ROTO MLB Top 5’s – Like My Potatoes Mashed: Home Runs Too
Roto MLB: Top 5 Home Run Hitters
Hello and welcome to the first edition of Top 5’s ROTO MLB. Each post is dedicated to providing you a detailed report of MLB leaders for specific stat categories, and YES! You guessed it! Well, if you haven’t yet, you will in 5…4…3…2…1. Catch my drift? No, not yet? OK, let me explain the ultimate goal here!
First, a stat category is chosen, in this case we’ll begin with a fan favorite, the long ball. To follow is a list of the five current leaders in that category with details on how they got there, if they can sustain their production, and a few honorable mentions outside of the top five battling for the throne (insert favorite Game of Thrones character), or at least a spot in the top five.
What’s that you say, ties happen? Duly noted, and you are absolutely right! In the case of a tie, the tiebreaker will be determined by advanced statistics in other power hitting areas. For example, tiebreakers will include isolated power, slugging percentage, park factors, etc. Please remember, if this happens, opinions are welcome in the comments section.
I would like to give you, yes you, the readers, the opportunity choose a statistic for the next edition! Any statistic you can think of, and we’ll make a Top 5’s list for you and all of our amazing readers! Exciting times are ahead and we’re only eight weeks into the season with forever to go!
Statistics that will be incorporated thanks to FanGraphs and BaseballSavant.
HR – Home Run
ISO – Isolated Power
SLG – Slugging
AVG – Batting Average
Brls/PA – Barrels per Plate Appearance
FB/LD – Fly Ball/Line Drive
OBP – On Base Percentage
BB% – Walk Percentage
Alas, let’s dig in and discuss the top five home run hitters in Major League Baseball.
Roto MLB – Top Home Run Hitters #3-#5
5. Mike Trout – OF – Los Angeles Angels: 14 HRs
Eight years in the majors, and Trout has been somewhat of an enigma his entire career. If he doesn’t have a house within his house for all of his trophies, it’s probably time to upgrade. How can one argue six straight all-star appearances, Rookie of the Year, five Silver Slugger awards, and two MVP’s.
Right handed batters (RHB) do not always fare so well in Angel Stadium as they rank 18th in MLB in RHB home runs, however, Trout hits to all parts of the field, pulling 38.1%, straight away 34.1%, and going opposite field 27.8% of the time. According to ESPN Park Factors, Angels stadium went through a drastic change lowering the outfield fence by 10 feet from 18 ft to 8 ft in right and right-center.
4. Bryce Harper – OF – Washington Nationals: 15 HRs
This is one of the more important seasons for Harper and his future as he is seeking a new contract, and potentially a new team. This showcase year has proven to be a rather bumpy ride, however the home runs are still there thanks to his hot start to the season. He finished with eight home runs in April, and transitioned well into May adding four more bombs by May 4th.
Harper’s AVG is low at .238 and his SLG is 16th in baseball at .550. A respectable SLG%, but for a guy seeking “The biggest contract in baseball history” in the offseason, those numbers need to increase, and it is certainly not out of the realm of possibility for a hitter of Harper’s talent.
His ISO ranks top eight in MLB and third in the NL at .313. One of Harper’s greatest skill sets hinders his opportunity to hit home runs and that’s his ability to take walks. Pitchers know about his light tower power, and tend to avoid Harper’s bat as he leads the league in BB% at 20.7.
3. Manny Machado – SS – Baltimore Orioles: 15 HRs
Similar to Harper, Manny Machado might be on a new team by the trade deadline. Although tied at 15 HRs, Machado has been a jack-of-all trades for the bottom feeding Orioles thus far with a .335 AVG, .314 ISO, and a OBP at a career best .412.
There are only a few stadiums better for a RHB than Camden Yards in Baltimore ranking 5th in HR for righties and 6th overall as hitter friendly parks. Depending on if and where he is traded to could have an overall affect on his HR totals. Until then, let’s enjoy the show!
Roto MLB – Top Home Run Hitters – Number #1-2
2. J.D. Martinez – OF – Boston Red Sox: 15 HRs
J.D. has recently been described as “The best hitter in baseball,” by Frank Thomas of MLB on FOX. It is certainly no fluke that he is in the top five in the HR category, and it will not be a surprise if he overtakes the number one spot soon. Boston has proven to be one of the most potent offenses in baseball, and J.D. is just one of the many sluggers the Red Sox possess.
In the month of May, J.D. has posted ridiculous numbers with 10 HR’s. Taking a look back at his game logs, he hit safely in 18 out of 20 games played, and still a week remains. Also, in the month of May, J.D. increased his SLG from a respectable .567 to a superb .674, which is good enough for second in baseball.
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The red-hot streak Martinez is on has him sitting second in Brls/PA at 14.9. None of these numbers should come as a surprise as he’s been knocking the cover off the ball for years, finishing with 23 HRs in 2014, 38 in 2015, 22 in 2016, and finished third in 2017 with 45 HRs.
1. Mookie Betts – OF – Boston Red Sox: 16 HRs
Right off the bat (pun intended), Mookie has solidified himself as a top He is a top fantasy baseball option in all formats with a league leading 16 home runs and at this point, joins Mike Trout in a talent tier of their own.
Speaking of off the bat, Mookie barrels up the ball at the highest rate in all of baseball at 15.6 Brls/PA . He is tied for ninth in AVG exit velocity at 92.8, and has a FB/LD rate of 97.1.
The most impressive part of the fly ball rate is that when Mookie hits the ball in the air, it leaves the yard 22.5% of the time. His SLG% (.772) is nearly .100 points better than the runner-up and the ISO is other-worldly at .404.
Honorable Mentions
Jose Ramirez – OF – Cleveland Indians
Joey Gallo – INF/OF – Texas Rangers
Ozzie Albies – 2B – Atlanta Braves
Khris Davis – OF – Oakland Athletics
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