#6 Pete Alonso
The Polar Bear comes in sixth. Alonso had a strong 2021, posting a .262/.347/.519/.863 with 37 homers, 27 doubles, and 94 RBI, good for an OPS+ of 134. Alonso excels at hitting the ball hard, finishing in the 92nd percentile in xSLG, 89th percentile in barrel rate and xwOBA, 81st percentile in hard hit rate, and 80th percentile in average exit velo. Alonso doesn’t strike out as much as a lot of other players on this list (61st percentile) and he takes his walks too (59th percentile). Alonso will be entrenched in the four hole in a deep Mets lineup, so expect more of the same from him, maybe with a few more RBI since the Mets got a few guys with great on-base skills that will hit in front of him.
#5 Paul Goldschmidt
Goldy hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. He slashed .294/.365/.514/.879 with 31 homers, 31 doubles, 99 RBI, and 102 runs scored, good for an OPS+ of 143. In his age 33 season, Goldy finished in the 95th percentile in xSLG, 94th percentile in xwOBA, 93rd percentile in xBA and average exit velo, 91st percentile in hard hit rate, and 85th percentile in barrel rate. Goldschmidt is the rare first baseman who can steal bases, so that makes him even more valuable in fantasy baseball.
He’s been one of the most consistent producers in baseball for several years now, and going into his age 34 season, you shouldn’t have any doubts about taking him fairly early in your fantasy baseball draft. He’s looked good in spring training so far, with a .500 average, .600 OBP, 1.083 SLG, and 1.683 OPS.