This list is not based on the best spring training players but rather the players who standout due to great statistics, physical improvement, age and expectations. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bobby Dalbec, and Ke'Bryan Hayes are 2021's infield standouts for spring training
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is coming into the regular season in amazing shape. According to him he has lost 42 pounds since last July and if you watched him in spring training you could notice a difference in his game. Guerrero is set for the breakout season fans have wanted the previous two seasons. His weight loss should help carry him to a career high in games for 2021.
From looking at his stats above there are some things to notice. Firstly he played more games than ever before showing he can handle more games in the regular season. Next is the AVG, OBP, SLG, OPS line. The only better line came when he had 13 AB in 2018 compared to the 38 in 2021. When compared to 202o it's easy to see the improvement in just a year with a similar amount of AB. It's a positive seeing Guerrero hit four doubles even if he only had two home runs. He's making excellent contact and his Baseball Savant chart shows he has the power already.
Guerrero just turned 22 years old in March and still has room to grow his game. The biggest part is getting the ball off the ground. In 2020 he hit a ground ball 54.6% of the time he made contact, placing him 10th in MLB. These grounders will limit his home runs and doubles unless he starts lifting the ball up. Still Guerrero Jr. is likely to have plenty of runs and RBI opportunities from a stacked Toronto Blue Jays lineup.
Bobby Dalbec was promoted to the Red Sox in late August. He hit a home run in his major league debut. In September he had a five game home run streak that showed why Fangraphs and Baseball America rates his raw power ability a 70 on the 20-80 scale. After that stretch he only hit two home runs the rest of his 13 games in 2020.
This spring training Dalbec currently had seven home runs through 47 at bats placing him third behind Joc Pederson and Corey Seager. Dalbec is set to open 2021 as the Red Sox everyday first basemen in what should be an impressive lineup featuring Alex Verdugo, Rafael Devers, and Xander Bogaerts. This is hopefully going to offer him plenty of RBI opportunities. In 2020 he batted .325 with runners on base.
Dalbec should be on fantasy managers radar heading into their drafts. He is only owned in 22.6 % of ESPN leagues up from 6.2% just a few weeks ago. Rostered in 47% of Yahoo leagues up from 30%. This leaves a nice opportunity to add him but you better be quick because fantasy managers are catching on. It is only spring training and his numbers might fall but I do expect Dalbec to finish in the top 15 first basemen in 2021.
Ke'Bryan Hayes is the top prospect in Pittsburgh and a consensus top 10 prospect in MLB for 2021. He debuted in 2020 and his stat line is below. He also had a .442 OBP, and a .682 SLG% for an OPS of 1.124. He showed flashy speed as well by finishing in the 79th percentile for sprint speed.
This spring training Hayes led all qualified players in batting average and OBP, and finished fifth in SLG. He only had two home runs and nine RBI but showed off his speed on two triples and six doubles. Hayes has been known as a defense first third baseman but is showing to be exciting and has star potential with his bat. For fantasy purposes his upside is limited in runs and RBI due to the Pirates weak lineup.
To me the most impressive stat on Hayes this spring is the five strikeouts to three walks. This is even better than his ratio from 2020. Even if he isn't hitting 35 home runs Hayes will be an all-star in MLB maybe even as early as this season.
Other Standouts
Josh Rojas: 72 AB, .347 AVG, HR, 15 RBI, 7 BB-19 SO, .988 OPS
Adam Frazier: 43 AB, .488 AVG, two HR, eight RBI, 1 BB-2 SO, one SB, 1.372 OPS
Francisco Lindor: 54 AB, .370 AVG four HR, 14 RBI, 6 BB- 6 SO, one SB, 1.063 OPS
Kevin Newman: 33 AB, .606 AVG, zero HR, five RBI, 11 runs, 5 BB-0 SO, two SB, 1.429 OPS
Josh Bell: 47 AB, .383 AVG, six HR, 15 RBI, 8 BB- 14 SO, 1.328 OPS
Corey Seager: 52 AB, .346 AVG, eight HR, 16 RBI, 7 BB- 9 BB, 1.251 OPS
Ryan Zimmerman: 27 AB, .481 AVG, six HR, 15 RBI, 2 BB- 6 SO, 1.739 OPS
CJ Cron: 48 AB, .354 AVG, five HR, eight RBI, 5 BB- 9 SO, 1.186 OPS
Enrique Hernandez: 49 AB, .327 AVG, three HR, seven RBI, 10 BB- 8 SO, 1.042 OPS
Jonathan India: 48 AB, .313 AVG, three HR, seven RBI, 7 BB-12 SO, two SB, 1.045 OPS
Trey Mancini: 51 AB, .333 AVG, two HR, six RBI, two BB- 18 SO, .803 OPS
Jesus Aguilar: 40 AB, .350 AVG, two HR, 12 RBI, 6BB- 1 SO, .985 OPS
Pete Alonso: 50 AB, .340 AVG, four HR, 16 RBI, 6 BB- 11 SO, 1.121 OPS
Guerrero Jr., Dalbec, and Hayes are my infield standouts in spring training 2021. Guerrero is coming into this season in excellent shape compared to 2020 and looks to hit multiple career highs in his age 22 season. Dalbec and Hayes are two top prospects that debuted last season. They both come into 2021 expecting to start everyday. Hopefully these players can carry their spring performances into the regular season.
Trey Mancini coming back in 2021 after missing 2020 due to cancer is my favorite story this year. Three Pittsburgh Pirates on this list is interesting because they are projected to finish near the bottom of the league. The combination of Alonso and Lindor in New York will be lots of fun to watch in 2021 on an already solid team with Jeff McNeil and Michael Conforto.
Feel free to leave a comment, question or suggestion down below. You can reach out to me on social media as I am always available for a conversation about baseball or any sport.
All stats from Fangraphs, Baseball Reference, and MLB.com.
Bobby Dalbec video courtesy of MLB.com.
Featured image courtesy of The Toronto Star.
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