Strategies
The big question entering the 2016 Major League Baseball Season is which rookies around the game will step up to be a fantasy impact much like what we saw from Kris Bryant, Joc Pederson and Carlos Correa.
For us the first player we are keeping our eyes on entering this season is Byron Buxton. Buxton who many have slated to find an everyday job with the Minnesota Twins big league club this season is one of the top prospects in all of baseball has all the tools to develop into one of the best young players in the game.
While he struggled at the Major League level once he got called up last season his success in the minors is something worth monitoring. Last season Buxton hit .305 in 72 games in the minors while posting ten doubles, 13 triples, seven home runs, 456runs batted in and 22 stolen bases.
Along with Buxton here are a few of the other top MLB rookies entering the season who could put up some big time fantasy numbers.
Blake Snell, Tampa Bay Rays: All Snell did last year was dominate the minors at three different levels. That includes going 6-2 at the Triple A level with a 1.83 earned run average and 57 strikeouts. Along with that success, Snell posted an impressive 163 strikeouts in just 134 minor league innings last year. While it is hard to determine if he will make the big league club out of spring training but he is worth monitoring in full season leagues.
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees: Judge might go under the radar compared to some of the other top prospects around the game. For us though the Yankees outfielder showed some possible power potential after hitting 20 home runs between the teams double and triple A affiliates. If Judge finds a way to make the Yankees roster he could be a FanDuel and DraftKings bargain to start the season.
Julio Urias, Los Angeles Dodgers: Could 2016 be the season that Urias breaks into the Dodgers starting rotation? The answer could be yes as the team is looking to fill the hole left with the departure of Zack Greinke. It will all come down to how well the nineteen year old pitches this spring. Only concern with Urias is how much of an inning restriction the team will put on him after he pitched just 80.1 innings.
Trea Turner, Washington Nationals: Looking at rookies who are expected to earn a chance at a starting spot in 2016 landed us with the Nationals shortstop. The team has a hole now that Ian Desmond has departed in free agency and that spot is set for Turner. Before being called up last season, Turner had hit .322 in the minors with 24 doubles, seven triples, eight home runs and 54 runs batted in.
Tyler Glasnow, Pittsburgh Pirates: Much like Turner, Glasnow has a chance to find a spot in the Pirates starting rotation based on a departure. Last season Glasnow pitched to a 2.20 earned run average in eight starts at triple A while striking out 48 hitters over just 41 innings.
Other MLB rookies we like in 2016 include Jose Berrios, Archie Bradley, Jessie Winker, Joey Gallo and Lucas Giolito.