MLB: Six Surging Sluggers Over the Last Month

Aug 19, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto strikes out in the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Great American Ball Park. The Royals won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 19, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto strikes out in the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Great American Ball Park. The Royals won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 6, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a baseball bat laying on the field during the Arizona Diamondbacks game against the San Francisco Giants during opening day at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Several MLB power hitters have overcome slow starts during the past month. Here are six sluggers who are heating up.

Every year, there are MLB players who get off to slow starts. They stumble out of the gate, can’t hit a lick in April, continue to struggle in May, and fans write them off. If they play on your favorite team, you may be hoping the team will look for a replacement. Perhaps they’ll bring up the hot-hitting prospect from AAA or trade for an upgrade. This is particularly true if you expect your favorite team to be a contender.

If you play fantasy baseball, you have to decide just how long you can put up with the lack of production. If you’re a particularly snake-bit fantasy owner, you have likely had the experience of dropping a player you had high hopes for only to see him rebound after he leaves your roster. Sometimes, the improvement is immediate. You drop a guy and he hits two bombs the next day. You try to get him back but another team has a higher waiver priority and you’ve lost him.

This year is no exception. There are a number of players who were expected to produce but didn’t hit much at all for the first couple months. They have now started to hit, although their season lines may not yet show it. Let’s look at some players who were expected to produce, got off to bad starts, and have since rebounded.

Next: Joey Votto