Mike Trout – With Spring Training approaching the half-way mark, Mike Trout is currently hitting an incredible .556 AVG. Trout weighed in at Spring Training at a thunderous 239 Lbs. Trout’s Stolen Bases have decreased in each major league season from 49 to 33 to 16 with his attempts following that same declining trend of 54 to 40 to 18. Head Coach – Mike Scioscia was quoted saying, “I don’t think there’s a guy in baseball that had more attention put on him when he got on base than Mike last year. Some teams went to extremes to shut him down.” Expect another “Banner-Season” from Trout and if the opportunity presents itself, we expect +20 SBs in 2015. Consider that Trout goes 6’1″ / 239 LBS, whereas Bo Jackson was consistently at the 6’1″ / 225 LBS mark.
Jacoby Ellsbury – Recently quoted saying that he is confident he will be ready for Opening Day, however an MRI showed a mild oblique strain. Oblique strains can be a lingering injury and given the Yanks lackluster offensive roster for 2015, look for them to play it safe with Ells.
Anthony Rendon – Nationals Manager – Matt Williams is confident that Rendon will be recovered by Opening Day from a mild MCL Sprain in his left knee. Last season, Rendon hit 21 HRs, 83 RBIs, 111 Runs and .287 Avg. We are confident in taking him early, but continue to monitor his injury status for any major set-backs.
Cole Hamels – Red Sox, Rangers and the Yankees have all been in pursuit, although the Phillies are still dancing from the move. The gap remains wide as Philly calls for a big package of assets to let go of Hamels. CBSSports.com recently reported, the “Phillies ‘have been said to be seeking three good prospects, with one top-flight one’ in a deal involving Hamels.” It’s unexpected that anything will get done prior to Opening Day, but expect to see Hamels in the trade rumor headlines all season.
Yasmany Tomas – At only 24 Years Old, Tomas goes 6’2″ and 230 LBs. He carries himself with a presence that can only be matched by the likes of other Cuban stars. In Cuba during the 2012-2013 Serie Nacional Season, Tomas hit .289 with a .540 Slugging Percentage and 15 HRs through 81 Games. This was only a preview of what was next to come during a highlight driven 2013 World Baseball Classic that saw his stock soar to the likes of Abreu, Puig and Cespedes. With a comparison to Cespedes being his most common, it is said of Arizona’s new stud that “he can bury your hands with a handshake,” according to a National League Scout. While scouts believe that Tomas’ speed could become an issue for the long haul, most have given him a power grade of at least 70, with 80 being the highest. For comparisons sake, Giancarlo Stanton has the highest power/raw power grade at 80. While guys like Stanton and Abreau are going to go very early in your draft, Tomas could very well be there towards the middle or late rounds, and could be the difference maker your team needs much like Abreu was last year and Puig was the year before that. Do yourself a favor and draft Tomas, so he doesn’t come back and bite you in your own “Tomass.”
Jon Lester – Lester’s scheduled start on Saturday has been pushed back due to a “dead arm” period. He was popped for 6 Runs on 3 1/3 Innings in his last appearance (Monday). Don’t sounds the alarms and yell fire the theatre yet, although these show some warning signs that should be monitored while approaching fantasy drafts.
Alex Meyer – The Minnesota Twins – Top Pitching Prospect has been optioned to Triple A. Meyer goes 6’9″ / 225 Lbs. and should see time in the rotation by mid-season. He fought some shoulder issues last season which delayed his progression, but we would keep him on your radar as June approaches.
Written By: Michael Tozzi and Matt Belman