4. Yordan Alvarez, DH/LF, HOU
Yordan Alvarez is one of the most anticipated players in the 2019 postseason. His regular season campaign was jaw-dropping.
Through 87 games, the 22-year-old slugger had 27 home runs, drove in 78 runs, batted .313 with an OPS of 1.067. If Alvarez had enough at-bats to qualify, he would be second in the American League in OPS. and be fourth for batting average.
Alvarez had an unbelievable 87 game stretch. After his debut in early June, he ranked second in the American League in RNIS, third in on-base percentage and slugging and fourth in OPS.
He put up crazy numbers and most of that is due to his phenomenal pitch recognition. Alvarez knows how to identify the zone and dominate pitches on the inner half and above the waste. He really knows how to get under a ball and drive it far.
Breaking multiple Houston Astros rookie records, including their franchise rookie home run record, he surpassed Ted Williams’ record set in 1939 for runs batted in in his first 45 games, by driving in 51 runs.
Already an electric and dangerous hitter, he looks to contribute to the Astros’ postseason dominance and bring the World Series trophy back to the city of Houston.