Fantasy Baseball: Five rookie hitters to target in 2019
By Jason Evans
Peter Alonso
Speaking of guys with powerful bats, New York Mets first base prospect Peter Alonso is another guy who can absolutely mash. The Mets have had an interesting off-season. On the infield they traded for Robinson Cano and J.D. Davis and signed Jed Lowrie. They still have Todd Frazier, Jeff McNeil and Amed Rosario.
First base is still unsettled. Davis, Lowrie, McNeil and Dominic Smith will all have a chance to win the job. However, don’t be surprised if Alonso is their first baseman at some point during April.
Between AA and AAA last season, Alonso hit .285 with a .975 OPS, 31 doubles, 36 homers and 119 RBI in 132 games. Those are big time numbers, especially for a team looking to go for it and needing right-handed power in a lineup with Cano, Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto who are all lefty.
Let’s say you’re doing your fantasy baseball draft and you miss out on Paul Goldschmidt or one of the other elite first baseman. You can go with a lower tier guy and stash Alonso on your bench until he comes up, then drop that first baseman you drafted to help fill another need or use them as trade bait to help another area.
Once Alonso gets the call, in a lineup with pieces around him, he could be very productive for the Mets and your fantasy baseball squad.