Fantasy Baseball First Half: Rookies Trying to Live Up to the Hype

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By Ben Hargrove

Not every hyped prospect gets off to a start like Yasiel Puig.  But Wil Myers and Jurickson Profar are still expected to realize their great potential sooner or later. Anthony Rendon, after struggling in his initial callup in April, has had a lot more success since getting another shot in June.  Here is a look at other rookies you need to know, no matter what fantasy baseball site you play at.

 Wil Myers, OF – Tampa Bay Rays

The top prospect on many lists heading into the season, Myers hit 37 HR with 109 RBI and a .314 BA in 2012 while still in the Royas’ farm system before he was traded to the Rays during the offseason in the deal that brought back James Shields.  No 21-year-old had hit that many HR in the high minors since 1963. Tampa brought Myers up in mid-June and in 26 games, he is hitting .288 with three HR, 15 RBI and 15 runs in 104 AB. He usually bats fifth or sixth, depending on whether a lefty or righty is pitching (Myers is righthanded) though his OPS against lefties so far is just .008 higher than against righties.

Jurickson Profar, 2B/SS – Texas Rangers

Profar also topped many prospect lists going into the season, and more than one fantasy baseball site kept their eye on him. In 136 AB, Profar was hitting .235 with three HR, 11 RBI and 12 runs. He was 0 for 3 on steal attempts and had 30 strikeouts. Primarily a shortstop in the minors, Profar has initially gained eligibility at 2B filling in for Ian Kinsler and is also available at SS in some leagues.  With Kinsler now healthy and Elvis Andrus blocking the way at short, Profar got a couple of starts in the outfield just before the break as the Rangers look for a way to keep him in the lineup. Profar turned 20 in February.

Anthony Rendon- 2B/3B – Washington Nationals

Rendon, the sixth overall pick in the 2011 amateur draft, came up in April as a replacement at third base for the injured Ryan Zimmerman and was unimpressive, getting sent back down once Zimmerman returns. But when Rendon came up again in June, this time as a replacement for the injured Danny Espinosa at second base, Rendon performed so well that when Espinosa came off the DL, he was sent to the minors. Rendon hit .330 in June.  For the season, he is now hitting .301 with four HR, 14 RBI and 22 runs in 163 AB. Rendon had played only eight games at 2B as a professional before taking over the job in Washington.  Espinosa remains in the minors and is playing shortstop as well as 2B.

Ben Hargrove writes on a variety of sports and business topics. DraftStreet.com is a top fantasy baseball site.