Fantasy Baseball Rewind: How Have the Top 10 Draft Picks Performed so Far?
Are you still wondering if you made the correct choice during the first round of your fantasy baseball draft?
Does a player you had so much hopes on lived up to your expectations thus far? Or have they been a big disappointment and you are cursing yourself for not drafting a different player?
In baseball, a players production can dramatically change instantly. One moment they are flying high and the next moment they are falling so fast back to Earth.
I have reviewed the top 10 draft picks from fantasy baseball on how they performed so far; provided is a Panic-O-Meter to indicate which players you should be concerned about.
Average Draft Pick for Position 10: Ryan Braun
1 of 10
Season Stats:
Hits: 20
At-Bats: 56
Walks: 13
Runs: 13
Home Runs: 4
Runs Batted In: 11
Batting Average: .357
Ryan Braun was considered to be the steal of the draft because how late he went in the first round. He has rewarded the owners who have drafted him and he will continue to give them plenty of reasons to smile all season.
With the presence of Prince Fielder in the Brewers lineup, Braun will get numerous opportunities to drive in some runs.
Panic-O-Meter: 0
Average Draft Pick for Position 9: Adrian Gonzalez
2 of 10
Season Stats:
Hits:15
At-Bats: 57
Walks: 8
Runs: 8
Home Runs: 1
Runs-Batted-In: 8
Batting Average: .263
In just his second jersey worn in his entire, but successful career, it is not a huge surprise Adrian Gonzalez has struggled in the first couple weeks with the Boston Red Sox.
He was entering Boston with lofty expectations and the bar has been raised even more so than ever after signing a seven-year extension for $156 million last week.
We have seen the struggles between a National League player switching to the American League on the Chicago White Sox team with Adam Dunn, and it will take time for both of these players to adjust to their new destination.
Gonzalez is too talented to struggle for the whole season.
On that note, I would not be surprised if he batted around .250 while hitting between 30 and 40 home runs.
Panic-O-Meter: 4
Average Draft Pick for Position 8: Robinson Cano
3 of 10
Season Stats:
Hits: 18
At-Bats: 58
Walks: 1
Runs: 8
Home Runs: 4
Runs-Batted-In: 11
Batting Average: .310
For being the only second baseman drafted in the first round, many fantasy owners believe they jumped too soon on a player who is being outperformed by players such as Macier Izturis, Ryan Theriot, Howie Kendrick and Placido Polanco.
Even though he has put up some decent numbers thus far on the season, wearing a New York Yankees jersey raises everybody's expectations.
However, for a player who was predicted to be the MVP in the American league this season, we all expected greater numbers to begin the season.
Panic-O-Meter: 2
.png?w=256)
Average Draft Pick for Position 7: Evan Longoria
4 of 10
Season Stats:
NOTHING.
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman has been on the disabled list since opening day due to a strained left oblique.
Longoria is hoping to come off the disabled list on April 29.
I would not be too concerned about his production once he returns, but may not be himself until the middle of May.
Panic-O-Meter: 3
Average Draft Pick for Position 6: Joey Votto
5 of 10
Season Stats:
Hits: 24
At-Bats: 56
Walks: 14
Runs: 16
Home Runs: 2
Runs-Batted-In: 8
Batting Average: .429
Last season's MVP is off to a torrid start. He only has two home runs on the season, but those will come in bunches.
Votto has great plate discipline and he can hit the ball in every direction.
By the years end, he could end up as the top first baseman in fantasy baseball.
Panic-O-Meter: 0
Average Draft Pick for Position 5: Carlos Gonzalez
6 of 10
Season Stats:
Hits: 18
At-Bats: 62
Walks: 4
Runs: 12
Home Runs: 1
Runs-Batted-In: 12
Batting Average: .290
Stolen Bases: 3
Carlos Gonzalez is every baseball manger's dream. He is a five-tool player and he brings a great leadership to the clubhouse for the Colorado Rockies.
The hype is surrounding Gonzalez is real and I wouldn't be too worried about his production, especially being in a lineup that features Troy Tulowitzki.
The main concern I have have Gonzalez is he appears to be hesitant on trying to steal a base.
Panic-O-Meter: 1
Average Draft Pick for Position 4: Troy Tulowitzki
7 of 10
Season Stats:
Hits: 20
At-Bats: 58
Walks: 14
Runs: 12
Home Runs: 7
Runs-Batted-In: 14
Batting Average: .345
With a strong finish for him last season, it is not a surprise Tulowitzki is striking fear for opposing pitchers.
He is currently leading the league with seven home runs and if stays he healthy, you can expect him to hit around 40 to leave the yard.
He was touted to be drafted ahead of Hanley Ramirez in many leagues, but fantasy owners balked at the idea.
Many, like me, wish they had another chance of drafting Tulowitzki.
Panic-O-Meter: 3. The main issue with Tulowitzki is his inability to stay healthy.
Average Draft Pick for Position 3: Miguel Cabrera
8 of 10
Season Stats:
Hits: 19
At-Bats: 60
Walks: 13
Runs: 15
Home Runs: 5
Runs-Batted-In: 12
Batting Average: .317
After Cabrera's run-in with the law, fantasy owners were weary of drafting the Detroit Tigers first baseman because they felt this incident would deteriorate him throughout the year.
Baseball may be "90 percent mental," but Cabrera has been able to channel all of his focus on the game in front of him.
I would expect his season averages to stay consistent with his past performances.
Panic-O-Meter: 0
Average Draft Pick for Position 2: Hanley Ramirez
9 of 10
Season Stats:
Hits: 11
At-Bats: 45
Walks: 8
Runs: 4
Home Runs: 0
Runs-Batted-In: 4
Batting Average: .244
Stolen Bases: 1
"Oh, where, oh where has Hanley Ramirez have gone? Oh where, oh where can he be?"
The Florida Marlins shortstop has been a huge disappointment for owners who drafted him as the second overall pick.
His slow start has frustrated many owners and to add insult to injury, a recent leg bruise that sidelined him for a couple of games, may cripple his production for the next couple of weeks.
He is tentative on the base paths, which is evident by his lone stolen base on the season.
If I were a Han-Ram owner, I would be very concerned about my shortstop.
Panic-O-Meter: 7
Average Draft Pick for Position 1: Albert Pujols
10 of 10
Season Stats:
Hits: 16
At-Bats: 67
Runs: 12
Walks: 5
Home Runs: 4
Runs-Batted-In: 10
Batting Average: .239
Albert Pujols is a machine.
He is not a product of a human being because there is not any person in the universe who can accomplish what he does every single year.
He is designed to be perfect. Humans are not perfect. When a person notices a machine is not on track, everybody flips out.
Calm down people, it was just a minor malfunction within his circuits.
The machine will storm back and once again, rule over the baseball world.
Panic-O-Meter: 0
.png?w=480)
