The human thirst for something new always goes unquenched. We want bigger. We want better. We want “new and improved.” It isn’t that we don’t appreciate what sits in front of us. It’s just that we have been conditioned to understand there is always a way to build a better mousetrap. Fantasy baseball is no different.
As we prepare for our drafts, we study the history of our player pool and depth charts and scout individual opportunities to find who will work best for us in our championship quest. Simultaneously, we are looking ahead to see what lies further down the road. Prospect hunting is no longer reserved for the super-nerdy fantasy player. It is now a way of life, even for the casual owner.
Every season opens up with a prospect list every fantasy owner covets. We understand the restrictions MLB teams have with regard to service time and Super Two free agent status, and are mildly conditioned to be patient for at least the first two months of the season. Of course, that patience is routinely tested as teams begin to sprinkle in their youth and fantasy owners fight for ownership rights.
The fight for rookies has risen to a new level this season. Young starting pitchers such as Mike Soroka, Domingo German and Fernando Romero have been in high demand, and those who missed out still joined the party by grabbing Freddy Peralta or Matt Koch. But it has been the position players who have ignited the passion — as Ronald Acuna and Juan Soto have taken baseball by storm. Acuna has been dynamic since joining the Braves, and when Soto drove the ball over the fence in his first big league start, the Pavlovian response by fantasy owners intensified.
Most are clamoring for Toronto to bring up Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but he won’t arrive until the team finds a new home for Josh Donaldson. We’ll get there soon enough, but owners will have to remain patient. In the meantime, we have others to whet your whistle.
With DJ LeMahieu out for a month, the Rockies could bring up Garrett Hampson. Most are looking for Brendan Rodgers, but the team is willing to be patient with him and keep him at his natural shortstop position. Hampson can fill the immediate void. Recently recalled Willy Adames is expected to return to Triple-A in a few days, but the Rays will bring him back by mid-June. And with teams calling the Reds, inquiring about Scooter Gennett’s availability, Nick Senzel seems closer than ever.
From Kyle Tucker to Forrest Whitley, the names are abundant. Talent isn’t the only criterion, so pay close attention to opportunity. In an era in which youth prevails, your options are plentiful and dismissing the inexperienced will be your biggest mistake.
Howard Bender is the VP of operations and head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 4-6 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy sports advice, MLB lineups and DFS weather updates.
