We’re only a couple of weeks inside the fresh fantasy baseball season, but I’m human like anyone else. I’m starting to wonder what I might have been wrong about. Here are eight players who are giving me pause and reflection at the moment.
Kyle Tucker, OF, Cubs
Let’s understand this for what it is. I’ve always loved Tucker’s skill set and my fade of him last month was more of a soft fade — I even drafted him on one co-managed team when my partner was persuasive. My main Tucker concern was how his new ballpark would play, after a long run in a Houston park that was tailored for his swing. But I think I might have underestimated the depth of the Chicago offense, and perhaps worried too much about last season being lost to injury. One thing we did know about Tucker all along — he has dreamy control of the strike zone. He’s already walked 16 times, compared to a modest 11 strikeouts.
Jung Hoo Lee, OF, Giants
Here’s another player who lost most of 2024 to injury, which kept Lee almost free during draft season. When Lee landed in the No. 3 slot to begin the year, I wondered if he had enough pop to stay there — we’re talking about a guy who slugged just .331 last year. Fast forward two weeks — Lee has a MLB-leading eight doubles and three homers, good for a .644 slugging percentage. He’s even running liberally (three steals) for a team that usually eschews the stolen base. He’s one of fantasy’s strongest risers through the first wave of play.
Ben Rice, 1B, Yankees
He’s one of the most improved players in baseball — walking more, striking out less, pulling the ball more, bumping his hard-hit rate. New York is also letting Rice play against most lefties, and the Yankees lineup probably has the most buoyancy of any in the American League.
Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Tigers
Torkelson’s strikeout rate is still an issue — it’s actually risen slightly — but he’s also walking a little more. What’s most exciting is what happens when he does make contact — his hard-hit rate has risen significantly and his pull rate has jumped by 15%. It’s still merely an age-25 season for Torkelson and he was the first overall pick in his draft class; this is a classic post-hype sleeper come to life.
Geraldo Perdomo, SS, Diamondbacks
I’m not sure if wrong is the proper word with my preseason Perdomo take — he wasn’t on my radar at all. But not only is he off to a terrific .333/.448/.490 start (two homers, two steals), he already has 13 walks against just two strikeouts. That ratio is too good to be true, but it’s a strong signal even through a modest 16 games. Perdomo is also enjoying a temporary rise in the batting order while Ketel Marte is hurt.
Wilyer Abreu, OF, Red Sox
I always liked his offensive profile but I wanted to avoid potential platoon hitters for my mixed-league rosters. Alas, Abreu has absolutely crushed righties so far (.354/.466/.625), and he’s even picked up one start against a southpaw. The Boston schedule continues to face a diet of righties, with 10 of the next 12 opponents working from that side of the rubber. And there’s always incentive to keep Abreu on the field, as he offers Gold Glove defense.
Advertisement
Roki Sasaki, SP, Dodgers
I only landed one share during draft season, but that might have been too many. Sasaki has more walks than strikeouts through four starts, and he’s only made it to five innings on one occasion. The 3.29 ERA is a near-miracle — the Baseball Savant data suggests his true ERA should be 4.91. The Dodgers have every reason to be patient with Sasaki, but perhaps I should have expected less polish from a 23-year-old in his first MLB season.
Aroldis Chapman, RP, Red Sox
The Boston closing situation had that committee smell before the year, so I was a touch reluctant to trust a 37-year-old veteran in that chair, especially given that he’s left-handed. Perhaps a mistake — Chapman is getting plenty of high-leverage work, already collecting two wins and three saves. He’s been a little wild (four walks), but with 11 strikeouts in seven innings, you can see his stuff remains electric. His fastball still clocks in the high 90s, too.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Cal Raleigh Hits MLB-High 30th Home Run, as Mariners Lose to Cubs, 10-7
<!--> Ian Happ homered twice and drove in four runs, and the Chicago Cubs held off Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners for a 10-7 victory on Saturday.Raleigh opened the ninth inning with his major league-leading 30th homer after he also went deep twice on Friday. The long ball made Raleigh the first MLB player to hit 30 home runs in his first 75 games of a single season since Barry Bonds and Luis Gonzalez did so in 2001.Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits his 30th HR of the year --> <!-->Luke Raley hit a two-out single for Seattle, but Daniel Palencia closed it out when he retired Donovan Solano on a foul popup.Michael Busch, Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong also homered for Chicago on a 94-degree day at Wrigley Field with a 20-mph wind blowing toward center field. Brad Keller (3-0) […]
Cal Raleigh Hits MLB-High 30th Home Run, as Mariners Lose to Cubs, 10-7
<!--> Ian Happ homered twice and drove in four runs, and the Chicago Cubs held off Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners for a 10-7 victory on Saturday.Raleigh opened the ninth inning with his major league-leading 30th homer after he also went deep twice on Friday. The long ball made Raleigh the first MLB player to hit 30 home runs in his first 75 games of a single season since Barry Bonds and Luis Gonzalez did so in 2001.Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits his 30th HR of the year --> <!-->Luke Raley hit a two-out single for Seattle, but Daniel Palencia closed it out when he retired Donovan Solano on a foul popup.Michael Busch, Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong also homered for Chicago on a 94-degree day at Wrigley Field with a 20-mph wind blowing toward center field. Brad Keller (3-0) […]
UFC Fight Night results: Khalil Rountree Jr. bests Jamahal Hill in Baku, remains relevant in title picture
What was expected to be a slugfest between elite light heavyweights on Saturday turned into a tentative, technical affair that played directly into the hands of Khalil Rountree Jr.In the main event of UFC's inaugural trip to Azerbaijan, Rountree (14-6, 1 NC) showcased everything he learned from a gutsy title loss to Alex Pereira last October by patiently accruing a trio of knockdowns against former champion Jamahal Hill (12-4, 1 NC) in a commanding victory via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45 twice) inside Baku Crystal Hall. CBS Sports also scored the UFC Fight Night headliner 49-46 for Rountree. "I didn't come in here underestimating Jamahal. I had full belief in myself and my abilities but I didn't underestimate him," Rountree said. "The plan was to be smart. I had made some mistakes in the Alex fight. In this one, I was able […]
Fever star Caitlin Clark says historic All-Star voting returns is ‘exactly what the league needs’
Fan voting for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game opened earlier this month and runs through June 28. The league announced the first round of returns on Friday, and to no surprise the top of the list was dominated by Caitlin Clark and her Indiana Fever teammates. Clark's 515,993 votes were the most of any player, followed by Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier at 484,758. The top-two vote getters will be named captains and draft their teams on July 8, ahead of the All-Star Game in Indianapolis on July 19. There were four Fever players in the top 10 -- Clark, Aliyah Boston (3rd), Kelsey Mitchell (7th) and Lexie Hull (9th) -- and eight in the top 40. The Liberty were the only other team that even had four players in the top 40. 2025 WNBA All-Star Game: Caitlin Clark, Napheesa […]
Mariners’ Cal Raleigh sets MLB records with 30th home run
CHICAGO — Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh homered in the ninth inning of a 10-7 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon, his 30th long ball of the season. On Friday, Raleigh hit his 28th and 29th homers of the season, passing Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer Johnny Bench with the most home runs by a catcher before the All-Star break. Raleigh now also has the mark for most home runs before the break by a switch-hitter.Advertisement“Thirty home runs is impressive,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “And we’re not even at the halfway point. He’s good.”Catcher, switch-hitter or just any player, what Raleigh is doing is rare. Only eight other players had hit 30 or more home runs in their first 75 games of the season. The last to do it were Barry Bonds and Luis Gonzalez in 2001.Raleigh […]
Cruzeiro negocia renovação de contrato com administradora do Mineirão
Raposa busca renovação de contrato com Minas Arena (Foto: Bruno Haddad/Cruzeiro) Raposa visa seguir mandando suas partidas no estádio, mas deseja maiores vantagens em um novo acordo, segundo dirigente A relação entre Cruzeiro e Mineirão deve ganhar mais um capítulo em breve. Segundo informação do GE, o clube negocia com a Minas Arena para seguir mandando jogos no estádio administrado pela empresa, e estas estão em tratativas bastante avançadas para a renovação. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Melhora do contrato O principal ponto ao qual a Raposa deseja trabalhar de forma mais ampla são as condições do novo acordo a ser assinado com a concessionária do estádio. O antigo vínculo, segundo o clube, tem condições as quais o clube não vê como ‘favoráveis’ e tenta trabalhar para a melhoria destas nas negociações do futuro contrato Pedro Junio, vice-presidente cruzeirense falou sobre o assunto […]
Related
Cal Raleigh Hits MLB-High 30th Home Run, as Mariners Lose to Cubs, 10-7
<!--> Ian Happ homered twice and drove in four runs, and the Chicago Cubs held off Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners for a 10-7 victory on Saturday.Raleigh opened the ninth inning with his major league-leading 30th homer after he also went deep twice on Friday. The long ball made Raleigh the first MLB player to hit 30 home runs in his first 75 games of a single season since Barry Bonds and Luis Gonzalez did so in 2001.Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits his 30th HR of the year --> <!-->Luke Raley hit a two-out single for Seattle, but Daniel Palencia closed it out when he retired Donovan Solano on a foul popup.Michael Busch, Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong also homered for Chicago on a 94-degree day at Wrigley Field with a 20-mph wind blowing toward center field. Brad Keller (3-0) […]
Cal Raleigh Hits MLB-High 30th Home Run, as Mariners Lose to Cubs, 10-7
<!--> Ian Happ homered twice and drove in four runs, and the Chicago Cubs held off Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners for a 10-7 victory on Saturday.Raleigh opened the ninth inning with his major league-leading 30th homer after he also went deep twice on Friday. The long ball made Raleigh the first MLB player to hit 30 home runs in his first 75 games of a single season since Barry Bonds and Luis Gonzalez did so in 2001.Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits his 30th HR of the year --> <!-->Luke Raley hit a two-out single for Seattle, but Daniel Palencia closed it out when he retired Donovan Solano on a foul popup.Michael Busch, Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong also homered for Chicago on a 94-degree day at Wrigley Field with a 20-mph wind blowing toward center field. Brad Keller (3-0) […]
UFC Fight Night results: Khalil Rountree Jr. bests Jamahal Hill in Baku, remains relevant in title picture
What was expected to be a slugfest between elite light heavyweights on Saturday turned into a tentative, technical affair that played directly into the hands of Khalil Rountree Jr.In the main event of UFC's inaugural trip to Azerbaijan, Rountree (14-6, 1 NC) showcased everything he learned from a gutsy title loss to Alex Pereira last October by patiently accruing a trio of knockdowns against former champion Jamahal Hill (12-4, 1 NC) in a commanding victory via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45 twice) inside Baku Crystal Hall. CBS Sports also scored the UFC Fight Night headliner 49-46 for Rountree. "I didn't come in here underestimating Jamahal. I had full belief in myself and my abilities but I didn't underestimate him," Rountree said. "The plan was to be smart. I had made some mistakes in the Alex fight. In this one, I was able […]
Fever star Caitlin Clark says historic All-Star voting returns is ‘exactly what the league needs’
Fan voting for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game opened earlier this month and runs through June 28. The league announced the first round of returns on Friday, and to no surprise the top of the list was dominated by Caitlin Clark and her Indiana Fever teammates. Clark's 515,993 votes were the most of any player, followed by Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier at 484,758. The top-two vote getters will be named captains and draft their teams on July 8, ahead of the All-Star Game in Indianapolis on July 19. There were four Fever players in the top 10 -- Clark, Aliyah Boston (3rd), Kelsey Mitchell (7th) and Lexie Hull (9th) -- and eight in the top 40. The Liberty were the only other team that even had four players in the top 40. 2025 WNBA All-Star Game: Caitlin Clark, Napheesa […]
Mariners’ Cal Raleigh sets MLB records with 30th home run
CHICAGO — Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh homered in the ninth inning of a 10-7 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon, his 30th long ball of the season. On Friday, Raleigh hit his 28th and 29th homers of the season, passing Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer Johnny Bench with the most home runs by a catcher before the All-Star break. Raleigh now also has the mark for most home runs before the break by a switch-hitter.Advertisement“Thirty home runs is impressive,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “And we’re not even at the halfway point. He’s good.”Catcher, switch-hitter or just any player, what Raleigh is doing is rare. Only eight other players had hit 30 or more home runs in their first 75 games of the season. The last to do it were Barry Bonds and Luis Gonzalez in 2001.Raleigh […]
Cruzeiro negocia renovação de contrato com administradora do Mineirão
Raposa busca renovação de contrato com Minas Arena (Foto: Bruno Haddad/Cruzeiro) Raposa visa seguir mandando suas partidas no estádio, mas deseja maiores vantagens em um novo acordo, segundo dirigente A relação entre Cruzeiro e Mineirão deve ganhar mais um capítulo em breve. Segundo informação do GE, o clube negocia com a Minas Arena para seguir mandando jogos no estádio administrado pela empresa, e estas estão em tratativas bastante avançadas para a renovação. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Melhora do contrato O principal ponto ao qual a Raposa deseja trabalhar de forma mais ampla são as condições do novo acordo a ser assinado com a concessionária do estádio. O antigo vínculo, segundo o clube, tem condições as quais o clube não vê como ‘favoráveis’ e tenta trabalhar para a melhoria destas nas negociações do futuro contrato Pedro Junio, vice-presidente cruzeirense falou sobre o assunto […]
Be the first to leave a comment