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We are at about the midpoint of the 2016 fantasy baseball season, with many games left to play. But, at this point in the season, we have a good idea who the top players at each position are, and with that, I want to take a VERY early look at my top 25 hitters for 2017.
First I will offer the best fantasy players at each position, then my Top 25 hitters for 2017:
C Wilson Ramos, Nationals
C Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers
1B Wil Myers, Padres
2B Jose Altuve, Astros
SS Manny Machado, Orioles
3B Nolan Arenado, Rockies
CI Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks
MI Robinson Cano, Mariners
OF Kris Bryant, Cubs
OF Mike Trout, Angels
OF Mookie Betts, Red Sox
OF Ian Desmond, Rangers
OF Bryce Harper, Nationals
U Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
There are plenty of players who could overtake the guys listed above, including Corey Seager, Starling Marte, Francisco Lindor, Xander Bogaerts, Josh Donaldson and others. I almost left Harper off the list above, as he is only hitting in the .250s as pitchers are giving him pitches to hit, but he is walking more than he strikes out, is getting on base at a .400+ clip and is on pace for 20+ stolen bases.
Onto my top 25 fantasy hitters for 2017:
|
Rank |
Name |
Team |
G |
PA |
HR |
R |
RBI |
SB |
BB% |
K% |
AVG |
OBP |
SLG |
|
1 |
Jose Altuve |
Astros |
80 |
366 |
13 |
60 |
46 |
21 |
10.70% |
8.70% |
0.352 |
0.427 |
0.565 |
|
2 |
Mike Trout |
Angels |
80 |
349 |
17 |
56 |
53 |
12 |
14.60% |
18.10% |
0.325 |
0.424 |
0.576 |
|
3 |
Paul Goldschmidt |
Diamondbacks |
80 |
360 |
14 |
45 |
54 |
10 |
17.50% |
22.20% |
0.298 |
0.426 |
0.512 |
|
4 |
Manny Machado |
Orioles |
75 |
336 |
18 |
58 |
50 |
0 |
8.00% |
17.60% |
0.33 |
0.387 |
0.601 |
|
5 |
Kris Bryant |
Cubs |
77 |
348 |
23 |
63 |
61 |
3 |
10.60% |
23.00% |
0.279 |
0.371 |
0.571 |
|
6 |
Mookie Betts |
Red Sox |
79 |
375 |
16 |
68 |
54 |
13 |
5.60% |
13.60% |
0.291 |
0.331 |
0.506 |
|
7 |
Josh Donaldson |
80 |
363 |
19 |
66 |
53 |
5 |
14.60% |
17.40% |
0.286 |
0.398 |
0.566 |
|
|
8 |
Nolan Arenado |
Rockies |
78 |
345 |
21 |
57 |
65 |
1 |
10.40% |
12.80% |
0.292 |
0.368 |
0.57 |
|
9 |
Bryce Harper |
Nationals |
77 |
328 |
16 |
46 |
46 |
10 |
19.50% |
16.20% |
0.258 |
0.402 |
0.488 |
|
10 |
Anthony Rizzo |
Cubs |
76 |
331 |
19 |
46 |
58 |
2 |
13.90% |
13.90% |
0.279 |
0.402 |
0.566 |
|
11 |
George Springer |
Astros |
80 |
374 |
17 |
57 |
48 |
6 |
11.80% |
21.90% |
0.259 |
0.358 |
0.463 |
|
12 |
Miguel Cabrera |
80 |
349 |
18 |
47 |
51 |
0 |
10.60% |
16.60% |
0.300 |
0.375 |
0.534 |
|
|
13 |
Edwin Encarnacion |
Blue Jays |
81 |
351 |
21 |
51 |
70 |
2 |
12.30% |
19.40% |
0.26 |
0.357 |
0.533 |
|
14 |
Ian Desmond |
Rangers |
80 |
346 |
15 |
60 |
52 |
14 |
7.20% |
23.70% |
0.323 |
0.376 |
0.535 |
|
15 |
Xander Bogaerts |
Red Sox |
77 |
356 |
9 |
59 |
51 |
10 |
7.90% |
15.20% |
0.337 |
0.39 |
0.485 |
|
16 |
Corey Seager |
81 |
347 |
17 |
54 |
40 |
1 |
8.40% |
17.60% |
0.302 |
0.36 |
0.54 |
|
|
17 |
Robinson Cano |
Mariners |
80 |
358 |
19 |
57 |
54 |
0 |
7.00% |
14.50% |
0.302 |
0.358 |
0.54 |
|
18 |
Francisco Lindor |
78 |
345 |
10 |
52 |
39 |
13 |
8.10% |
13.00% |
0.305 |
0.362 |
0.458 |
|
|
19 |
Starling Marte |
74 |
300 |
6 |
44 |
30 |
21 |
3.00% |
21.30% |
0.327 |
0.37 |
0.488 |
|
|
20 |
Gregory Polanco |
Pirates |
75 |
315 |
10 |
48 |
44 |
9 |
11.70% |
20.30% |
0.294 |
0.373 |
0.507 |
|
21 |
Carlos Correa |
Astros |
76 |
337 |
13 |
40 |
50 |
8 |
12.50% |
22.80% |
0.269 |
0.368 |
0.476 |
|
22 |
Carlos Gonzalez |
Rockies |
76 |
324 |
18 |
54 |
51 |
2 |
7.10% |
22.50% |
0.326 |
0.373 |
0.578 |
|
23 |
Wil Myers |
Padres |
78 |
338 |
19 |
54 |
57 |
12 |
9.50% |
19.50% |
0.288 |
0.352 |
0.543 |
|
24 |
Ryan Braun |
Brewers |
66 |
278 |
13 |
34 |
44 |
6 |
7.60% |
15.80% |
0.32 |
0.378 |
0.545 |
|
25 |
Jake Lamb |
Diamondbacks |
78 |
299 |
18 |
43 |
56 |
3 |
10.00% |
24.70% |
0.288 |
0.365 |
0.598 |
Surprise, surprise, Mike Trout has been unseated at the top fantasy hitter at this point in the season. Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is having his best season as a major leaguer, filling up all five fantasy categories. He leads Trout in three of the five categories presently including runs scored, stolen bases and batting average, and is on pace for a 20+ home run, 40+ stolen base season. I am sure there are arguments for Trout to remain in the #1 spot, and by the end of the season, Trout may truly be back in the top spot, but right now Altuve is my top fantasy hitter.
Other surprises in my top 25 are Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, Padres first baseman Wil Myers and Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb. Lamb is having a breakout season now that he is healthy, hitting .288 with 18 home runs and 56 RBI. Myers is having his own breakout season, and what is most surprising is that he is doing it while playing half of his games in a pitchers park. He is having a Paul Goldschmidt-like season, and is actually outperforming Goldy in four of the five fantasy categories at the moment. There are rumors that the Padres are considering dealing Myers, so if he is traded, it will most likely be to a better hitters park than Petco. Then again, he is hitting .345 with 13 home runs and 37 RBI in just under 200 plate appearances at home this season.
Seeger is having a tremendous rookie season and is the odds on favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year award. He is on pace for a 30 home run season in his rookie year, while ZiPS thinks he will come up short of joining the 30 home run club based on their rest of season projections. The shortstop position is chock full of fantasy talent right now, and it might be the deepest we have seen in years.
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