ will open 2019 on many waiver wires while working his way back to the majors. Despite his strikeout woes, the 24-year-old has displayed a strong batting eye and solid pop for the Cubs. There's a good chance he'll quickly work his way back to the bigs, so monitor closely in shallow leagues and keep him stashed in deeper formats.

 

 

Chirinos likely won't get 450 at-bats like some of the other names above him, but he is the starter for Houston which should come with it's share of runs and RBIs. The batting average clearly won't be ideal, but his 15 to 20 HR power off-sets that pain.

 

 

 

Stewart is expected to start for the Tigers, but their offense is so barren that he can't be relied on for many RBIs or runs. His batting average might be ok, but more likely, his power would be the calling card. He is one worth keeping an eye on, but shouldn't be on your draft radar in standard-sized mixed leagues.

 

Barnhart doesn't have the best bat, but his elite defense will keep him on the field for nearly 500 at-bats again. In a killer Red's lineup, that should be plenty to get him the counting stats he needs to be draftable.

Alfaro is dealing with a knee issue that may keep him out at the start of the season, but he has so little competition in Miami that fantasy owners may still get 350 to 400 at-bats and the counting stats that go with it. Don't be surprised if he hits near his career .270 average once again either.

 

 

Gomes was one of only two catchers last year to bat .266 with 50+ runs scored. That may not feel like much, but the catching position is rough. He'll add 15 homers too, making him a top 10 fantasy catching option this year.

 

It is tempting to draft everyone's favorite short chubby catcher, but the fact of the matter is that he likely won't even open the season on the big league club. There is some intrigue here if/when he gets called up, but until then, he belongs on the waivers.

 

 

Kipnis has been around forever and reached his peak long ago, but he is still just 32 years old and has plenty of baseball left in him. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, it will come without any speed or a quality batting average. Still, 20 homers and 70 RBIs will do the trick as a late-round pick.

 

 

Gregorius should be plenty useful with power and batting average when he returns, but it likely won't be until after the all-star break, so unless you have plenty of DL spots available, he is better left undrafted in standard-sized leagues.

 

 

 

 

 

Cozart may miss time at the start of the season with a mild calf strain, and after his 2018 performance, it is fair to forget about him, but don't be so quick to forget how excellent he was in 2017 with the Reds, knocking 24 homers with a .297 batting average in just 122 games.

 

 

Crawford is never going to steal bases or hit for a great average, but you can count on him to play 150 games which will add up in the RBIs and runs department, plus he is good for a dozen homers every year.

 

 

Urias will open in Triple-A after the Padres surprisingly gave his spot to uber-prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. As a contact-orientated hitter, Urias doesn't elicit as much excitement from a fantasy perspective. He's not a necessary stash in re-draft mixed leagues, but dynasty players should try to use the demotion as a buy-low opportunity.

Swanson had another rough season for fantasy owners in 2018, batting .238, but he did manage 14 homers and 10 stolen bases in a shortened season and let's not forget that there is untapped potential here as well. He isn't the worst late-round flier.

 

 

Suzuki has been useful the last two seasons with a .276 batting average, 31 HRs and 100 RBIs in 623 at-bats, but his playing time is expected to take a hit as he likely backs up Yan Gomes in Washington. Even so, he is better than punting the position altogether.

 

 

Zobrist isn't going to see 500 at-bats, nor does he offer much in the way of power or speed, but he is a reliable source of batting average late in drafts and that should be enough to warrant owning him as a depth piece.

 

 

 

 

Souza will miss the entire season recovering from knee surgery to repair multiple tears. The outfielder, who tallied 30 homers and 16 steals in 2017, won't get a chance to bounce back from an injury-derailed 2018.

 

Camargo flew under the radar last season and somehow swatted 19 homers and batted .272 in a utility role. He should get back to those 450 at-bats this year thanks to all the positions he plays, and we know his bat can be trusted while he is in the lineup.

 

Hedges is no help in the batting average department, but he has enough power (32 homers in his last 700 at-bats) that he warrants a late-round pick if you still need a catcher. If he gets traded mid-season to clear up room for Mejia, Hedges could see a bump in his offensive production away from San Diego's ballpark.

 

Initially an intriguing post-hype flier, Calhoun lost a roster spot to Hunter Pence following a dreadful spring. After getting held in the minors because of his glove, his bat (.602 OPS) didn't keep him in the majors last season. The 24-year-old still carries considerable contact and power upside, but managers can't afford to wait on him in smaller mixed leagues.

 

 

 

Kingery was dreadful last year. No one can deny that, but he is still young and offers 20/20 upside if his bat finds a way into the lineup at any number of positions. The is minimal risk at taking a chance on him late in drafts.

 

 

 

Now that the Dodgers signed A.J. Pollock, it seems unlikely that Verdugo will make an impact in the majors until June. When he does, we are looking at a startable fantasy outfielder, but he isn't quite worth drafting in standard leagues as a stash and hold.

 

 

 

 

Frazier is already a little banged up and has Peter Alonso breathing down his neck, but as long as he is in the lineup, you can expect a 25 homer, 10 stolen base pace, but with a lousy batting average that will bring your team down. Even still, he is a worthwhile depth piece in deeper leagues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is reason to be excited about Tom Murphy, but as for now, Iannetta is the starter in Coors Field so don't hesitate to add him in two catcher leagues despite his lackluster batting averages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although Perez likely won't steal 34 bases like we saw in 2016, he is a sufficient source of speed late into drafts with enough at-bats that he'll add counting stats. There won't be much in the way of power, but his batting average won't kill you either.

 

 

If you are desperate at catcher, Brian McCann may be better than punting the position altogether. He does still have serviceable power, but he won't play often as the backup in Atlanta and his batting average will likely drag your team back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bichette is an excellent prospect and has a polished bat with plenty of speed. With that said, Bichette has never played above Double-A and the Blue Jays have no need to rush him (see Vlad Jr. last year) so don't be surprised if he doesn't sniff the bigs until September.

 

 

 

With the Rockies signing Daniel Murphy, Ryan McMahon shifted over to second base. This puts Rodgers even further away from the bigs, which is saying something because Garrett Hampson was already ahead of him. As it is now, Rodgers doesn't even make sense as a stash and hold in standard sized leagues.

 

 

 

 

Russell is starting the season on the DL and although he is a former top prospect, has never shown enough with the bat to warrant a draft and stash in standard-sized leagues. With that said, you can make a case for owning him in deeper formats.