Baseball Reflections

Fantasy Baseball First Half: Top Rookie Hitters

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By Ben Hargrove

With the 2013 MLB baseball season heading into August, you may still have some time to retool your free or cash fantasy baseball team. Get started by checking out these top rookie hitters:

Yasiel Puig, OF – Los Angeles Dodgers

Puig had an unbelievable first month in the majors, hitting .436 in June with seven HR, 16 RBI, 19 runs and four steals. His 44 hits were the second-highest total in MLB history for a player’s first month after Joe DiMaggio’s 48 hits in May 1936. Puig bruised his hip after colliding with the outfield wall while making a catch and has not done as well in July, but still hit the break batting .391 with a 1.038 OPS.  Puig’s hip prevented him from starting the last two games before the break, though he did end up getting three AB in the last game.

Jedd Gyorko, 2B/3B – San Diego Padres

After getting off to a slow start in April, Gyorko hit .303 in May with six homers, 12 RBI and 20 runs. He was hitting .325 in his first nine games in June when he hurt his groin and was out a month, returning in time to play three games before the break. Gyorko finished the first half hitting .272 with eight HR, 25 RBi and 26 runs in 243 AB. Gyorko filled in for an injured Chase Headley at third base at the start of the season, gaining eligibility there in some leagues. He may be a good pickup in daily cash fantasy baseball leagues.

Evan Gattis, C/OF – Atlanta Braves

Gattis is 26 as a result of being out of baseball from 2006-2010 due to substance abuse and depression.  He was supposed to be a temporary replacement at catcher for Brian McCann in the first few weeks, but when Gattis hit six HR with 16 RBI in April, the Braves decided to find ways to keep him in the lineup. Gattis responded with another six HR and 16 RBI in May, along with a .317 BA, while spending more time in the outfield.  But Gattis was hitting just .083 in ten games in June when he hurt his oblique and was out almost a month.  Due to a rash of injuries, the Braves brought Gattis back earlier than expected and he played first base in the last game before the break. Gattis finished the first half with 14 HR in just 167 AB along with 37 RBI and a .246 BA.

Jose Iglesias, SS/3B – Boston Red Sox

Iglesias hit .367 in 130 AB in the first half. He took over at 3B after Will Middlebrooks was demoted but finished the first half playing SS for the injured Stephen Drew.

Ben Hargrove writes on a variety of sports and business topics. DraftStreet.com offers free and cash fantasy baseball games.

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