I’ve got three guys that are ready to have the types of seasons that will anchor your fantasy teams. No they aren’t the obvious Ryan Brauns and Albert Pujols of the world. These are young talents that have shown flashes of greatness, but in 2012, they will explode.
First the best of the young Cubs:
Starlin Castro
The Cubs’ young shortstop has already had two seasons hitting over .300. Last season he lead the league in hits with 207. This is the season his power numbers will take a boost.
The 2012 season will be Castro’s third and this is generally the time when players of his physical stature and age group see a power numbers boost.
His numbers are already on the upswing. He tripled his HR total from 2010 in 2011, and added 25 RBI and 12 SB. Castro will continue his ascension up the list of NL’s elite players in 2012. Look for a .315/25/80 season from Castro this year.
Hunter Pence
Pence has always been a solid player, and after the trade from the lowly Astros to the Phillies last season that trend continued. In 54 regular season games, Pence hit .324, 11 HR and 35 RBI.
Believe it or not, those RBI numbers should go up as Pence is likely to hit third or fourth in the Phillies’ lineup while Ryan Howard is out.
With Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley batting ahead of him and presumably getting on base, Pence should have ample opportunity to drive his run production up.
I predict Pence will deliver a .320 average with 120 RBI in 2012.
Mike Morse
The Nats’ power-hitter isn’t that young in age, he’s 29. But in experience, he’s still an up and comer. Last season was the first year he had more than 300 at bats in a season, and he really took advantage of it.
Morse blasted 31 HR, drove in 95 runners and hit .303. Morse does strike out a bit, as he fanned 126 times in 2011. He’s a free swinger but surprisingly enough, he hits for a high average, even in taking only 36 walks.
Morse is on the upswing in my opinion, and this feels like a 40 HR, 100 RBI season. He was always a highly touted prospect but serious injuries early in his career have hampered him. He is healthy now and is a legitimate stud.
Snatch him up if you get the chance.
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