These ballplayers put “the hurt” on the baseball all month long. The listed men rung up opposing pitchers and didn’t blink as they sent their ERA into space. Their team jersey sales have sky rocketed and they might end up on an upcoming episode of MTV cribs. The few, the proud, they are “The Kings of Swing”.
1) OF Josh Hamilton Tex
49/108, 23 R, 9 HR, 20 XBH, 31 RBI, 5 BB, 3 SB, .454 AVG
The Texas Ranger caught everyone’s eye during the All-Star Home Run Derby 2008 where he rocked 28 bombs in the first round. He had a great story to go along with his bat making him an instant star.
He suffered from a laundry list of ailments in 2009 which made him a more of a Texas fan than a Rangers ball player. Last year’s injuries made fantasy owners a little hesitant to pick him up for the 2010 season. It has paid off for those brave owners who opted to take a chance on him this season.
He finished June with a 23 game hitting streak and led the Majors with 31 RBIs and a .454 average.
The Texas outfielder went 10-for-22 with two home runs, five RBI, one walk, one stolen base, and a .455 AVG. in the last week of June.
He is currently hitting .340 with 18 home runs and 58 RBIs for the season.
Is it too early to think of Triple-Crown run?
2) 3B David Wright NYM
42/104, 20 R, 6 HR, 17 XBH, 29 RBI, 9 BB, 4 SB, .404 AVG
Wright had a June that made you forget about who the “other” third baseman in New York was.
With his .404 AVG, he is the first player in the history of the Mets organization to do just that in a single month.
He was 11-for-22 with two home runs, eight RBI, four walks, one stolen base, and a .500 AVG. in the last week of June.
He is currently hitting .307 with 14 home runs and 63 RBIs for the season.
3) 3B Adrian Beltre Bos
38/101, 19 R, 7 HR, 16 XBH, 19 RBI, 7 BB, 0 SB, .376 AVG
With half of the Red Sox starters on the DL, Beltre had to be good if Boston expected to be in the pennant chase this year.
He started June with a collision with Jeremy Hermida. But that little mishap didn’t stop him from being a beast at the plate.
He has a .349 average with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs this season thus far.
4) 1B Adrian Gonzalez SD
37/102, 14 R, 7 HR, 19 XBH, 23 RBI, 9 BB, 0 SB, .363 AVG
It was hot in San Diego and it’s because of Adrian Gonzalez.
Gonzalez hit three into the stands and had seven RBI and was 10-for-25 with a .400 AVG in the second week of June setting the tone for the month.
Gonzalez hit two solo blasts against the Phillies in one of the games during their series.
The Padres power house is currently hitting .297 with 16 home runs and 51 RBIs this season.
San Diego might be looking to deal Gonzalez out around the All-Star break. With his current production is looking like a major acquisition for potential play off teams.
5) 2B Dustin Pedroia Bos
34/91, 19 R, 4 HR, 14 XBH, 16 RBI, 13 BB, 6 SB, .374 AVG
The Red Sox second baseman was on a burning hot streak in June.
He went 6-for-13 with three home runs, five RBI, four walks, and a .462 AVG in the last week in June until his injury.
Pedroia had the game of his career when he was 5-for-5 with three bombs, pushed five us teammates across the dish and scored four runs on Thursday night against the Rockies.
Pedroia was placed on the disabled list with a displaced fracture in his foot as a result of a foul ball the following night. He will likely miss six weeks.
The DL designation is a huge hit to fantasy owners who was thriving on Pedroia’s hot streak.
Fantasy owners will ride out the DL and pick up a temporary replacement at second base.
Pedroia is hitting .292 with 12 home runs and 41 RBIs for the season.
6) OF Chris Coghlan Fla
40/106, 30 R, 3 HR, 20 XBH, 13 RBI, 15 BB, 2 SB, .377 AVG
The Marlins outfield was simply awful at the start of the year. He has since provided some production in sunny Florida.
Coghlan’s fantasy stock has gone up significantly in June. He saw nearly a 10 percent increase in ownership.
He is currently hitting .282 with 5 home runs and 27 RBIs.
7) 1B Gaby Sanchez Fla
39/104, 16 R, 4 HR, 12 XBH, 16 RBI, 10 BB, 2 SB, .375 AVG
Sanchez was been quietly putting up big numbers in June.
The Marlins first baseman’s fantasy stock went up nearly 30 percent, making him the big pick-up this week off waivers.
8) OF Manny Ramirez LAD
30/82, 16 R, 4 HR, 11 XBH, 14 RBI, 11 BB, 1 SB, .366 AVG
Ramirez did very well in “Manny-wood” in June when he returned from the disabled list.
Unfortunately, he ended June with an inflammation of the hamstring and will likely sit for the first week in July.
He is currently hitting .322 with eight home runs and 39 RBIs this season.
9) 2B Brandon Phillips Cin
41/110, 22 R, 2 HR, 9 XBH, 7 RBI, 6 BB, 3 SB, .373 AVG
The Reds second baseman was in a bit of legal trouble when he was charged with reckless driving.
Phillips did quite well considering that he battled hamstring issues in the middle of June.
He is hitting .308 with nine home runs and 25 RBIs this season.
10) OF David DeJesus KC
41/100, 12 R, 1 HR, 9 XBH, 16 RBI, 7 BB, 1 SB, .410 AVG
DeJesus is making himself look great for a trade to a contending team after the All-Star break.
The veteran could help fill the holes in the outfield for teams like the Red Sox, who outfielders are mostly injured.
His fantasy stock went up a little bit with about a six percent increase but only owned at 50 percent. He would be a nice pick-up off waivers if your outfielders have been letting you down. You’re not committing to a long-term relationship, just someone to get your through the tough spots.
He is hitting .331 with five home runs and 35 RBIs this season.
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