2016 Fantasy Bounce Back Player: Victor Martinez
Victor Martinez is on a tear to start the year after a lackluster 2015.
As the MLB has shown over the years, some players have trouble keeping consistent statistics as they play longer. Some players have off years; it happens. Some are just not on top of their game all of the time. It is nearly impossible to do so every single year. Only the elite of the elite are truly able to continuously uphold those bolstering stats. This segment will feature players who fell off the radar back in 2015, but are on the comeback this season. Victor Martinez is one of those men.
Everyone should be keeping their tabs on Detroit Tigers current designated hitter, Martinez here for the 2016 season. He is currently 37 years of age and has already begun his 14th season in the major leagues. Over the course of his career, Martinez has played a multitude of positions for multiple teams. Martinez started his career back in 2002 playing catcher for the Cleveland Indians.
Since that time, he has also played for Boston, and currently resides with the Detroit Tigers. Also, during this period, Martinez has switched from first base, now all the way to designated hitter. To some, it may seem like a demotion, but Martinez can still hit the ball with the best the MLB has to offer.
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For fantasy owners, Victor Martinez has always been a dominant force, as in 2014 he found himself in the midst of arguably his most productive season. Martinez accumulated 188 hits, hit .335, and not to mention his first 30 home run, 100+ RBI season in that season. The 35-year-old, at the time, was thriving.
Martinez appeared ready to at least put up reasonable numbers then in 2015, right? Wrong. It did not end up that way for Martinez and the Tigers as they both struggled mightily all season. In 2015, he hit for a career low .245 average, 11 homers and just 64 RBI. Had age finally caught up with Martinez?
He has since answered that question here in 2016 with a hot start from the now 37-year-old switch hitter. He has certainly looked to be back to form this year for Detroit. Martinez has already posted a .311 batting average, hitting five long balls, and 18 runs knocked in. Also, to the start of this young season, Martinez has 32 hits, which currently ranks fourth among the Tigers stacked lineup.
Back in 2014, Martinez ranked in the top 10 in terms of all around fantasy production for hitters. He was an absolute steal for those of you that may have been able to snag him either in the draft, or through the waiver wire one week.
Here in 2016, don’t expect Martinez to reach top 10 status again, but he will certainly be closer to the top rather than the bottom. He currently ranks in the top 25 for all hitters. Yet another impressive stat for the Martinez, who appears to be playing like anything but at the moment for the Tigers.
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This season should continue to be another bounce back season for Victor Martinez, as he and the Tigers look to rebound from their abysmal performance last year. With guys like Miguel Cabrera and Ian Kinsler hitting around him, it shouldn’t be to anyone’s astonishment for him to bounce back.