For this week’s rendition of hitter profiles, we are going wide rather than our usual deep. There is plenty happening across the landscape of our fantasy baseball game that needs to be dissected. Do you know who is quick like a rapid-fire article…Tommy Pham. Well, he is not actually a blazing runner but good instincts and a green light is all that is needed to be a meaningful contributor in the 5×5 speed game. It is also quite helpful that good ole Tommy is walking at a clip of 17% which is by far a career-best. As we dive into the rapid-fire, take a few minutes to think about who you see moving the needle and leave a comment below!
- Cavan Biggio makes his return to the Blue Jays lineup against the Boston Red Sox. It has been a rough season so far for Cavan, but Toronto is sticking with the youngster and giving him a chance to turn it all around.
- Tyler O’Neill has hit six home runs and has 12 runs and RBI apiece over the past two weeks. He is on fire right now, but slight caution exists with the .500 BABIP and 33% K rate. Either way, it is nice to see him delivering on his potential.
- Since the beginning of June, Teoscar Hernandez has struck out in nearly half of his plate appearances. Going back to the middle of June, he has only 3 home runs and 3 steals with a batting average on balls in play of nearly .400. Call me a wet blanket, but I want no part of that roller coaster.
- Patrick Wisdom will turn 30 in a few months and is clearly having a mid-career crisis. There is nothing like doubling up on your career home run total out of nowhere. Where this ride ends, we do not know. If you jumped on early and have reaped the rewards, then you should be playing the lotto instead of reading this article. This one will crash sooner than later, mark my words.
- The deliverance of Jarred Kelenic has come and gone. Nothing has changed, he will still be a valuable long-term asset and key contributor down the stretch for our fantasy playoffs. Do not be the one that gave up too early because of an unlucky period of adjustment.
- Miguel Andujar is trying to make himself relevant again with 4 home runs in the month of June with regular playing time in the Bronx. He is still only 26 years old and has two lost seasons with injuries and sporadic playing time. I would be less than surprised to see Andujar as a contributor the rest of the year.
- Speaking of the Yankees, DJ Lemahieu appears to have forgotten how to hit the off-speed pitch with a .091 clip so far this year. His contact rates this year are noticeably lower than prior seasons as well. For a steady contributor like Lemahieu, I start to wonder about an injury that has not been disclosed.
- Yasmani Grandal continues a perplexing season creating value in OBP leagues with a .400 level, but penalizing 5×5 owners with a dreadful .138 average. Terrible luck and amazing walk rates have created quite the spectacle to watch.
The list can go on, but the editor would disagree. Thanks for stopping in for a rapid-fire session and we will be back next week with an update to the top 100 hitters for the rest of the fantasy baseball season.
