Fantasy Baseball: Domonic Brown A Top 30 Outfielder In 2011??

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jul 8, 2010 3:00 PM EDT in Baseball

I was reading the ESPN chat with Eric Karabell on Thursday morning and came across this question about Domonic Brown:

DJ (Hollywood)

Does Dominic Brown get a call up and what are your projections on that call up? Also, is he worth saving as a rookie keeper?

Eric Karabell
(3:04 PM)

I think he gets called up in September. There's no room for him to play these days. I mean, I think Brown could outperform Raul Ibanez, but then again, Ibanez is currently batting third for the Phillies and has another year on his contract. He's not going to be sat. Victorino and Werth are productive. Brown can't play second base. So I don't see him offering fantasy owners much this season. Next season, when he's starting in RF and Werth is making $90 mil for the Yankees... Brown is probably a top 30 outfielder right away, so keep him.

Is that the Phillies fan in Karabell saying that? Or does he own him in a keeper league (like I do)? Not sure, but let's take a look at how Brown is doing in the minors this season.

In 236 at bats in AA, Brown went 15-47-12 with a .318-.391-.602 triple slash line, with a 51-29 K/BB rate. At AAA Lehigh Valley, he has gone 4-12-2 with a .392-.418-.696 triple slash line and has struck out 10 times and walked 3 times. So for the season, he has hit .331-.396-.617 with 19 HRs, 59 RBIs and 14 SBs.

There have been recent rumors that the Phillies may deal outfielder Jayson Werth should they fall out of the race in the next few weeks. Currently, the Phillies are 6 games out of first, sitting in 3rd place behind the Mets and Braves, so I would not put it past GM Ruben Amaro to deal Werth. Or, Amaro could deal centerfielder Shane Victorino for pitching help, bring up Brown to play right field, and move Werth to center. Amaro really likes Brown, and I think he wants to make a deal to bring him up.

But, is Brown a Top 30 outfielder right out of the gate? Looking at the top 30 outfielders on CBS Sports fantasy site, the bottom 5 in the top 30 outfielders includes Adam Dunn, Josh Willingham, Michael Bourn, David Dejesus, and Vernon Wells.

I am not sure I would take Brown over any of those guys, but it would not surprise me to see Brown go 20-15 in his first season. Too optimistic?

Poll

Is Domonic Brown a top 30 outfielder in 2011?

Yes-he has the power and speed to be included in the conversation.

160 votes

No-he will struggle out of the gate in 2011.

57 votes

217 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 4 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I voted no but...

just going off of Tristan Cockroft’s hit parade that is the Adam Jones/Denard Span range so I suppose it’s certainly possible

by Seth Walder on Jul 8, 2010 5:42 PM EDT reply actions

Brown

I’d take Brown ahead of Span but behind Jones.

by rmarx on Jul 8, 2010 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I could see it. Good lineup, good ballpark, plays in the NL, & can contribute in all 5 categories. If he gets a good spot in the lineup I think it’s a good possibility.

This is the Texas Rangers, professional destroyers of hope, we're talking about. - BAC

by nikpin on Jul 9, 2010 9:47 AM EDT reply actions

I’d take Brown over Willingham, Bourne and DeJesus. Chances are none of the 3 will perform as well next year as they have this year. Hell I’d take Delmon Young over those 3 as well.

by Matt Perkins on Jul 10, 2010 12:34 AM EDT reply actions