Earlier, we released our list of Top-50 second half pitchers. It only makes sense that we now do the same with hitters. Earlier, we released our list of Top-50 second half pitchers. It only makes sense that we now do the same with hitters. Earlier, we released our list of Top-50 second half pitchers. It only makes sense that we now do the same with hitters.
Fansided

Mid Season Hitting Top 50

By clavejones

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Earlier, we released our list of Top-50 second half pitchers. It only makes sense that we now do the same with hitters.

It was a first half for the ages, with Miggy and Crush putting up video game numbers. Will that continue in the second half? Will someone else step in and challenge them?

Let’s see.

Tier 1

  1. Miguel Cabrera
  2. Mike Trout
  3. Carlos Gonzalez
  4. Chris Davis
  5. Ryan Braun
  6. Robinson Cano
  7. Joey Votto
  8. Andrew McCutchen
  9. Adam Jones
  10. Paul Goldschmidt

Not many surprises here. You can possibly juggle the order a little bit, but these are either all-category contributors, or dominant forces in at least three.

Tier 2

  1. Troy Tulowitzki
  2. Dustin Pedroia
  3. Hanley Ramirez
  4. David Wright
  5. Prince Fielder
  6. Buster Posey
  7. Adrian Beltre
  8. Bryce Harper
  9. Evan Longoria
  10. Yasiel Puig

A few names to really watch here. Prince Fielder has had a few down batting average seasons, but he’s also been around .300 for a while. If he makes a charge towards that mark with his power, he’s as dominant as any player in the game.

Tier 3

  1. Jacoby Ellsbury
  2. Albert Pujols
  3. Jose Bautista
  4. Justin Upton
  5. Giancarlo Stanton
  6. Matt Kemp
  7. Ian Kinsler
  8. Jose Reyes
  9. Jay Bruce
  10. Joe Mauer

Some very big names in this section. A lot of guys with disappointing and/or injury laden first halves of the season. Two years ago, Ellsbury, Pujols, Bautista, Upton, Kemp, and Reyes were all easily Top-15 players.

Tier 4

  1. Alex Rios
  2. Edwin Encarnacion
  3. Adrian Gonzalez
  4. Josh Hamilton
  5. Shin Soo-Choo
  6. Austin Jackson
  7. Manny Machado
  8. Yoenis Cespedes
  9. Allen Craig
  10. Jason Kipnis

As intriguing as guys like Machado and Cespedes are, this comes down to three words. Hamilton, Hamilton, and Hamilton. If he turns it on, he can be the top fantasy player in the second half. Better than Miggy, better than Trout, and that wouldn’t even require a slump from them. But he can just as easily have a second half that wouldn’t even justify him as a Top-50 outfielder, let alone hitter.

Tier 5

  1. Alex Gordon
  2. Ryan Zimmerman
  3. Elvis Andrus
  4. Brandon Phillips
  5. Nelson Cruz
  6. Carlos Beltran
  7. Starlin Castro
  8. Michael Cuddyer
  9. Hunter Pence
  10. Ben Zobrist

Elvis Andrus needs to hit better. His overall value relies on a good batting average, as he’s a power category drain. Right now, he’s just over .240. Coming into the year, he was a .275 hitter. Not great, but if he can get near that, he’ll have a good second half.

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