Are You For Real?!? Looking At The Middle Infield Stars For The First Two Weeks

You’ll have to pardon me, dear reader.  I am reeling at how boring the Brewers city connect jerseys are.  Truly, they’re trying to appeal to the entire state, and were clearly designed by someone from Chicago who never spoke to anyone in Wisconsin, hence the Wisco on the front.  But that’s my problem.  Your problem is deciding how to handle your middle infield position and seeing if your guy’s performance is real or just a mirage.  We’re going to look at both those doing really well and those struggling. Let’s get into the madness.

Hot Starts:

Nico Hoerner (12th overall)–  Nico has been a consistent speed merchant, hitting nearly 300 for the past 4 years, and has had a very fast start.  He’s on pace for 68 steals and currently has a 333 average.  While this is hot, he’ll come a bit back down to earth getting that average near 300.  But 40 steals is not out of the realm of possibilities.  He’s the top earning 2B thus far, and if Turang can’t stay healthy (missed the last 2 games with ankle tendinitis), he will likely stay that way.

Xavier Edwards (46th)– Edwards is also hitting lights out. a 400 average for the surprising Fish.  He’s got 10 runs scored and driven in 6.  The issue, though, is that when that batting average comes back to earth, there isn’t much there.  He’s drawn 3 walks in 10 games, and once his BABIP normalizes from an insane 436, he’s not going to be anything more than a MI spot/waiver candidate.  Enjoy the ride while it lasts, because I don’t think it will last long.

JJ Wetherholt (74th)– Wetherholt is off to an expected start.  The rates are looking like 30+ SB, 10+ bombs, and 90+ R. He gets on base a lot and is leading off for the Cardinals, who, again, could be the worst team in the NL.  The opportunity is there for a Rookie of the Year campaign purely on opportunity and volume of stats alone.  Yes, this is for real, and yes, you should trade for him.

Well Below Expected:

Bobby Witt Jr. (204)– Bobby has had a really slow start, as has the Royals offense in general.  Thing is, we knew the Royals were going to be bad at hitting baseballs in the Major League level, but we didn’t think this bad.  Bobby was not supposed to be part of those struggles.  He’s got one XBH through the first two weeks.  That’s pretty crazy for a consensus top 3 pick.  That being said, I think he’s going to be fine.  Scoring 1 run, driving in 4 so far, is not what fantasy players were expecting at all.  But he will go yard, and he is leading the league with 7 steals thus far.  Find the panicking manager and get him.

Ketel Marte (497)– Ketel has not gotten off to the greatest of starts, either.  He’s hit 1 bomb and isn’t driving in any runs either.  Part of the problem is that he’s leading off, and the bottom of the Dbacks lineup isn’t giving him many chances.  The other part is that the rest of the lineup is not driving him in as much as they did last year.  But we are 2 weeks in, and I think you can expect those hitting behind him, with one exception to pick him up.  He’ll be a top 5 2B at the end of the year.

Geraldo Perdomo (402)– Perdomo had a lot to look forward to, but it appears his luck ran out.  His batting luck, that is.  His BABIP is a criminal 158.  That’s insanely low.  He will bounce back, and he will deliver the performance you’re expecting.  Just don’t be expecting an All-Star again.

We Got Issues:

Matt McLain (351)– OH MY GOD THIS GUY’S ARM!!! And that is why you don’t believe Spring Training stats.  McLain has turned back into a pumpkin after a HUGE spring.  Hitting 208 out of the gate will do that.  If he can rebound to a decent 250 average, you may have something there.  But he’s waiver fodder for me and was to begin with.

Francisco Lindor (430)– Coming off the hamate bone injury, fantasy managers, including myself, were over the moon that he would be healthy to start the year.  Well, it looks like he may have rushed back.  An anemic 147 average has not produced anything in any of the categories, and we just hope he can get something going by mid-May, or we will really panic.  Even if he’s healthy and rebounds to what he was, it’s still a big blow to take for what was likely your 3rd rounder.  Wait until the end of the month to buy low.