Top 25 Left Fielders
2012 Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings – Top 25 Left Fielders
In some drafts Carlos Gonzalez slips to the second round and sometimes Matt Holliday is drafted earlier than expected. Expect great production from any one of the top 5 left fielders on our rankings list
1. Ryan Braun .320, 35 HR, 118 RBI – Braun won his appeal on the 50 game suspension and will be ready to go for Opening Day. He’s the game’s best left fielder and should continue to produce some of the best numbers for any fantasy hitter.
2. Carlos Gonzalez, COL .290 BA, 28 HR, 100 RBI – There is not much CarGo can’t do. Much like Ellsbury, Gonzalez adds several other key dimensions that light up a fantasy scoreboard like stolen bases and runs scored.
3. Josh Hamilton, TEX .305 BA, 29 HR, 121 RBI – These numbers are predicated upon a healthy, both physical and mental, Josh Hamilton. He is an absolute natural on the field. We hope he rebounds well.
4. Matt Holliday, STL .304 BA, 33 HR, 110 RBI – Don’t be too concerned about Holliday’s numbers dropping with Albert Pujols’ departure this past offseason. That lineup is still stacked and Holliday should have another superb season.
5. Alex Gordon, KC .285 BA, 25 BA, 90 RBI – Gordon is another guy that people may sleep on, you shouldn’t. He will score plenty of runs too in a good young KC lineup.
6. Carl Crawford, BOS .296 BA, 17 HR, 75 RBI – He will have a bounce back year and score 100+ runs and steal 45+ bases. Crawford is too good to have another miserable season like he did last year.
7. Desmond Jennings, TB .281 BA, 16 HR, 61 RBI – Jennings is “coming into his own” as a big leaguer. If he plays every day, which he should, expect Jennings to steal 35+ bases and score 90+ runs.
8. Michael Bourn, ATL .278 BA, 3 HR, 45 RBI – Bourne brings the element of elite speed and base running ability to any fantasy owner. He will be among the tops in runs scored and stolen bases.
9. Michael Morse, WAS .286 BA, 32 HR, 95 RBI – Morse is a stud who could be an MVP candidate in the future. He hits for above average power and average, but does not steal bases.
10. Brett Gardner, NYY .275 BA, 9 HR, 50 RBI – Garder will bring the speed to the top of the Yankees’ lineup, which will translate to lots of runs scored and an abundance of steals.
11. Logan Morrison, MIA .278 BA, 30 HR, 85 RBI – Great young talent when his organization is smart enough to play him which was an issue last season. You should follow him on twitter, he is a riot!
12. Howard Kendrick, ANA .290 BA, 17 HR, 70 RBI – Kendrick’s value is his versatility and his ability to hit regardless of where he plays. He’s a solid pickup.
13. Martin Prado, ATL .302 BA, 17 HR, 69 RBI – Prado is consistent. You can leave him in your lineup without having to worry about him killing you.
14. Emilio Bonifacio, MIA .278 BA, 5 HR, 43 RBI – One of the fastest players I have ever seen. Bonifacio will score plenty of runs and steal plenty of bases for your team.
15. Brennan Boesch, DET .274 BA, 19 BA, 78 RBI – Boesch is another potent bat in the Detroit lineup. He will put up his share of numbers on what should be a tremendous team in 2012.
16. Matt Joyce, TB BA, .280 BA, 24 HR, 81 RBI – Joyce is just another young stud that Tampa Bay seems to produce off an assembly line. I could see him surpassing my predictions with a huge year.
17. Melky Cabrera, SF .281 BA, 15 HR, 62 RBI – Cabrera had a career year last year in KC. I think it will be difficult for him in the NL West with superb pitchers and spacious ball parks. The Giants offense won’t help him either.
18. Delmon Young, DET .295 BA, 21 HR, 84 RBI – Don’t give up on Delmon Young. He is immensely talented and will have a career year.
19. Mike Carp, SEA .239 BA, 22 HR, 72 RBI – Carp is a ‘power bat’ who can also play first base. If he plays regularly, owners can expect to see above average power numbers.
20. Brandon Belt, SF .275 BA, 26 HR, 72 RBI – The retirement of Pat Burrell and the departure of Aubrey Huff should clear the path for Belt to potentially explode. He has a wealth of talent.
21. Bobby Abreu, ANA .259 BA, 18 HR, 68 RBI – He will be 38 on opening day but he has been consistent his whole career. Expect another solid campaign from Abreu.
22. Yonder Alonso, SD .283 BA, 20 HR, 84 RBI – Alonso has a ‘big’ bat with enough natural power that PetCo Park will not faze him. The Cuban plays first too.
23. Carlos Lee, HOU .277 BA, 21 HR, 86 RBI – Lee is clearly not the player he once was but he can still hit for power. He also has the luxury of playing in a sandbox in Minute Maid Park.
24. Jason Bay, NYM .260 BA, 19 HR, 77 RBI – I am also not ready to declare Jason Bay a FA bust. He plays for the Mets and in a humongous park. Look for a 2012 improvement from the one time MVP candidate.
25. Jason Kubel, ARZ .268 BA, 25 HR, 83 RBI – His power numbers will rise now that Kubel is in Arizona as opposed to spacious Target Field in Minnesota.