AMERICAN LEAGUE HITTER PROJECTIONS
Third base
The Guardians’ José Ramirez, even at age 30, remains the top all-around third baseman in the majors – providing a solid batting average, excellent run production and valuable stolen bases.
Rafael Devers (.295, 27 HR) doesn’t have the speed or the supporting cast Ramirez does, but he’s about as safe a pick as there is. Justin Turner joins Devers in Boston, but he’ll most likely serve as the designated hitter – especially as he recovers from taking a pitch to the face in spring training.
The Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson doesn’t qualify as a sleeper anymore after not looking overmatched in his first taste of the majors last September.
Team AB R HR RBI SB
Ramirez Witt Jr. Devers Bregman Turner Suarez Henderson Chapman Drury LeMahieu Jung Peterson Rendon Diaz Donaldson Moncada Paredes Urshela Urias
Designated hitter
Because of his amazing hitting and pitching abilities, Shohei Ohtani is a tremendous weapon in fantasy baseball (and the No. 1 overall player by far in leagues that allow daily lineup changes). He’ll take up the utility spot in your fantasy lineup, but that’s a small inconvenience for the numbers he produces.
If you’re looking for a sneaky way to fill your second catcher spot, Shea Langeliers and Mitch Garver didn’t play 20 games there last year but could gain in-season eligibility fairly quickly.
Ohtani Reyes Langeliers Garver Cabrera
Outfield
Jose Bobby Rafael Alex Justin Eugenio Gunnar Matt Brandon DJ Josh Jace Anthony Yandy Josh Yoan Isaac Giovanny Ramon
Team
AB
R
HR
RBI
SB
AVG
AVG $ $
Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was not only the American League MVP last season, he was the fantasy MVP as well after hitting a league-record 62 home runs – 22 more than league runner-up Mike Trout. Even if he falls back a bit, Judge should still put up monster numbers ... as long as he stays healthy.
Julio Rodriguez and Kyle Tucker are rare five-category players who should go in the top six overall. Luis Robert also has that potential if he can play a full season. Yordan Álvarez dealt with a hand injury at the end of last season, and the lingering soreness has kept him out of game action so far this spring. He hopes to be ready for opening day.
Among this season’s more interesting sleeper candidates: Eloy Jiménez, Taylor Ward and Riley Greene. The AL seems to offer more overall power than speed in the outfield.
Judge Tucker Álvarez Rodriguez Trout Betts Robert Springer Garcia Hernandez Arozarena Mullins II Renfroe Santander Stanton Ruiz Ward Varsho Verdugo Brown Benintendi Buxton Merrifield Kwan Bader Jiménez Laureano Pollock Hays Greene Kiermaier Vaughn Yoshida Kepler Brantley Margot Melendez Reyes Taveras Hernandez Meadows Gallo Gonzalez Olivares Sheets Cabrera Carpenter Straw
Team
AB
R
HR
RBI
SB
AVG $