Why Hanley Ramirez is The Number One Fantasy Baseball Player
Hanley Ramirez is simply incredible. This guy contributes in virutually every single category and contributes in a big way. That is the primary thing you look for in fantasy baseball. Somebody that can hit for average, power, and speed. Somebody that can give you steals, and at the same time, increase your batting average. Some special players like Hanley Ramirez do all of these things, and do them better than the majority of the other Major League Baseball players.
Consider Hanley Ramirez’s power numbers. After a mediocre 17 homers back in 06, Ramirez exploded for 29 bombs in 07. Just to show that it was no fluke, Hanley then hit 33 home runs in 08. What will be the encore in 09? For those that like looking at the more specific slugging percentage, how does .540 and .527 in the last two seasons sound? Ramirez has plenty of power.
When you look at the baseline for any player, you have to look at batting average as well. Hanley Ramirez has batted over .300 for three straight years, and did so while having an on base percentage that hovers around .390.
Another big factor for picking a number one fantasy baseball player would be RBI production. Given that he is a tablesetter type that is not called upon to drive them in as often, Ramirez is still quite the run producer. He drives in about 70-80 runs per season. More importantly, he has scored 125 runs in two straight seasons. That is one tough thing to do for any player. To score 125 runs and still drive in those types of numbers is telling.
Speed? Oh yes Hanley has that. Ramirez is projected to steal around 40+ bases this year as well. That is just the cherry on the top for baseball’s most well rounded batter. Hanley Ramirez also entered the 30 home run / 30 stolen base club last year in only his third true season. That is impressive by any standard.
Hanley Ramirez is heading towards being the best player in baseball, and fantasy baseball along with it. The young star has spent the majority of his career improving, and the amazing thing is that he is just now 25 years old. He is only now beginning to reach his prime. What will he do when he really knows what he is doing?
It is a scary thought for owners that do not own him in their fantasy baseball league. This is the reason that Hanley Ramirez should be the number one pick in fantasy baseball drafts across the country.
