2015 Batter Profiles: G – H

Freddy Galvis

Debut: 2012 |  BirthDate: 11/14/1989 | Team: Phillies | Position: 3B/SS
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 222 48 6 1 19 13 .234 .283 .385 .291 -6.3 0.3 0.1
’14 128 21 4 1 12 14 .176 .227 .319 .243 -6.1 -0.5 -0.3
’15 522 110 11 5 48 44 .226 .269 .353 .275 -16.5 3.1 0.2

Profile: Freddy Galvis missed more than two months of the 2014 campaign because of the fractured clavicle he sustained when he slid into a barrier in foul territory. It’s not as if Philadelphia missed his offense (.176/.227/.319 in 128 plate appearances), however. A 25-year-old whose best season in three with the stick is .234/.283/.385 in 222 PAs (2013), with a minor league resume promising little else, and who plays, essentially, average defense doesn’t sound like a great fantasy bet. Galvis will have a chance to start now that Jimmy Rollins is on the West Coast, so the question is how long Philly will go without a viable alternative. The switch-hitting Galvis offers no power or speed and will surely hit in front of the pitcher when he’s in the lineup. It’s hard to endorse him as a warm body in an NL-only league, even, but maybe he’ll turn out to be one, if his owners are lucky. (Nicholas Minnix)

Quick Opinion: Galvis will have a chance to play shortstop every day, but he’s below-average in virtually all phases of the game on offense. He could be a lukewarm body in an NL-only league, but Philadelphia will probably be open to alternatives that present themselves.


Greg Garcia

Debut: 2014 |  BirthDate: 8/8/1989 | Team: Cardinals | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 18 2 0 0 1 2 .143 .333 .214 .279 -0.2 -0.4 -0.0
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .234 .311 .324 .287 -0.0 0.0 0.0

Profile: With Kolten Wong entrenched at second base for the Cardinals, there’s just no place for Garcia to play. Jhonny Peralta isn’t going anywhere, and Garcia isn’t good enough defensively to play short in the majors anyway. Furthermore, if either of those players goes down, it would almost certainly be Pete Kozma — not Garcia — filling in. The 25-year-old Garcia doesn’t have power or speed, so he would need to get on base constantly to be able to lend much help to a fantasy team, even if there was a way for him to get playing time. (Scott Strandberg)

Quick Opinion: Garcia will not be relevant for fantasy purposes in 2015.


Leury Garcia

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 3/18/1991 | Team: White Sox | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 111 20 0 7 2 10 .198 .248 .228 .217 -8.5 0.3 -0.5
’14 155 24 1 11 6 13 .166 .192 .207 .177 -14.1 -2.2 -1.2
’15 34 7 0 2 3 3 .215 .257 .294 .247 -1.8 0.0 -0.1

Profile: Garcia isn’t much at the plate, but can play multiple infield positions. While the White Sox have a giant hole at second to open the season, Garcia isn’t considered a candidate to compete for a starting role. He’ll more than likely open the year as a defensive replacement. (Chris Cwik)


Avisail Garcia

Debut: 2012 |  BirthDate: 6/12/1991 | Team: White Sox | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 256 69 7 3 31 31 .283 .309 .422 .319 -0.8 -11.5 -0.4
’14 190 42 7 4 29 19 .244 .305 .413 .316 -1.3 -8.3 -0.4
’15 550 134 18 9 66 60 .263 .308 .414 .318 -0.1 -12.1 0.6

Profile: A shoulder injury on April 9th ruined any chance of a breakout season for the 24-year-old Garcia. He miraculously returned in August, and was able to show some of the promise that made him the centerpiece of the White Sox’ Jake Peavy deal. Garcia hasn’t put it all together just yet, but he’s the type of player scouts seem to favor despite iffy stats. There’s a sense he can turn into a middle-of-the-order hitter in a perfect world, but Garcia hasn’t shown that just yet. He’ll open the season as the team’s right fielder, and should bat immediately behind Jose Abreu and Adam LaRoche. He’ll likely be a very popular late-round sleeper in most leagues. The potential is there, but he hasn’t proven anything in the majors yet. (Chris Cwik)

Quick Opinion: Avisail Garcia missed most of last year with a shoulder injury, but showed some promise with his late season performance. He’ll open the year as the team’s starter in right, and has late sleeper appeal based on developing power.


Brett Gardner

Debut: 2008 |  BirthDate: 8/24/1983 | Team: Yankees | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 609 147 8 24 52 81 .273 .344 .416 .335 8.2 1.3 3.2
’14 636 142 17 21 58 87 .256 .327 .422 .331 11.4 -2.9 3.2
’15 659 148 12 21 58 80 .254 .328 .388 .320 4.0 2.8 3.1

Profile: Gardner carried over an approach at the plate in 2014 that had helped him post a sharp improvement in his isolated power the year before, hitting significantly more fly balls than he ever had before in his career and being more aggressive against pitches in the strike zone. Although the results didn’t manifest themselves in a big home run increase in 2013, they sure did last year, as his 17 long balls more than doubled what had been his career best. Much of the credit belongs to an 11.3% home run frequency on fly balls, which nearly doubled his 2013 total despite nearly the same average batted ball distance. Gardner’s improved pop wasn’t a Yankee Stadium-created phenomenon, either; his nine home runs on the road were more than what he managed at home. Unfortunately, the explosion in home run power came at the expense of other parts of Gardner’s game. His 21.1% strikeout rate was his highest over the course of a full season, and the increase in fly balls bit into his batted ball luck, though he still hits enough line drives and ground balls for owners to reasonably expect some improvement on the .256 average he posted. It’s also worth noting that he faded in the second half, as his weighted on-base average also plunged by nearly 40 points, though it’s possible some of that decline can be blamed on an abdominal injury which eventually required offseason surgery. Although he’s no longer the speed demon who averaged 48 steals between 2010 and 2011, at age 31, owners should be more than happy with him stealing more than 20 bags in each of the past two years, and he remains a prime source of runs as a key member of the Yankees offense. (Karl de Vries)

Quick Opinion: Gardner is at worst a solid third outfielder in standard mixed leagues, and while owners should anticipate some drop-off in the home run department, he helps in enough areas to be considered a safe pick among the top 30 outfielders.


Evan Gattis

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 8/18/1986 | Team: Astros | Position: C
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 382 86 21 0 65 44 .243 .291 .480 .329 3.7 -6.8 0.9
’14 401 97 22 0 52 41 .263 .317 .493 .352 9.3 -0.0 2.3
’15 569 127 28 1 79 68 .243 .295 .459 .328 5.8 -13.1 1.2

Profile: The only real difference between Evan Gattis in 2014 compared to 2013 was a bit more batted ball luck. This year we will likely get to see Gattis a bit more at the plate as he moves to Houston and plays more at first base and at designated hitter. Considering we should get an uptick in plate appearances and he will still have catcher eligibility, Gattis will likely be one of the top three catchers selected on draft day. He already has consecutive 20 homer seasons while stepping to the plate only about 400 times, and now he’s headed to a nice home park for power. Doing simple math says that he has 30 homer potential in a full season and he should see a decent amount of run producing opportunities in the middle of that Astro lineup. Hopefully dealing with the struggles he will face defensively in the field does not affect him at the plate — if he ends up DHing, we know there’s a 10% penalty to the bat that comes off the bench, too. Already in the prime power years of his career, Gattis is a good bet to up his homer, RBI, and run totals while providing some positional flexibility to most fantasy squads. Draft him with confidence and enjoy owning the best power source at the catcher position. (Ben Duronio)

Quick Opinion: Gattis had another solid season and should see his plate appearance totals jump with his move to the outfield. He is a very good target in fantasy given that he should be on the field as much as any other catcher eligible player in the game.


Scooter Gennett

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 5/1/1990 | Team: Brewers | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 230 69 6 2 21 29 .324 .356 .479 .364 9.0 1.1 1.8
’14 474 127 9 6 54 55 .289 .320 .434 .326 0.9 1.5 1.8
’15 547 138 10 8 52 56 .270 .307 .388 .305 -6.3 1.2 1.2

Profile: Scooter Gennett laid claim to the second base gig in 2014 and enters 2015 as the unopposed starter at the position. He’s not flashy but the young infielder hits for a respectable average while limiting the strikeouts. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, he doesn’t offer much power (perhaps topping out at 10-12 homers) or speed (single-digit steal totals). He was shielded from southpaws in 2014 but could be in line for more exposure to lefties in 2015 — which could be either a good thing (more at-bats) or a bad thing (further struggles against lefties). Still, he could be a low-risk option in NL-only leagues if you want to spend your money (or higher draft picks) elsewhere. (Marc Hulet)

Quick Opinion: Gennett is a solid second baseman in real life baseball but he doesn’t offer much flash for fantasy managers outside of a potentially-solid batting average. He’s going to have to add some pizzazz to become relevant in mixed league formats.


Craig Gentry

Debut: 2009 |  BirthDate: 11/29/1983 | Team: Athletics | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 287 69 2 24 22 39 .280 .373 .386 .339 8.5 13.8 3.4
’14 258 59 0 20 12 38 .254 .319 .289 .276 -1.3 6.1 1.4
’15 364 83 3 18 30 38 .254 .321 .333 .294 -2.7 4.2 1.5

Profile: Even in an injury-shortened 2014, Craig Gentry still flashed his value. He nabbed 20 steals in 22 attempts while appearing only 94 games. Health does seem to be a concern for Gentry as his high water mark for games played in a major league season is 122. Don’t count on him setting a new single season high in 2015 either, as Gentry is slated to be Oakland’s fourth outfielder behind Coco Crisp, Josh Reddick and Stephen Vogt. As a fourth outfielder, Gentry still has enough fantasy strength to be grabbed off of the waiver wire or even as a late pick in deep leagues. In both standard 5×5 and on-base percentage leagues, Gentry could be a useful bench piece give his career .273 batting average and .346 OBP. Of all the teams to play for as a fourth outfielder, Oakland — or maybe Tampa Bay — seem to be the most enthusiastic about resting players and using platoon splits to get an edge. Expect Gentry to be a pinch runner and get the occasional start against left-handed pitchers. Overall Gentry’s useful rate stats plus his speed make for a solid bench piece in both real life and fantasy baseball. (David Wiers)

Quick Opinion: Although he won’t be a starting outfielder, Gentry still has the ability to be an asset. With both a decent average and OBP, plus 20 steal upside, Gentry is a viable fifth bench bat.


Chris Getz

Debut: 2008 |  BirthDate: 8/30/1983 | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 237 46 1 16 18 29 .220 .288 .273 .251 -12.0 3.5 -0.1
’14 28 4 0 2 0 1 .160 .222 .200 .199 -2.2 0.1 -0.1
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .244 .295 .313 .272 -0.0 -0.0 -0.0

Profile: After years of scrounging up something to write about the lousiest, most marginal players, I have finally been stumped by the FanGraphs+ editors, who asked me to write up Chris Getz, a sub-Bloomquistian middle infielder, who retired in May 2014. Congratulations, Eno. No one Getz out alive, indeed. (Matt Klaassen)


Jason Giambi

Debut: 1995 |  BirthDate: 1/8/1971 | Position: DH
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 216 34 9 0 31 21 .183 .282 .371 .291 -6.1 -6.0 -0.5
’14 70 8 2 0 5 3 .133 .257 .267 .235 -3.9 -1.9 -0.4
’15 33 6 1 0 3 3 .212 .297 .352 .290 -0.8 -0.9 -0.1

Profile: Giambi, now 44 years old, did little to justify his roster spot in 2014, batting .133/.257/.267 in 70 plate appearances with the Indians. The Indians have said he would be a “difficult fit” on their roster in 2015. Obviously he should be a difficult fit on yours as well. (Jeremy Blachman)


Johnny Giavotella

Debut: 2011 |  BirthDate: 7/10/1987 | Team: Angels | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 48 9 0 0 4 4 .220 .333 .293 .292 -1.6 0.4 0.0
’14 41 8 1 0 5 8 .216 .268 .324 .266 -1.0 1.0 0.1
’15 166 39 2 3 15 17 .262 .318 .361 .302 -0.4 -0.5 0.5

Profile: Generally speaking, minor-league stats translate pretty regularly to the majors. If a batter records a 20% strikeout rate in Triple-A, he’ll probably post something like a 25% rate in the majors. A walk rate of 10% at Triple-A, meanwhile, probably translates to something like 6 or 7% in the majors. The precise numbers are likely different, but the point remains: due to the increased level of competition, a player moving from Triple-A to the majors generally experiences some natural decline in his numbers. Of note regarding Giavotella is the <i>magnitude</i> of that decline. After producing an above-average batting line at Triple-A Omaha in 2011 as just a 23-year-old, Giavotella failed to approximate anything like that success over nearly 200 plate appearances with the Royals in August and September of that year. Almost every year since has followed a similar pattern: above-average minor-league numbers coupled with dreadful major-league ones in a somewhat limited sample. The second baseman, who now enters his age-27 season having produced negative wins, was traded to the Angels over the winter, where he’ll serve as insurance should Taylor Featherston and/or Josh Rutledge fail to play adequately. (Carson Cistulli)

Quick Opinion: Giavotella’s minor-league success hasn’t translated to the majors. Now in the Angels system, he’ll serve as infield depth, with a chance at finding time eventually at the club’s uncertain second-base spot.


Conor Gillaspie

Debut: 2008 |  BirthDate: 7/18/1987 | Team: White Sox | Position: 3B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 452 100 13 0 40 46 .245 .305 .390 .303 -7.6 -1.1 0.7
’14 506 131 7 0 57 50 .282 .336 .416 .330 1.1 -6.3 1.2
’15 475 108 11 2 50 49 .252 .316 .388 .311 -3.1 -6.5 0.6

Profile: It was a tale of two halves for Conor Gillespie. He hit .326/.377/.484 over the first half, posting solid peripherals. Things imploded down the stretch. Gillaspie hit just .228/.284/.330 in the second half. As usual, batted ball luck played a big role in his performance. During the first half, he showed a ridiculous .370 batting average on balls in play. Over the second half, that figure dropped to .265. In most of the these cases, the easiest thing to do is assume his talent lies somewhere in the middle. While third base isn’t the strongest fantasy spot, Gillaspie comes with two concerns going forward. He doesn’t hit lefties, and so would be platooned in an ideal world, and his ability to hit home runs faded last season. It’s unclear if that’s due to his declining home run rate, or if Gillaspie just has doubles power. His upside is pretty limited, meaning he won’t be a starter in all but the deepest of leagues. He’s the type of player who can help you get by for a couple of weeks, or fill a spot cheaply in a deep league, but that’s it. (Chris Cwik)

Quick Opinion: Gillaspie had an up and down year. While he wasn’t as bad as he showed over the second half, his flaws keep him from being a starter in all but the deepest of leagues.


Cole Gillespie

Debut: 2010 |  BirthDate: 6/20/1984 | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 69 12 0 0 4 6 .203 .294 .237 .243 -4.0 2.3 0.0
’14 81 18 1 2 5 9 .243 .300 .311 .278 -1.9 -3.1 -0.3
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .243 .313 .378 .308 -0.0 -0.0 0.0

Profile: As a minor league player, Gillespie has excelled with strong plate discipline and decent power. He’s received a few shots at the majors, but he’s been unable to transition any power as evidenced by a career .099 isolated slugging percentage (.145 is average). Gillespie, 31 next season, should serve as a useful Quad-A type for a major league franchise, but fantasy owners can safely ignore him. (Brad Johnson)


Caleb Gindl

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 8/31/1988 | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 155 32 5 2 14 17 .242 .340 .439 .340 2.1 -2.9 0.4
’14 23 3 0 0 0 0 .158 .304 .158 .236 -1.7 -0.8 -0.2
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .234 .301 .370 .299 -0.0 -0.0 -0.0

Profile: Gindl was a pleasant surprise for the Brewers in 2013, as he hit .242/.340/.439 in 155 plate appearances in the majors. Then he followed that up with a 2014 in which he hit .227/.310/.354 in Triple-A. As it stands now, the 26-year-old will be a non-roster invitee in Spring Training with the Blue Jays. (Scott Strandberg)

Quick Opinion: Caleb Gindl will not be fantasy-relevant in 2015. Now that’s a hot take right there.


Ryan Goins

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 2/13/1988 | Team: Blue Jays | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 121 30 2 0 8 11 .252 .264 .345 .267 -7.4 6.5 0.3
’14 193 34 1 0 15 14 .188 .209 .271 .212 -16.8 4.7 -0.6
’15 322 69 3 3 27 29 .230 .269 .316 .261 -14.7 2.7 -0.2

Profile: Some genius last year said that if Ryan Goins was going to to be the Blue Jays everyday second baseman in 2014, that he might be one of the most valuable bizarro fantasy second baseman in baseball. Assuming that the Jays do not make any changes at second, it looks like the genius might be on to something. 2015 might finally be the year of the Bizarro Ascension of Goins. Sure, his .188/.209/.271 line in the majors was a bit below par, but it was only 193 plate appearances. In Triple-A he totally raked: .384/.337/.353 in 402 plate appearances and he was only 26 in his second go-round at the level. Let’s drop the sarcasm: dude in his mid-20s has yet to slug over .370 in Triple-A. I’m going to go out on a limb and say he is not much of a hitter. Yet he is currently slated to in the mix for Toronto’s starting second base slot. “Help us, Devon Travis, you’re our only hope.” — Blue Jays fans. (Matt Klaassen)

Quick Opinion: He can’t hit at all, but if he wins the Blue Jays’ Opening Day second base spot… you should still avoid Goins on draft day.


Paul Goldschmidt

Debut: 2011 |  BirthDate: 9/10/1987 | Team: Diamondbacks | Position: 1B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 710 182 36 15 125 103 .302 .401 .551 .404 45.3 -7.0 6.4
’14 479 122 19 9 69 75 .300 .396 .542 .402 32.9 -7.3 4.4
’15 648 157 31 11 91 89 .283 .380 .523 .389 33.9 -5.7 5.2

Profile: To some degree it’s hard to be disappointed with Goldy’s 2014 season given that he missed the final two months of the season and still finished among the top 12 first basemen. But had he remained healthy he was not on pace to repeat as the best fantasy first baseman. For starters, he was only on pace for 28 home runs a year after hitting 36, and he was on pace to steal a couple fewer bases, although 13 steals from a first baseman is still nice. His home run per fly rate was in line with his career rate as opposed to the inflated rate he had in 2013, so maybe 30 HR is a more reasonable expectation for Goldy as opposed to 35. His batting average going forward is also a concern even though he hit .300 again last year. The concern is that his contact rate slipped after he made some gains in the department in 2013, and his strikeout rate spiked back up to where it was in 2012. He maintained the .300+ batting average with the highest batting average on balls in play of his career. We’re splitting hairs here, but 30 homers as opposed to 35 and .280 as opposed to .300 means we may be talking about a top five 1B as opposed to a top three 1B. The other concern is the hand injury he suffered in August. Hand injuries can be sap power, so there’s a bit more risk with Goldy because of that. Paying for him probably won’t kill you, but be careful not to pay too much. (Brett Talley)

Quick Opinion: Goldschmidt missed the last two months of the season with an injury, but his season was a bit disappointing prior to that. He was on pace for right fewer home runs and two fewer steals from what he did in 2013. And he saw his strikeout rate rise, but it didn’t affect his batting average thanks to a career high BABIP. He’s still a stud, just maybe not a stud of studs.


Jonny Gomes

Debut: 2003 |  BirthDate: 11/22/1980 | Team: Braves | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 366 77 13 1 52 49 .247 .344 .426 .338 4.3 -7.2 1.0
’14 321 64 6 0 37 28 .234 .327 .330 .297 -4.2 -8.5 -0.3
’15 353 68 10 1 35 35 .224 .319 .365 .307 -2.2 -9.2 -0.1

Profile: Attempting to manage a platoon in fantasy baseball formats can be tough, although Jonny Gomes has always proven to be a formidable lefty killer. And while he did hit left-handed pitchers better than the right-handed variety, he still only managed a .371 Slugging Percentage and .094 isolated slugging percentage against them in 2014, well below his .485 and .208 averages. He’s unlikely to land everyday at-bats and if the platoon jig is up for the hefty 34-year old, he’s not very useful unless you’re trying to get rid of some cold cut leftovers. (Michael Barr)

Quick Opinion: Even if the Braves sign Jonny Gomes to platoon in left field with Zoilo Almonte (!), you shouldn’t necessarily employ the platoon outfielder on your deep league team.


Yan Gomes

Debut: 2012 |  BirthDate: 7/19/1987 | Team: Indians | Position: C
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 322 86 11 2 38 45 .294 .345 .481 .359 11.4 11.6 3.6
’14 518 135 21 0 74 61 .278 .313 .472 .340 13.0 12.4 4.6
’15 457 108 16 2 57 51 .257 .305 .435 .324 5.2 14.5 3.8

Profile: Gomes has quietly been one of the most consistent catchers on the offensive side over the last year and a half. Despite not being given the chance at regular playing time until he was blowing out 26 candles, Gomes has put himself in the conversation for a top-five spot at the position. He swings like Posey, just with less explosiveness. There are concerns over his plate discipline and corresponding low walk rates, but as his reputation grows he’ll have the opportunity to garner more walks as pitchers learn to respect him. Gomes has a high floor going forward, with a plausible potential unlike most every other catching option. Think .290/25/90 at his best with a safe bet to at least be above average at the position. (Dan Farnsworth)

Quick Opinion: Despite slight concerns regarding his approach, Gomes has the swing and the ability to easily be in the conversation as one of the best offensive catchers in the league.


Carlos Gomez

Debut: 2007 |  BirthDate: 12/4/1985 | Team: Brewers | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 590 152 24 40 73 80 .284 .338 .506 .363 25.5 26.5 7.5
’14 644 163 23 34 73 95 .284 .356 .477 .368 26.8 7.8 5.9
’15 628 148 22 30 72 79 .261 .323 .441 .337 10.1 11.3 4.4

Profile: After a few impressive seasons, Carlos Gomez is no longer best known as a part of Johan Santana’s move to the New York Mets. Over the past three years, Gomez has hit .277 while averaging 22 homers and 37 steals per season. Hitting at the top of a productive Milwaukee Brewers lineup, he has also scored 82 runs per campaign, capped off by 95 runs last season. While he seems like a late bloomer, Gomez is actually entering his age-29 season in 2015, placing him smack dab in his prime. He is the rare five-tool fantasy player who helps in every statistical category along with providing huge value with his legs. Gomez is a legitimate first round pick in standard leagues who shouldn’t be available more than a couple picks into the second. OBP owners should be slightly more bearish on Gomez’s value, but can still select him in the second round with confidence. (Zach Sanders)

Quick Opinion: Gomez is a five-tool fantasy asset who’s still in his prime. Feel free to draft Gomez late in the first round if you’re so inclined.


Hector Gomez

Debut: 2011 |  BirthDate: 3/5/1988 | Team: Brewers | Position: 3B/SS
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 21 3 0 0 1 2 .150 .190 .200 .179 -2.0 0.6 -0.1
’15 66 13 1 1 6 5 .216 .253 .332 .260 -3.1 0.3 -0.1

Profile: Believe it or not, Gomez was Baseball America’s No. 95 prospect in 2008. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his career, as he missed the vast majority of the 2008, 2010 and 2012 seasons. In 2013, he returned to health, but hit just .196/.238/.255 in Double-A. Then last year, he was promoted to Triple-A, where he hit .282/.325/.483, because baseball is just the weirdest sport sometimes. He has a good chance of breaking camp with the Brewers, where he can back up Jean Segura, Scooter Gennett and Aramis Ramirez. Still, even NL-only owners won’t be drafting a backup infielder who is just two years removed from hitting below the Mendoza line in Double-A. (Scott Strandberg)

Quick Opinion: If the Brewers suffer injuries up the middle, Gomez could be worth a flier in NL-only formats. Aside from that, leave him on the waiver wire.


Adrian Gonzalez

Debut: 2004 |  BirthDate: 5/8/1982 | Team: Dodgers | Position: 1B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 641 171 22 1 100 69 .293 .342 .461 .346 12.1 -5.5 2.8
’14 660 163 27 1 116 83 .276 .335 .482 .351 17.9 -6.0 3.5
’15 642 162 24 2 85 77 .280 .340 .461 .349 15.4 -3.6 3.4

Profile: Last year in these pages, I wrote that the days of Adrian Gonzalez being a superstar were gone, but that he’d “settled comfortably into being an above-average, productive first baseman” after two relatively similar years in 2012-13, and nothing happened to change that in 2014. Fewer base hits (fueled by a lower batting average on balls in play) and slightly higher slugging percentage came out in the wash as a 128 weighted runs created plus, nearly the same as 2013’s 124 wRC+. That gave him the eighth-best mark among qualified first basemen, and that sounds about right — post-peak Gonzalez is among the better second-tier hitters at the position. Entering his age-32 season, there’s no reason to expect much of a change in either direction in 2015. (Mike Petriello)

Quick Opinion: Gonzalez isn’t the star he was in San Diego, but he can reasonably be counted on for above-average production and a homer total in the mid-20s, making him a quality second-tier first base option.


Marwin Gonzalez

Debut: 2012 |  BirthDate: 3/14/1989 | Team: Astros | Position: SS
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 222 45 4 6 14 22 .221 .252 .319 .253 -11.1 0.3 -0.4
’14 310 79 6 2 23 33 .277 .327 .400 .324 2.5 -5.3 0.8
’15 117 26 2 2 10 11 .240 .284 .345 .280 -3.1 0.5 0.1

Profile: After struggling in 2012 and 2013, Marwin Gonzalez looked like a fantasy option in 2014. Gonzalez hit .277 with six homers and two steals in 310 plate appearances, which can do nicely as an AL-only shortstop. His previous struggles gave plenty of room for skepticism, and the Astros agreed, inking Jed Lowrie to take over as their shortstop. Gonzalez will return to the Astros as a backup infielder in 2015, and although Lowrie has been healthy over the past two seasons, there’s a good chance Gonzalez will receive a chunk of playing time at some point, due to injury. If or when Gonzalez takes over for Lowrie — or another Astros infielder — he’s worth keeping an eye on in AL-only formats, but not mixed leagues. (Zach Sanders)

Quick Opinion: Gonzalez surprised with a decent 2014, but he’s been demoted after the Astros signed Jed Lowrie to play shortstop. If he falls into playing time, he’s worth watching in AL-only leagues.


Carlos Gonzalez

Debut: 2008 |  BirthDate: 10/17/1985 | Team: Rockies | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 436 118 26 21 70 72 .302 .367 .591 .408 28.5 2.5 4.7
’14 281 62 11 3 38 35 .238 .292 .431 .315 -4.8 -6.4 -0.3
’15 530 134 24 12 77 74 .282 .347 .505 .369 13.1 -7.5 2.3

Profile: Nothing is ever easy for Carlos Gonzalez. Making the ball go over the fence is something he’s always done well, but Gonzalez is quickly toeing the line between “valuable” and “liability” because he simply can’t stay on the field. 2014 was the worst of both worlds for the Rockies outfielder, as he played in a career-low 70 games while putting up the worst numbers of his life — .238/.292/.431 and 11 home runs and only three steals. His in-play average dipped well below his career norms (.283 BABIP compared to .344 career) but the Rockies outfielder swung more, chased more, and whiffed more while producing less power than in the past. It was the worst case scenario after Gonzalez accepted more strikeouts in exchange for bigger numbers during his 2013 career year –.302/.367/.591 with 26 homers and 21 steals in 436 plate appearances, as you might recall. His rough 2014 might cause some to overlook Gonzalez as an option next year, but his talent is undeniable. Still only 29, CarGo has a lot left to give. Take your medicine and reap the rewards of his skills (and altitude) put make sure to keep an injury replacement in your back pocket. (Drew Fairservice)

Quick Opinion: The injury-prone slugger did too much of one (missing time) and not enough of the other (hitting home runs) in 2014, but Carlos Gonzalez is too talented to overlook in 2015.


Alex Gonzalez

Debut: 1998 |  BirthDate: 2/15/1977 | Position: SS
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 118 20 1 0 8 14 .177 .203 .230 .194 -10.9 -2.7 -1.1
’14 32 5 0 0 2 4 .167 .219 .233 .206 -2.7 -1.4 -0.3
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .237 .275 .361 .281 -0.0 0.0 0.0

Profile: Alex Gonzalez was released by the Tigers very early in 2014. At 37, his power and speed has diminished too much to provide value. Increasing ground-ball rates and awful pop-up rates also prevent possible value. (Dan Schwartz)


Dee Gordon

Debut: 2011 |  BirthDate: 4/22/1988 | Team: Marlins | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 106 22 1 10 6 9 .234 .314 .298 .273 -1.4 -1.8 -0.0
’14 650 176 2 64 34 92 .289 .326 .378 .312 10.2 -1.3 3.1
’15 585 137 2 47 38 63 .257 .308 .335 .288 -9.4 0.8 1.0

Profile: Last year at this time, Dee Gordon’s career seemed to be nearly over. He’d flopped on both sides of the ball in parts of three seasons as the Dodger shortstop, and Alex Guerrero was imported from Cuba to play second base. In one of the most shocking turnarounds of the season, Gordon not only didn’t spend the year in the minors, he held down the second base job from start to finish and even made an All-Star team, leading the National League in steals and playing adequate second base defense. The problem is that he walked only four times in the second half and watched his weighted runs created plus fall from a good first-half 113 to 84, without any change in batting average on balls in play. Still, he’s at least earned himself the opportunity to show he can fix that, which is more than he had a year ago, and if he can get on base, having Giancarlo Stanton behind him to drive him in can’t hurt. (Mike Petriello)

Quick Opinion: Gordon heads into 2015 all but assured of a starting job, and while he’s a one-category performer, he’s an elite base stealer — assuming he can retain enough of 2014’s improvement to continue to reach first base.


Alex Gordon

Debut: 2007 |  BirthDate: 2/10/1984 | Team: Royals | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 700 168 20 11 81 90 .265 .327 .422 .326 7.8 1.6 3.5
’14 643 150 19 12 74 87 .266 .351 .432 .346 21.3 17.9 6.6
’15 652 155 18 9 71 80 .270 .345 .432 .342 15.3 5.0 4.5

Profile: Wilhelm Reich once said of Freud that even when he was wrong, he was right. With Alex Gordon, one might say that even when he is overrated, he is still underrated. After being one of the better overall real-baseball outfielders in baseball since 2011, prominent columnists felt it important to write that Gordon was not worthy of being the 2014 American League MVP because of all the “Alex Gordon for MVP” hype generated by, uh, pretty much no one. Sure, a lot of that had to do with backlash against stuff like wins above replacement and fielding metrics, but it still highlights just how unappreciated Gordon has been. In fantasy baseball, many of the things that he does in real baseball don’t count — such as excellent defense and smart base running. As a hitter, nothing really stands out. He usually has an average strikeout rate, and he is basically a bit above-average when it comes to walks and power. He is not going to carry any one category. The high batting averages on balls in play of 2011 and 2012 are gone, but he’s still managed to be very productive on offense. Gordon’s conditioning is legendary (he is rumored to have last have had pizza while he attended high school) and he has played 151 or more games each of the last four seasons. His likely 2015 line is not all that different from his 2008 sophomore season. What is different is that in 2008 that sort of line was considered okay-ish from a third baseman, and these days it is pretty good for a left fielder. The run environment matters in fantasy leagues. Throw in 20 home runs, double-digit steals, and durability. and you have a good, if not great, fantasy player. (Matt Klaassen)

Quick Opinion: Good thing all those brave columnists wrote that Alex Gordon should not be the AL MVP in 2014, because it really convinced the thousands of people lining up to vote for him to re-think things. Gordon is not a fantasy superstar, but his durability and general ability to help in all categories makes puts him right below that level in AL-only leagues and makes him a very solid starter in almost all others.


Terrance Gore

Debut: 2014 |  BirthDate: 6/8/1991 | Team: Royals | Position: DH/OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 2 0 0 5 0 5 .000 .500 .000 .361 1.4 -0.1 0.1
’15 34 7 0 2 2 3 .208 .262 .268 .241 -1.8 -0.5 -0.1

Profile: Gore has speed, but that is it. Well, he can play defense also. The main issue holding him back as a hitter is the whole hitting thing. Also hitting for power. He has never hit a home run in the minors — in 1245 plate appearances. His minor league batting average was .237. Once on base though, he managed to burn his way to 168 stolen bases against only 17 caught stealings (91% success rate). The Royals aren’t going to waste a roster spot on Gore when they have a better version in the majors in Jarrod Dyson. He may possibly be useful for deep leaguers looking to stream for steals in September if he is called up again to be a pinch runner when the rosters expand. (Jeff Zimmerman) 

Quick Opinion: Though Terrance Gore saw some success in September and the postseason for the Royals, he just does not hit well enough to warrant a roster spot.


Anthony Gose

Debut: 2012 |  BirthDate: 8/10/1990 | Team: Tigers | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 153 38 2 4 12 15 .259 .283 .408 .300 -3.2 -4.9 -0.3
’14 274 54 2 15 13 31 .226 .311 .293 .279 -5.7 9.1 1.3
’15 387 82 5 20 34 41 .236 .301 .343 .289 -6.9 2.6 0.9

Profile: So the Tigers finally got their Brett Gardner, except with a way better arm. And terrible contact skills. And poor plate discipline. And (somehow) even less power. Or maybe they just are crossing their fingers and hoping they get a repeat of Austin Jackson (the Good Years) with new center fielder Anthony Gose. Gose is still just 24, which is on the the good side of the aging curve, but just barely. His major league numbers in brief looks echo those from the minors: lots of strikeouts, not an especially high number of walks, and little power. He often looks impressive in the outfield, and in real baseball that might be enough to more than offset his offensive deficiencies, but that probably won’t help your fantasy team. Even if he struggles to get on base much more than a .300 clip, though, he has the sort of speed that can translate into 30 or more steals in a full season of playing time, which has tremendous value. Despite all the problems, in leagues with steals as a category, Gose is a starter in all AL-only leagues and most deeper leagues generally. (Matt Klaassen)

Quick Opinion: Gose is going to have to be a heck of a defender to make up for his lousy offense in real baseball. In fantasy baseball, he makes for for his bat with speed on the basepaths in category leagues.


Tuffy Gosewisch

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 8/17/1983 | Team: Diamondbacks | Position: C
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 47 8 0 0 3 1 .178 .174 .222 .171 -5.7 1.7 -0.3
’14 132 29 1 0 7 6 .225 .242 .310 .245 -7.4 4.8 0.1
’15 362 74 6 2 32 29 .218 .255 .329 .259 -17.5 9.1 0.3

Profile: Tuffy Gosewisch is unquestionably one of the greatest baseball names in the sport today. In addition, following Miguel Montero shipping off to Chicago, Gosewisch is penciled in as the Diamondbacks’ primary backstop for 2015. His only competition for the job is Rule 5 pick Oscar Hernandez — who has never played an inning above A-ball — and Jordan Pacheco, who isn’t nearly good enough defensively to play regularly behind the plate. Gosewisch could be in line for a heavy dose of playing time this season, which is likely enough to make him relevant in NL-only and two-catcher leagues. .240 is probably the ceiling for his batting average, but if the decent pop he’s displayed in the high minors (34 home runs in 367 games since 2010) translates to the majors, 10+ homers is certainly possible. (Scott Strandberg)

Quick Opinion: There’s nothing sexy about Tuffy Gosewisch as a fantasy option. However, it appears that he will be getting the lion’s share of starts behind the plate in Arizona, making him worth a look in NL-only and two-catcher leagues, simply due to volume.


Phil Gosselin

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 10/3/1988 | Team: Braves | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 7 2 0 0 0 2 .333 .429 .333 .296 -0.2 0.3 0.0
’14 136 34 1 2 3 17 .266 .304 .320 .282 -3.5 1.5 0.2
’15 156 36 2 2 12 14 .247 .286 .335 .276 -4.6 -0.1 -0.0

Profile: Gosselin does possess some skills, but the mirage of his 2014 Triple-A campaign is not to be trusted. The only major substantial difference between his 2013 and 2014 seasons at Triple-A was an absurd jump in BABIP. His weighted offense at the major league level (77 wRC+) actually matches his mark from 2013 with Gwinnett. He was hot for a bit last season but came back down to earth. Combine his limited skillset with his limited results, and Gosselin looks like a permanent bench player if he is even given the opportunity to stick on a major league roster. The Braves are very weak at both second and third base, so he may be able to steal plate appearances away from Chris Johnson or Alberto Callaspo at some point. Even so, he does not possess the offensive skills to be productive in either the real or the fake game. He is off the fantasy radar. (Ben Duronio)

Quick Opinion: Gosselin had a nice 2013 season at Triple-A but struggled when given the opportunity for regular play with the Braves. He will fight for a bench spot and is not going to be useful in fantasy formats.


Yasmani Grandal

Debut: 2012 |  BirthDate: 11/8/1988 | Team: Dodgers | Position: C/1B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 108 19 1 0 9 13 .216 .352 .341 .310 0.1 1.9 0.6
’14 443 85 15 3 49 47 .225 .327 .401 .324 3.0 -6.3 1.1
’15 446 93 13 2 50 48 .241 .336 .401 .328 5.0 3.2 2.3

Profile: For a guy with a career .245 batting average, Grandal is plenty capable of putting up a year hitting .270 with an above average on-base percentage and upper-teens homer totals. Though noticeably weaker from the right side of the plate, he boasts a solid line-drive stroke from the southern end. It would be foolish to expect a huge increase in power because of his swing qualities, but do look for a lot of doubles and average home run power. With the PED and injury history, there is some risk to betting on Grandal, but his upside and pedigree more than make up for these concerns. Expect a reliable up-the-middle player who won’t hurt you on either side of the game. (Dan Farnsworth)

Quick Opinion: Don’t let Grandal’s numbers the last two years fool you; he is poised to put up a solid offensive year with a better supporting cast than he has enjoyed in his young career.


Curtis Granderson

Debut: 2004 |  BirthDate: 3/16/1981 | Team: Mets | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 245 49 7 8 15 31 .229 .317 .407 .319 0.2 4.3 1.4
’14 654 128 20 8 66 73 .227 .326 .388 .320 6.5 -17.2 1.0
’15 535 103 19 6 56 61 .222 .314 .398 .318 3.9 -9.2 1.2

Profile: While Mets fans hoped Curtis Granderson’s 2013 home run to fly ball ratio was just a one-off, CITI Field and a rather sad 272.87 average home run and fly ball distance (195th overall) killed whatever rebound that they were hoping for. This was not far off from his 2013 distance of 275.52 (also 195th overall). Granderson will probably profit most from the right-field wall moving in. While this park change, and his expected batting average on balls in play (25+ points higher than his actual BABIP) calls for recovery, defensive shifts will limit his value moving forward. Pre-2012 contact rates and better success against lefties last year provide some hope, but his .220ish batting average will limit his overall value even if some of the power returns. (Dan Schwartz)

Quick Opinion: Granderson’s counting stats should continue to keep him as a top-75 outfielder, but there are a sundry of young guys with more power potential that you should prefer to the 34-year-old Met. If you are only looking for homers and going for the win-now, then you could do worse. He’ll certainly be cheap.


Grant Green

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 9/27/1987 | Team: Angels | Position: 2B/OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 153 35 1 0 17 16 .250 .301 .343 .286 -2.4 -3.5 -0.1
’14 103 27 1 1 11 7 .273 .282 .354 .278 -3.9 -1.5 -0.2
’15 176 42 3 2 18 18 .258 .298 .373 .297 -1.3 -0.3 0.4

Profile: The Angels’ trade for Grant Green prior to the 2014 season didn’t work out as they had hoped. The former first round pick barely reached 100 plate appearances last season and sported an abysmal 10-to-1 strikeout-to-walk rate. Green has been unable to capitalize on the promise that originally got him drafted early, and now at 27 years old, it seems unlikely that he will ever become more than a bench player. (Scott Spratt)

Quick Opinion: Grant Green has been unable to live up to his once lofty draft status and should spend 2015 either on the Angels’ bench or in the minors.


Didi Gregorius

Debut: 2012 |  BirthDate: 2/18/1990 | Team: Yankees | Position: SS
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 404 90 7 0 28 47 .252 .332 .373 .311 -3.4 4.0 1.4
’14 299 61 6 3 27 35 .226 .290 .363 .287 -4.6 -1.4 0.3
’15 329 71 6 2 31 33 .241 .302 .357 .292 -5.8 4.3 1.0

Profile: It won’t be easy living in Derek Jeter’s shadow at shortstop, but Gregorius will almost certainly give New York fans a lesson on what a true Gold Glove shortstop looks like. A whiz with the glove, this Dutch-born player isn’t anywhere near as skilled with the bat — although he has shown the ability to hit the occasional ball out of the park. As a left-handed hitter playing half his games in Yankees Stadium, he could show even more over-the-fence abilities in 2015, which could help distract from a hideous on-base percentage. Gregorius may be overrated in fantasy drafts because he’s still young and developing… and because he’s a Yankees player, but don’t fall into the trap of over-valuing him. He’s a glove-first, bat-distant-second shortstop who is more valuable in real-life baseball than in the fantasy realm. (Marc Hulet)

Quick Opinion: Gregorius should probably be ignored in mixed leagues, and of interest in only the deepest of deep AL-only leagues. He’s not even a great option for dynasty or keeper leagues because his offensive contributions should be limited, aside from the occasional home runs aided by the right-field corner.


Randal Grichuk

Debut: 2014 |  BirthDate: 8/13/1991 | Team: Cardinals | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 116 27 3 0 8 11 .245 .278 .400 .299 -2.1 4.5 0.6
’15 258 56 8 4 29 27 .233 .274 .394 .294 -3.9 -3.1 0.1

Profile: Grichuk got his first taste of the majors in 2014, and will likely break camp as a member of the 25-man roster to start 2015. The problem with the 24-year-old is that he will mostly start against lefties, due to his severe platoon issues. He has a .954 minor-league OPS against lefties, but just .736 against right-handers. He could have some value as a plug-and-play streaming option when the Cards face lefties, but he’s not someone you’re going to want on your roster for more than a couple days at a time. (Scott Strandberg)

Quick Opinion: You can never get too excited about the fantasy potential of a guy on the wrong side of a platoon.


Robbie Grossman

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 9/16/1989 | Team: Astros | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 288 69 4 6 21 29 .268 .332 .370 .314 -0.6 -9.9 -0.1
’14 422 84 6 9 37 42 .233 .337 .333 .306 -3.5 -0.9 1.0
’15 123 25 2 3 10 14 .237 .327 .350 .306 -0.8 -1.0 0.2

Profile: When healthy, the Astros’ outfield has two spots locked down. George Springer and his bag of tools, and free agent signee Colby Rasmus probably gets a comfortable leash for much of the year. And then you have a scrum for the third and fourth spots in that outfield, assuming the team makes good on playing newcomer Evan Gattis at first and designated hitter as they’ve said. Enter Robbie Grossman, but also Jake Marisnick, Alex Presley, and maybe even Domingo Santana. At some point, the 23-year-old Santana may get some burn just because his upside is the highest. But while the dude has power, and maybe some patience, he isn’t going to be an asset at any other phase of the game. At 24, Jake Marisnick is also young enough that you could dream on his skills. He has the best defense of the crew, and in the minors has shown some power to go with his decent contact and good wheels. Problem is, there’s not much patience, and he’s right-handed. He might get the weak-side platoon with someone in right, and also function as the backup center fielder. So he’ll be on the team at least. Alex Presley has gotten over 400 plate appearances over the last two years and been below replacement. He’s 29, and the power, patience, and glove have disappeared. Without a big spring, he’s out of the picture. See what happens when you whittle away at the Houston depth chart? You’re left with a 25-year-old switch hitter who brings a little of everything to the table. Sure, the power hasn’t quite shown yet, and his defense is not quite good enough for center field… There were only 15 outfielders with double-digit walk rates that stole more than five bases last year, and he was one of them. In deeper leagues, his possible playing time intrigues. In deeper OBP leagues, he’s a bit more interesting than a last-round flier. (Eno Sarris)

Quick Opinion: Part of a crowded Houston left field situation, Robbie Grossman doesn’t have a standout tool that will put him on sleeper lists. But a little bit of everything — patience, power, speed — and a good chance at playing time means he should be on your mind late in your deep-league draft.


Brandon Guyer

Debut: 2011 |  BirthDate: 1/28/1986 | Team: Rays | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 294 69 3 6 26 37 .266 .334 .367 .316 5.7 -0.2 1.6
’15 356 82 6 6 35 38 .254 .313 .382 .310 1.6 -5.7 0.8

Profile: Brandon Guyer received his first taste of extended playing time at the big league level, appearing in 97 games at the age of 28. He may be hard pressed to see even half as many games in 2015 with the acquisition of Steven Souza Jr. (whom the Rays paid a steep price to obtain) and the development of defensive whiz Kevin Kiermaier. Guyer is at his best against left-handed pitching but, even if he were to see regular duty, the native of Pennsylvania doesn’t project to hit for power, steal bases or get on base with any regularity — so his value to fantasy owners would be limited at best. (Marc Hulet)

Quick Opinion: Guyer doesn’t really display skills that would be highly coveted by fantasy owners. With a number of higher-ceiling players ahead of him in Tampa Bay, don’t look for him to be relevant in 2015 — even in deep AL-only leagues.


Jesus Guzman

Debut: 2009 |  BirthDate: 6/14/1984 | Position: 1B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 318 65 9 3 35 33 .226 .297 .378 .299 -2.3 -6.7 0.1
’14 184 31 2 3 9 10 .188 .272 .248 .243 -9.8 -1.0 -0.5
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .232 .305 .367 .300 -0.0 -0.0 0.0

Profile: Jesus Guzman has done nothing to impress since his Padres debut in 2011. Even if he does secure a big league job somewhere, this right-handed backup first baseman is not worth considering. (Zach Sanders)


Tony Gwynn

Debut: 2006 |  BirthDate: 10/4/1982 | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 127 16 0 3 3 14 .152 .264 .190 .218 -10.1 -3.2 -1.0
’15 100 21 1 3 8 9 .232 .301 .314 .277 -2.9 -0.2 0.0

Profile: Tony Gwynn is capable of better than the .152/.264/.190 slash line he posted in 2014 with Philadelphia. Not better to the point that he’ll suddenly become a candidate to start somewhere, of course, especially not at his age (32). At times he’s flirted with a better-than-league-average walk rate, but he’s also been well below it, so his bat offers no power and little reliability. His glove and, less so, his speed have been enough to net him jobs as a fifth outfielder, but if his defense declines any further, then he’ll have trouble sticking around. Even if Gwynn experienced some kind of rejuvenation, the rewards would basically be playing-time-related volume. He’s not a fantasy commodity. (Nicholas Minnix)

Quick Opinion: Gwynn has an above-average ability to draw a walk but doesn’t always use it and has a below-average hit tool, and he’s on the wrong side of 30. Even if he found playing time, stolen bases are unlikely to be part of the equation, making him fantasy irrelevant.


Jedd Gyorko

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 9/23/1988 | Team: Padres | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 525 121 23 1 63 62 .249 .301 .444 .325 7.1 0.5 2.5
’14 443 84 10 3 51 37 .210 .280 .333 .275 -12.8 -0.2 0.0
’15 576 126 19 4 66 59 .240 .302 .400 .311 0.8 0.0 2.0

Profile: Gyorko made the Padres and fantasy owners look silly for investing in him the first half of 2014, putting up numbers too shameful to rehash. After plantar fasciitis sent him to the disabled list for almost two full months, he was a different hitter for the rest of the year. He looked to be noticeably sacrificing hard contact in the air before the down time, swinging more level and across his body. He used his time off effectively, coming back with the swing that made him an exciting prospect coming into the year and seeing much better results as a… result. As long as he made the change consciously, there is no reason not to expect a .250-.260 average with well above-average power (20-ish homers). There is upside in the average and on-base departments, as he’s shown much better plate discipline in the minor leagues. Combine that with average defense at second base per his defensive metrics, and you have a very exciting young hitter with room to grow. (Dan Farnsworth)

Quick Opinion: Gyorko 2014 = stinky; Gyorko 2015 = rosy. Pretend 2014 didn’t happen, and the expectations should come close to what you get from him this season.


Scott Hairston

Debut: 2004 |  BirthDate: 5/25/1980 | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 174 30 10 2 26 18 .191 .237 .414 .279 -5.8 -6.1 -0.7
’14 87 16 1 0 8 6 .208 .253 .299 .245 -4.9 -2.7 -0.5
’15 263 54 9 4 30 27 .223 .273 .391 .293 -4.9 -6.5 -0.4

Profile: Hairston has been able to carve out a nice career by hitting left-handers pretty well. That’s somewhat commendable considering the shortness of that side of a platoon. It appears as if things may be coming to an end, though. Hairston wasn’t good in 2013. And he only got worse in 2014, seeing his strikeout rate increase while nearly every other statistic dropped precipitously. He isn’t likely to be used much going forward. (Landon Jones)

Quick Opinion: Hairston’s day of starting are over. Outside of a handful of pinch hit opportunities, he isn’t coming to the dish much. Don’t pay him any mind. He’s just over there hanging out.


Josh Hamilton

Debut: 2007 |  BirthDate: 5/21/1981 | Team: Angels | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 636 144 21 4 79 73 .250 .307 .432 .319 6.6 -9.0 2.0
’14 381 89 10 3 44 43 .263 .331 .414 .325 2.4 -4.7 1.1
’15 564 126 19 4 70 64 .247 .311 .415 .317 5.2 -7.9 1.7

Profile: Josh Hamilton has been a major disappointment since signing a five-year, $123 million contract with the Angels prior to the 2013 season. The primary culprit for Hamilton has been a precipitous decline in his contact rates on balls out of the strike zone. Hamilton has always swung at a lot of pitches out of the zone. Even in his prime 2010-2012 seasons with the Rangers, Hamilton swung at between 37.3% and 45.4% of the balls he saw. However, in that prime, he made contact on those pitches close to 60% of the time. The last two seasons, he has made contact on closer to 50% of those swings out of the zone. That has been the impetus of a strikeout rate that has inflated to 24.8% and 28.3% the last two seasons, which has in turn led to a big drop in his batting average and power numbers. Hamilton will turn 34 during the 2015 season, and a checkered off-the-field past will certainly not help his quest to return to his career level of production. Expect more like 20 home runs and a .250 average this season. Hamilton is no longer a top 50 outfielder. (Scott Spratt)

Quick Opinion: Hamilton had an incredible but short-lived prime. Injuries and declining plate discipline have resulted in a steep decline in recent seasons such that Hamilton is no longer a top 50 outfielder in traditional fantasy formats.


Billy Hamilton

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 9/9/1990 | Team: Reds | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 22 7 0 13 1 9 .368 .429 .474 .398 4.1 0.8 0.6
’14 611 141 6 56 48 72 .250 .292 .355 .287 -7.9 22.0 3.5
’15 629 141 7 64 44 70 .245 .297 .342 .286 -10.8 13.8 2.4

Profile: In the end, Hamilton’s debut season wasn’t the rookie of the year-caliber sensation many fantasy owners had hoped for, but it wasn’t a terribly disappointing 2014 for the speed demon, either. He hit .250, maintained a decent contact rate and kept his strikeout rate under 20%, while scoring 72 runs for a team that had one of the worst offenses in baseball. And, of course, he brought his wheels with him: his 56 steals were tied for the second most in baseball behind Dee Gordon, though he was caught 23 times, leading to an underwhelming 71% success rate. The dark side to Hamilton’s season, however, was an unacceptable .292 on-base percentage and a second half in which he all but disappeared, slashing just .200/.254/.257. As Jeff Zimmerman noted, Hamilton was fed more fastballs as the season went on, which may have contributed to a high pop-up rate and a 37.3% fly ball rate that didn’t do him any favors. Fortunately, Hamilton’s plate discipline didn’t crumble after the all-star break (his whiff rate remained below league average), and he hit enough line drives and ground balls that, when one considers his speed, suggest he was cheated on a .253 average on balls in play. Fatigue could have been an issue as well; the 152 games in which he played were 17 more than he had done at any level in the minors. As for the on-base percentage, optimistic owners can point to an improved walk rate in the second half as evidence that the 9.5% walk percentage he maintained in the minors can one day find its way to The Show. Hamilton didn’t take the National League by storm last year, but as he enters his age-24 season, there’s plenty of reason to believe he’ll get better as time goes on. (Karl de Vries)

Quick Opinion: Hamilton, naturally, is going to be a much sought-after commodity in roto leagues, but whereas he may have been overvalued entering 2014 in head to head formats, it’s possible some owners, soured that he didn’t conquer the majors in one season, might discount him in 2015. Although he’s still raw, his upside merits a pick somewhere around the top 30 at the position.


Ryan Hanigan

Debut: 2007 |  BirthDate: 8/16/1980 | Team: Red Sox | Position: C
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 260 44 2 0 21 17 .198 .306 .261 .252 -14.2 6.4 -0.0
’14 263 49 5 1 34 18 .218 .318 .324 .295 -4.2 6.4 1.2
’15 190 41 3 1 18 21 .251 .338 .350 .307 -2.2 6.3 1.1

Profile: Hanigan is an interesting player for some of us. (Okay, maybe just for me.) He combines excellent plate discipline and contact ability with a great defensive reputation that’s backed up by metrics (such as they are). As a fantasy owner, you shouldn’t care about any of that. Even by catcher standards, he has never contributed significantly in any of the counting stats, and even though he figures –– if he can stay healthy –– to be Boston’s primary backup catcher in 2015, his production doesn’t figure to change. In deeper two-catcher leagues or some AL-only leagues, he might contribute in batting average if he goes through a period of good luck with batted balls; the trouble is that you never know when that’s going to happen. Hanigan has shown some ability to hit opposite handed pitching in the past, but even those days seem to be over. In daily leagues, you’d be better off platooning someone like Rene Rivera. (Robert J. Baumann)

Quick Opinion: Hanigan has never really played enough –– nor hit enough when he’s played –– to be a fantasy contributor. It’s unlikely either of those things will change as he enters his age-34 season.


J.J. Hardy

Debut: 2005 |  BirthDate: 8/19/1982 | Team: Orioles | Position: SS
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 644 158 25 2 76 66 .263 .306 .433 .322 -2.9 13.3 3.4
’14 569 142 9 0 52 56 .268 .309 .372 .303 -7.6 20.4 3.4
’15 616 145 17 2 65 65 .253 .298 .392 .304 -6.6 13.3 2.9

Profile: From 2011-2013, no shortstop had more runs batted in nor hit more home runs than J.J. Hardy. In 2014, J.J. didn’t hit his first home run until June 21st. Before that game, he had logged just 18 runs scored and 16 runs batted in through 261 plate appearances. He struggled with back spasms throughout April, which sapped his power and caused him to adopt what he described as a “base hit swing.” Presumably, the same swing helped him to hit .288 during that time, which in turn may have caused fantasy owners to hold onto him through his struggles. Saying that such owners were rewarded for their patience might be a bit of a stretch, though, as J.J. posted a .252 AVG, nine HR, 38 R, and 37 RBI line from June 21st on. His home run and fly ball distance actually held steady from his 2012-2013 levels, and despite not walking much, he still posts above average reach and zone swing numbers. Still, it looks as if J.J. might be in decline. He posted his highest strikeout rate of his career, and it only got worse as the year went on. That, combined with him hitting fewer fly balls, means it makes sense to be concerned about his power going forward. Approach with caution. (Robert J. Baumann)

Quick Opinion: Hardy’s fantasy value has mostly been tied to his excellent home run and RBI production relative to his position. Making less contact and hitting fewer fly balls is no way to remedy that. He might not be a starting shortstop in standard 12-team mixed leagues anymore.


Bryce Harper

Debut: 2012 |  BirthDate: 10/16/1992 | Team: Nationals | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 497 116 20 11 58 71 .274 .368 .486 .371 22.4 -2.1 3.8
’14 395 96 13 2 32 41 .273 .344 .423 .338 5.4 -5.1 1.3
’15 597 144 25 10 79 79 .278 .363 .489 .371 24.9 -3.2 4.3

Profile: Injuries have derailed Harper’s performance in each of the last two seasons, but it’s tough to say he’s injury prone. Running full speed into a wall would set most people back, and there’s nothing fantasy owners can do about a torn ligament while sliding. His performance was solid, though took a step back after he showed a lot of promise in 2013. That’s likely due to Harper getting over his thumb and regaining his timing after missing so much time. When the playoffs started, Harper once again showed why he’s one of the most talented young players in baseball. The sky remains the limit for the 22-year-old. If he can put together a full season, there’s potential for a top-10 fantasy season. The injuries could push Harper down into the late second round, which would make him a steal if he finally puts it together. The talent is immense. (Chris Cwik)

Quick Opinion: Injuries have interrupted the last two seasons for Harper. He remains immensely talented, and could put up top-10 fantasy numbers the year he finally plays 150 games.


Josh Harrison

Debut: 2011 |  BirthDate: 7/8/1987 | Team: Pirates | Position: 3B/OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 95 22 3 2 14 10 .250 .290 .409 .307 0.6 -2.7 0.1
’14 550 164 13 18 52 77 .315 .347 .490 .365 25.2 3.1 4.9
’15 625 163 12 19 62 72 .280 .318 .421 .325 7.4 1.9 3.0

Profile: Whaaaaaaaat? Harrison entered the 2014 season as a utility player with seven career homers, a .250 batting average and .283 weighted on base average. He then proceeded to shatter everything we thought we knew about his offensive ability and remind us how unpredictable baseball could be. While he has shown some semblance of power and speed before, his performance was aided by an inflated .353 batting average on balls in play. A 24% line drive rate certainly helped, but he had posted just a .275 BABIP before this year. He still rarely takes a walk, making him appear out of place as a top-of-the-order hitter. When his BABIP drops and brings his batting average down with it, there’s serious risk he gets dropped to the bottom of the order. And that’s the downside. But aside from that BABIP, nothing else seemed fluky. While everyone is sure they know that major regression is coming, there’s a reasonable chance that he repeats his four category numbers, along with a sub-.300 average. That still makes him valuable and since most will be afraid to draft him, he could actually come at a fair price. (Mike Podhorzer)

Quick Opinion: Harrison shocked us all by opening the season in a utility role and then ultimately becoming a top 100 fantasy player with his all-around contributions. The risk that his BABIP craters makes him a candidate for serious regression, but with good speed and respectable power, he should still earn some mixed league value.


Corey Hart

Debut: 2004 |  BirthDate: 3/24/1982 | Team: Pirates | Position: DH
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 255 47 6 2 21 17 .203 .271 .319 .266 -10.7 -8.5 -1.2
’15 240 55 7 2 28 27 .253 .314 .420 .323 1.7 -5.7 0.3

Profile: Corey Hart seemed like a nifty little buy-low for Jack Zduriencik, the General Manager that drafted him during his Milwaukee days and is now with the Seattle Mariners. Hart, after all, had hit better than 20 home runs five times in his career, and possessed a career slash line of roughly .275/.335/485. Jack found out you get what you pay for. Hart was coming off microfracture knee surgery and missed the entire 2013 season and it looked more like he’d had microfracture eye surgery gone bad. He played just 54 innings in the outfield and managed to make Seattle fans long for Raul Ibanez during his laughingstock days. With his bat, he managed just .203/.271/.319 with six home runs over 255 plate appearances. He battled forearm, hamstring, and knee problems at various times throughout the year and he simply never stayed healthy long enough to get anything resembling the old Corey Hart going. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that he could be a successful reclamation project with the Pirates, but it seems awfully unlikely. (Michael Barr)

Quick Opinion: Corey Hart has an odd looking beard and some interesting ink on his arms. What he didn’t show in 2014 were baseball skills, which is why we’re all here. Your team deserves better.


Alex Hassan

Debut: 2014 |  BirthDate: 4/1/1988 | Team: Orioles | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 9 1 0 0 0 1 .125 .222 .125 .176 -1.0 -0.0 -0.1
’15 20 4 0 0 2 2 .241 .324 .356 .306 -0.2 -0.4 0.0

Profile: Hassan has long been a guy just on the cusp of a major league job. He spent the better part of the last three seasons at Triple-A Pawtucket, where he racked up a .387 on-base percentage. His cumulative minor league OBP stands at .396. Still, the Red Sox were not willing to trust him with a major league role, and he was exposed to waivers this November, where he was claimed twice in one week — first by the Athletics and then by the Orioles. Given that he has hit lefties well in his career, and could fit into a platoon with the Orioles. With Steve Pearce set to assume the bulk of the designated hitter duties in Baltimore, the only right-handed hitting outfielder likely to make their squad is Delmon Young, and he is only nominally an outfielder at this stage. With an impressive spring training, Hassan could play himself into some decent action in the corners, spelling Alejandro De Aza and David Lough against left-handed pitching. Nothing is guaranteed for Hassan, who had just nine plate appearances in his first 26 years on planet earth, but there is at least a glimmer of hope that he may find a major league job. Which is more that he could say if he had remained in the Red Sox organization. (Paul Swydan)

Quick Opinion: Alex Hassan doesn’t have much major league experience, but he has a fantastic track record of getting on base at the minor league level, and he may have a chance to win a job with the Orioles this spring. He won’t have any mixed league value, but should he win a platoon role in Baltimore, he could be of use in deep daily AL-only leagues.


Chase Headley

Debut: 2007 |  BirthDate: 5/9/1984 | Team: Yankees | Position: 3B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 600 130 13 8 50 59 .250 .347 .400 .330 6.4 9.2 3.6
’14 531 114 13 7 49 55 .243 .328 .372 .316 2.0 21.6 4.4
’15 597 134 17 8 68 69 .257 .343 .412 .335 7.5 9.3 4.0

Profile: Headley is a better real-life player than fantasy asset, with most of his expected value coming from his third base defense. A late-season resurgence with the bat was attributed to a change in his grip that he last used in his breakout 2012 year. In reality, most of the improvement came from calling Yankee Stadium his new home, as he has more swing issues than just how he’s holding the bat. Don’t go into 2015 looking for him to show signs of his career year even with the new digs. Instead, league average offense paired with his elite defense will be what makes him a useful player to the Bombers. (Dan Farnsworth)

Quick Opinion: What you see is what you get with Headley for 2015. A .260-ish average with 10-15 homers and a handful of steals along with plus-plus defense will be what he can give you this year.


Adeiny Hechavarria

Debut: 2012 |  BirthDate: 4/15/1989 | Team: Marlins | Position: SS
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 578 123 3 11 42 30 .227 .267 .298 .251 -32.5 -2.3 -1.9
’14 574 148 1 7 34 53 .276 .308 .356 .290 -9.7 -2.2 0.6
’15 593 137 4 9 48 47 .248 .288 .335 .276 -18.7 2.6 0.2

Profile: There isn’t a lot of “on paper” upside to Adeiny Hechavarria. In real life, a shortstop who can handle the bat (in the parlance of our times) is a valuable contributor. But Hechavarria the fantasy asset is instead a hitter without any power of which to speak, even less patience and not a lot of speed to use as window dressing. In 2014, the Marlins’ middle infielder snuck enough balls past infielders to approach a league-average on base percentage, but the complete absence of power made him significantly below-average at the plate. Not that there isn’t any merit to this approach, but Hechavarria needs to make significant strides at the plate to produce enough hard-hit balls to make his production at the plate fantasy relevant. He also needs to improve his bunting, as it can be a solid weapon to augment his meager arsenal. The star-eyed Hechavarria optimist might believe he can learn to square up everything and become a poor-man’s Erick Aybar, capable of a .285/.300/.395 slash line while playing every day. It’s always a tough go for a batted-ball-luck-driven player and that’s exactly what Hechavarria will always be. Even given the grim shortstop market, Hech might be too grim to reach for. (Drew Fairservice)

Quick Opinion: The Marlins shortstop doesn’t offer speed or power or much else, but if you need some hollow average you could do worse — but not much.


Enrique Hernandez

Debut: 2014 |  BirthDate: 8/24/1991 | Team: Dodgers | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 134 30 3 0 14 13 .248 .321 .421 .329 1.5 4.2 1.1
’15 20 4 0 0 2 2 .233 .283 .348 .282 -0.4 0.0 0.0

Profile: Hernandez is a tremendously versatile defender, as he played six different positions last year, despite appearing in just 40 major-league games. The 23-year-old is on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster, and players as versatile as Hernandez usually work their way into a good chunk of major-league playing time. As he showed last year, he has some offensive upside when he does get on the field. Hernandez has good plate discipline and a sneaky amount of pop in his bat, though his ability to post a decent batting average is a dicey proposition at best. (Scott Strandberg)

Quick Opinion: He won’t likely break camp with the Dodgers, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he ends up providing value in NL-only leagues at some point this season.


Elian Herrera

Debut: 2012 |  BirthDate: 2/1/1985 | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 8 2 0 0 0 0 .250 .250 .250 .222 -0.6 -0.5 -0.1
’14 140 37 0 4 5 14 .274 .288 .341 .274 -3.6 1.7 0.2
’15 222 48 2 5 17 19 .236 .291 .313 .272 -8.2 -0.4 -0.2

Profile: Herrera will likely see playing time in the majors at some point this season, just as he has for each of the last three years. However, he is just a .261/.318/.333 hitter through 362 major-league plate appearances. He has zero power and hasn’t been a threat on the basepaths since 2011. He is now 30 years old and will not be on your fantasy team. (Scott Strandberg)

Quick Opinion: Last year with the Brewers, Herrera struck out 36 times while drawing just two unintentional walks. Inspiring.


Jonathan Herrera

Debut: 2008 |  BirthDate: 11/3/1984 | Position: 3B/SS
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 215 57 1 3 16 16 .292 .336 .364 .306 -6.5 3.2 0.3
’14 104 21 0 1 9 10 .233 .307 .289 .273 -4.2 0.7 -0.0
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .245 .299 .322 .278 -0.0 -0.0 -0.0

Profile: Jonathan Herrera has been in the majors since 2008. During that time, he has survived the difficult road of the career backup. Since 2009, he has never amassed more than 320 plate appearances in a season, and never fewer than 104. Unfortunately, his road may have very few major league stops left on it. The 104 was 2014’s total in Boston. He has signed a minor league deal with the Cubs for 2015, who have Tommy La Stella, Mike Olt, Chris Valaika and Luis Valbuena in the fold, in addition to their oodles of infield prospects. That’s stiff competition for Herrera. Herrera does do plenty of things well — he can be counted on to make solid contact, he plays very good defense at second base and passable defense at third and short. He certainly could fit well on the Cubs’ bench, helping some of their latin prospects land on their feet in the majors. There are no guarantees that will be the case though, and if Javier Baez is all he’s cracked up to be, Herrera’s 100 plate appearance streak may be at an end. Either way, he’s not a player that you want on your fantasy team. (Paul Swydan)

Quick Opinion: Herrera does plenty of things well, but none of them are things that translate to being a rosterable player in fantasy baseball.


Dilson Herrera

Debut: 2014 |  BirthDate: 3/3/1994 | Team: Mets | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 66 13 3 0 11 6 .220 .303 .407 .317 -0.2 0.2 0.2
’15 33 7 1 1 3 3 .234 .284 .355 .285 -0.6 0.1 0.0

Profile: Herrera loads his hands up rather than back like most hitters do. This normally creates length to a swing, with the quick downward motion to start a swing often leading to more downward motion than is necessary, and a loop to the swing path. Herrera has had to prove it for the past few years, but he has very good awareness of the bat head and feel to hit. He makes more consistent hard contact than almost any other hitter with this swing. His hit tool could end up being a 60 and that may allow his power to play even higher than his average raw power. There isn’t a clear path for playing time in 2015, so he may spend a good amount of the season in Triple-A. His eventual upside is a .280/.345/.440 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Herrera has shown the ability to hit despite an unconventional stance. He’s close to being a finished product, but there’s no space for him on the Mets current roster.


Jason Heyward

Debut: 2010 |  BirthDate: 8/9/1989 | Team: Cardinals | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 440 97 14 2 38 67 .254 .349 .427 .344 9.2 9.2 3.4
’14 649 155 11 20 58 74 .271 .351 .384 .329 10.1 17.3 5.1
’15 610 143 20 13 69 79 .270 .355 .446 .353 20.1 7.7 5.0

Profile: We have seen Jason Heyward do just about everything well at one point or another, but we have not seen him put everything together in a single season just yet. His rookie season his OBP was phenomenal, in his third year he went 20-20, and last year his strikeout rate was the lowest it has been in his career. Next year, as he moves to St. Louis, it is certainly difficult to predict what to expect out of him offensively. The biggest concern for Heyward last year was a lack of power. He stole 20 bases, hit for the average we expected and walked a good amount to push his OBP above .350, but his 11 home runs and .113 isolated slugging percentage proved to hurt his overall offensive and fantasy value. Maybe he was moving toward a more contact oriented approach, but his overall fantasy numbers were underwhelming due to his power outage. His weighted offense was the second lowest of his career. Now in St. Louis, it is reasonable to expect last year’s performance to be somewhat of a baseline for Heyward. He may not hit 20 home runs or steal 20 bases, but he should be somewhere between 35-45 home runs and steals combined. At the top of what should be a potent St. Louis lineup, expect a lot of runs scored as well. (Ben Duronio)

Quick Opinion: Heyward will be at the top of a potent lineup in St. Louis and should see his run totals boom in his new city. Home run and steal totals have varied over the past few years, but his power and speed combination make him a very dangerous fantasy threat.


Aaron Hicks

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 10/2/1989 | Team: Twins | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 313 54 8 9 27 37 .192 .259 .338 .266 -11.8 -5.7 -0.8
’14 225 40 1 4 18 22 .215 .341 .274 .291 -3.3 -3.6 0.0
’15 364 73 6 7 33 38 .230 .318 .349 .301 -3.4 -0.3 0.9

Profile: Through over 500 plate appearances, Hicks’ big league career has been a colossal disappointment. He has hit just .201/.293/.313, and there have been questions about his attitude and work ethic. Even his defense, which was billed as at least big-league ready prior to 2013, has been lackluster. At times, he has flashed the potential that made him a multiple-time top-100 prospect, but those moments have been far too infrequent. At this point his only passable big league skill has been taking walks, and that simply isn’t going to cut it if he’s going to carve out a big league career — let alone a decent one. The Twins can send him back to Rochester once more, making 2015 a make-or-break campaign for the switch hitter. That does, however, mean a heaping dose of Jordan Schafer in center, and nobody wants to see that. Like it or not, Hicks has to feel the pressure of Eddie Rosario and more obviously Byron Buxton creeping up on him, possibly making his future as a fourth outfielder or on someone else’s roster. That’s not what the Twins would like to see from Hicks, a former first-round pick. (Brandon Warne)

Quick Opinion: Hicks hasn’t done anything to merit fantasy consideration on the field. The tools and skillset are still there, but the light bulb is flickering on his future as a big league regular.


Brandon Hicks

Debut: 2010 |  BirthDate: 9/14/1985 | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 242 33 8 0 22 27 .162 .280 .319 .271 -5.1 1.4 0.4
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .196 .275 .331 .272 -0.0 0.0 0.0

Profile: There’s a reason that Hicks didn’t get 200+ plate appearances in a season until he was 28 years old. That reason is that he struck out more than 30% of the time and hit .162 in his first season with more than 200 plate appearances. He did pop eight home runs in 242 PA, which is nice power for a middle infielder, but it’s not enough to make Hicks worth anything in fantasy. (Brett Talley)

Quick Opinion: Hicks flashed decent pop for a middle infielder in limited work. But his work will remain limited he doesn’t make nearly enough contact.


Aaron Hill

Debut: 2005 |  BirthDate: 3/21/1982 | Team: Diamondbacks | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 362 95 11 1 41 45 .291 .356 .462 .358 8.4 -1.1 2.0
’14 541 122 10 4 60 52 .244 .287 .367 .289 -15.1 -7.5 -0.7
’15 634 146 16 6 65 67 .252 .306 .398 .311 -6.3 -1.7 1.2

Profile: Aaron Hill has had a ridiculously up-and-down career, so it might be a mistake to write him off after a really bad year. But he’ll be 33 this year, so the aging curve might prevent a bounceback this time. Steamer likes him to top 600 plate appearances and hit 16 home runs. If he does that, he’s probably a borderline top 12 fantasy second baseman. But he hasn’t topped 600 PA or hit 15+ homers on this side of 30. Steamer doesn’t like his average to bounce back, and that’s probably right given how his walk and strikeout rates went the wrong direction last year. At best, Hill is probably just an option for your middle infield slot in a mixed league. But he’s hard to trust in anything shallower than a 14-team mixer or deeper. (Brett Talley)

Quick Opinion: Hill has had an up-and-down career, but he’s been more down than up in the last two seasons in which he was on the wrong side of 30. If he stays healthy, he could rank up enough plate appearances to be a middle infield option in shallower mixed leagues. But more likely he’s only an option in deeper leagues.


L.J. Hoes

Debut: 2012 |  BirthDate: 3/5/1990 | Team: Astros | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 184 48 1 7 10 24 .282 .332 .365 .310 1.4 -8.0 -0.1
’14 136 21 3 0 11 12 .172 .230 .287 .232 -7.6 -2.6 -0.6
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .246 .316 .346 .298 -0.0 -0.0 0.0

Profile: The man with the unfortunate last name, L.J. Hoes’ fate was sealed when he was unable to stick at second base and had to move to the outfield. His lack of range keeps him at a corner outfield position and his modest power output makes him a below-average option in real life baseball and fantasy ball. Currently with Houston, Hoes is behind four more relevant outfield options, so it will likely take a trade or injury for him to receive significant playing time. The best case scenario for soon-to-be-25-year-old player would be to latch on to a club (in a new area code) where he can serve as the fourth or fifth outfielder and carve out a career as a player that neither hurts nor helps overly much… until he prices himself out of the arbitration and/or free agent market. (Marc Hulet)

Quick Opinion: Hoes doesn’t project to receive much playing time or produce much fantasy value, so he’s at best a player to be aware of (if you’re in a deep AL-only league) should injuries strike the Astros outfield.


Matt Holliday

Debut: 2004 |  BirthDate: 1/15/1980 | Team: Cardinals | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 602 156 22 6 94 103 .300 .389 .490 .383 34.2 -11.4 4.4
’14 667 156 20 4 90 83 .272 .370 .441 .360 23.7 -9.1 3.8
’15 616 148 20 4 77 77 .277 .365 .455 .361 21.9 -12.9 3.0

Profile: Time seemed to have finally caught up with the 34-year-old Matt Holliday in the first half of 2014, when he hit just .265 with six home runs. But, after a second-half surge, Holliday reached 20 home runs for the ninth consecutive season. His .272 batting average was 36 points down from his career average, but his .298 batting average on balls in play was 40 points below his career level and 24 points down from 2013. Soon to be 35 years old, Holliday could be on the brink of decline, but his 2014 season is not clear evidence that the decline has already begun. Instead, Holliday remains one of the most consistent players in baseball and should be considered a top 30 outfielder in 2015. (Scott Spratt)

Quick Opinion: A strong second half for Holliday in 2014 staved off the fears of age-related decline. He remains one of the most consistent players in baseball and is a top 30 outfielder for 2015.


Brock Holt

Debut: 2012 |  BirthDate: 6/11/1988 | Team: Red Sox | Position: 3B/OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 72 12 0 1 11 9 .203 .275 .237 .236 -3.7 -2.4 -0.4
’14 492 126 4 12 29 68 .281 .331 .381 .317 3.7 1.1 2.3
’15 246 60 2 5 20 29 .269 .324 .359 .305 -2.3 -1.0 0.5

Profile: Very few players fit the definition of “lightning in a bottle” as well as Brock Holt did in 2014. Boston’s jack-of-all-trades utility man, acquired in the ill-fated Joel Hanrahan trade a couple years ago, rode a nearly .400 first half batting average on balls in play to a .327/.371/.463 triple slash and an everyday gig. In the second half of the season, the walls came tumbling down as Holt’s luck cratered and he posted a less appetizing line that was 47% worse than league average. It wasn’t all a mirage, Holt’s full season isolated slugging and line drive rates both jumped in 2014, so while he was still luckier than the average bear, he proved to square up the ball significantly more effectively than his previous two major league seasons. Further helping matters was that Holt continued to post swinging strike rates that were better than league-average, showing that when he swings, he rarely swings through. While his season came to an end on a sour note thanks to a concussion, he should be ready to go in 2015. Holt’s biggest problem is that the he has nowhere to play, with talent and contracts already locking down Boston’s infield and outfield. He may prove to be a reliable plug-and-play piece in real life but is not worth drafting in the vast majority of fantasy leagues. (Colin Zarzycki)

Quick Opinion: Boston’s swiss army knife utility man was otherworldly in the first half, but saw his fortunes swiftly change after the all-star break. While he did make nice strides in the power department, Boston’s free agent spending spree during the offseason leaves him without a defined role headed into spring training. That means you probably shouldn’t be too concerned with adding him to your fantasy squad.


Tyler Holt

Debut: 2014 |  BirthDate: 3/10/1989 | Team: Indians | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 76 19 0 2 2 4 .268 .307 .296 .273 -2.6 2.6 0.3
’15 59 12 0 2 4 5 .230 .296 .294 .270 -1.8 -0.6 -0.0

Profile: Tyler Holt made his major league debut in 2014 and it went about as expected: he hustled his butt off, made some nice plays in the field, stole a couple bases and didn’t hit much at all. That’s about what Tyler Holt is. He’s a “grinder” that coaches love, but the fact of the matter is, there’s just no upside here. He’ll open the season in the minors for Cleveland, and may get some more time as a fourth or fifth outfielder, but that’s all he is. (August Fagerstrom)

Quick Opinion: Unless your league offers points for “minor league grittiness,” it’s probably best to avoid Tyler Holt on draft day.


Eric Hosmer

Debut: 2011 |  BirthDate: 10/24/1989 | Team: Royals | Position: 1B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 680 188 17 11 79 86 .302 .353 .448 .350 15.8 -9.4 3.1
’14 547 136 9 4 58 54 .270 .318 .398 .314 -5.9 -10.1 0.2
’15 635 159 19 7 77 76 .278 .339 .440 .342 12.4 -11.4 2.4

Profile: Remember when, after Eric Hosmer’s 2011 rookie debut, some anonymous official with a major league club said the Royals should offer him 10 years and $100 million? That was awesome. Hosmer looked great in the playoffs and finished the season strong, and there was word of some mechanical adjustments that magically fixed him. You know, just like when George Brett supposedly “fixed” him during the 2013 season. While Hosmer was legitimately good (although far from living up to his hype as a prospect) in 2011 and 2013, he was legitimately horrible in 2012, and while he managed to be a roughly league-average hitter in 2014, that is hardly exciting from a first baseman. And while Hosmer’s 2012 fiasco was largely due do random variation in batting average on balls in play, in 2014 his BABIP was what one would expect, but combined with the worst strikeout, walk, and isolated power rates of Hosmer’s major league career. The promise he showed as a top prospect and at times in the majors is not exhausted, but 2012 and 2014 are part of his resume as well. Hosmer’s 2015 will be his age 25 season, which is still on the young side, but recent research has shown that 25 is not as young as it used to be for hitters. Hosmer likely will be better in 2015 than in 2014, and he should be drafted in all but the most shallow leagues. But he is hardly a first-rank first baseman. Getting .280/.340/.440 with 15-20 home runs and 5-10 steals from a first baseman is decent these days, and Hosmer might well be better than that. But the chances are almost as good that he will struggle to slug .400 again. Don’t let him fall, but proceed with caution. (Matt Klaassen)

Quick Opinion: It seems like just yesterday many prospect watchers thought Freddie Freeman was not in the same class as Eric Hosmer. That was a long time ago — Hosmer is useful in about all leagues, but when bidding on upside, remember his disastrous 2012 and 2014 performances.


Ryan Howard

Debut: 2004 |  BirthDate: 11/19/1979 | Team: Phillies | Position: 1B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 317 76 11 0 43 34 .266 .319 .465 .334 1.2 -6.5 0.4
’14 648 127 23 0 95 65 .223 .310 .380 .306 -7.7 -14.5 -0.3
’15 385 77 14 0 45 39 .224 .305 .398 .308 -4.9 -12.0 -0.6

Profile: No one wants Ryan Howard. Who can blame them? He’s not been even a one-win player since 2011 thanks to health issues and his whiff-heavy ways. He launched 23 homers in 2014 but struck out 29.3% of the time, batted .223, posted a .156 isolated slugging (easily the worst of his career), has a poor body type, and is a major liability on defense. He was better than league-average against southpaws, but his track record suggests that he’s hardly reliable against them. Are those things going to get better in his age-35 season and beyond? Not bloody likely. Think about it, though: No one wants Howard in fantasy baseball, either. There’ll be so much badmouthing that he’ll probably cost virtually zilch. He’s worse in real life than he is in the hobby. He’s consistently driven in runs in his career, and despite those ill 2014 numbers, he wasn’t far from being a $10-type player in mixed leagues. News reports confirm that he’s going through normal offseason workouts for the first time since 2010 because he’s healthy and he’s finally put some ugly off-the-field family business behind him. The effects of those kinds of things on performance are difficult to measure, but they can be noteworthy. A change of scenery — to go somewhere he’s wanted — wouldn’t hurt. Strange things happen every year, and stranger things than some semblance of a Howard rebound have happened. If the crowd is all bear, then, at least, it has created a potentially profitable opportunity. (Nicholas Minnix)

Quick Opinion: Howard has basically been a replacement-level player for the past few years thanks to injuries and his myriad flaws. He’s been a bit more valuable in fantasy baseball than real life, though, and a bounce-back isn’t impossible, so don’t dismiss him if he’s cheap.


Nick Hundley

Debut: 2008 |  BirthDate: 9/8/1983 | Team: Rockies | Position: C
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 408 87 13 1 44 35 .233 .290 .389 .295 -7.0 12.5 1.9
’14 233 53 6 1 22 18 .243 .273 .358 .279 -7.8 3.2 0.3
’15 270 64 8 2 32 29 .260 .310 .420 .320 -4.9 5.5 0.9

Profile: The righty-swinging Hundley features reverse platoon splits over nearly 2,000 plate appearances. However, the reason he’s suddenly of some interest to fantasy owners is his new home — Coors Field. Even Michael McKenry was valuable to fantasy teams whilst hitting in Colorado. Hundley will never be an ideal starter in standard fantasy formats, but the occasional spot start at home against a lousy pitcher could be quite beneficial. Keep an eye on Wilin Rosario — he’s the only thing standing between Hundley and 300 plate appearances.(Brad Johnson)

Quick Opinion: Coors Field brings Hundley back to the fantasy draft board. While he fits best as a streaming option, he could eek out a bigger role if Wilin Rosario is traded.


Torii Hunter

Debut: 1997 |  BirthDate: 7/18/1975 | Team: Twins | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 652 184 17 3 84 90 .304 .334 .465 .346 12.6 -10.5 2.5
’14 586 157 17 4 83 71 .286 .319 .446 .335 8.9 -24.7 0.3
’15 614 161 15 4 69 73 .284 .328 .427 .333 8.0 -12.3 1.7

Profile: Hunter is supposed to fall apart at some point, right? The 39-year-old can no longer put up double digit steals, but for the last three seasons he has flirted with a .300 average and 15 home runs. These numbers are decent in today’s suppressed run scoring environment. Some players who put up similar numbers to Hunter in 2014: Nick Markakis, Jay Bruce, Melky Cabrera, Kole Calhoun, and Matt Holliday. While players should expect to play less and less as they age, Hunter has played in 140 games in each of the last three seasons. One possible issue for Hunter comes from a trend at the plate. Comparing 2012 to 2014, his walk rate is down (7% to 4%), his strikeout rate is down (23% to 15%) and his batting average on balls in play is down (.389 to .311). He being less patient (50% swing rate up to 53% Swing%) and is making less solid contact (16% home run per fly ball rate down to 12% HR/FB). For normal 5×5 leagues, the numbers seem to offset, but in OBP leagues his OBP has dropped from .365 to .319. The key with Hunter is to avoid undervaluing him, especially since he moved to the Twins. He is playable in all leagues, but just isn’t sexy. Value him as a late-round value deep in your outfield, see where he is going in mock drafts/rankings, and then pick him up at a discounted price. (Jeff Zimmerman)

Quick Opinion: Torii Hunter’s production could fall off at any point, but it hasn’t. Value him correctly and look to pick him up at a discount.






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