The calendar is almost to July and All Star voting is in full swing. So in the spirit of the season, let’s dive into the fantasy All Stars. As expected Shohei Ohtani is the best thing since sliced bread in daily leagues so you can take advantage of his hitting and pitching. He’s been great on both sides with 28 home runs (best in the league) and 127 punch outs (3rd). We’ve almost become accustomed to this, but it really is wildly impressive what he’s doing.
Catcher
Adley Rutschman was pretty well hyped leading into the season so it’s not really a surprise to see him leading the pack. His overall numbers (.266 average with 10 home runs) don’t jump off the page at ya, once again highlighting that if you ignore position, catchers aren’t great hitters.
Jonah Heim is the perfect example of why you shouldn’t reach for a catcher. Heim went way after Adley, way, way after, and yet he’s pretty darn close to him in performance. I’m by no means the first Razzballer to drop that pearl of wisdom and I’m willing to bet I won’t be the last.
First Base
Freddie Freeman Alright, I’ll admit that I didn’t love him going into the season but I did have him in the top 10. Maybe it’s because he plays for the Dodgers or maybe for some other reason but he can boring his way to the top. He’s really good, he just doesn’t excite me. And yet he’s one of the best first base options in all of fantasy.
Luis Arraez has been pretty darn good despite not hitting home runs or swiping bags. He’s batting right around .400 and that is definitely something to take note of. I didn’t snag him any leagues this year but I really hope he keeps it up and pushes the record.
Second Base
Marcus Semien has certainly lived up to his draft position. He’s doing all the things we wanted him to do and has been scoring runs as part of a pretty solid offense.
Ketel Marte has flashed his power all season and is well on his way to setting a new career high. Even better he carries a batting average near .300 and is scoring runs. I’d like to see more doubles with his speed but if you snagged him you have to be happy with his performance.
Third Base
Jose Ramirez is doing JoRam things, just like he does every season. Not really much more to say, we all knew he was good.
Yandy Diaz is in the running for steal of the draft. He’s fourth in the majors in batting average and has even shown off a little power. The home run pace has slowed but the fantasy points keep piling up. Wish I had him in more leagues.
Shortstop
Mookie Betts looks like a star with 20 home runs before the break. His supporting cast is strong so expect him to keep putting up great numbers. He plays more in the outfield but he’s eligible at short so why not take advantage?
Nico Hoerner has been a delightful surprise this season. He’s got a strong hold on the leadoff spot and just keeps getting hits and scoring runs. Not a ton of power in his game but with his speed he could rack up doubles.
Outfield
Ronald Acuna Jr is not just one of the best outfielders, he’s one of the best hitters in fantasy right now. We’re not even at the halfway point and he already almost has a 20/40 season. That’s just mind-blowing. No doubt, he came off the board in the first couple picks and has more than lived up to that lofty stats.
Corbin Carroll has been a sensation and feels like a lock for rookie of the year. He’s got power, speed, and contact skills. Great to see a hyped-up prospect pan out. I fully expect him to command a first-round pick next season. It’s crazy that for as good as Carroll has been, he’s way behind Acuna.
Jorge Soler Lots of good choices for the third outfield spot but I’ve got Soler here because he was going so late in drafts, if he was even drafted at all. He’s flashed power in the past but his 21 bombs are good for 5th in the MLB. Pair that with an adequate .250ish average and you have a great option in the outfield.
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