As we enter February, we are only inching closer to March, where Spring Training finally begins. Fantasy baseball fanatics have had opening day marked on their calender since September 30th of last year. As we approach draft day, fantasy owners everywhere are searching for the next breakout player. A player everybody should know about but is still somewhat under the radar is the Los Angeles Dodgers one bagger, James Loney. The 23 year-old lefty is excited to be a part of spring training knowing that he will be starting the season in the Major Leagues. Loney posted some pretty decent numbers in the ‘07 season where he batted .332/.381/.539 in 344 at-bats, while appearing in 96 games. Loney also shocked some scouts with his display of power. Many scouts had Loney pegged at 20 home run power, but Loney hit 15 homers and managed 67 rbi in only 344 at-bats. Most of his production came from the month of September as he really finished the season strong. During September, Loney batted .382 with 9 homers, 18 runs scored and also became only the fourth Dodger in history to record 32 rbi in one month. The Houston native has been a remarkable talent throughout his whole career. Loney was predicted to be the best pure-hitter in the 2002 draft as he was selected 19th overall.
An important thing to note is Loney’s ability to hit southpaws last year, hitting .319/.387/.479 against left-handed pitchers. You won’t have to worry about platooning him, unlike a lot of other left-handed hitters. On the other hand, Loney’s Road/Home splits are a little worrisome, he hit .301 OPS points higher on the road. With such a small sample size, it’s hard to tell if it’s the ballpark, or just facing a couple good pitchers. However, it is certainly something to key your eye on. The upcoming ‘08 season should be a exciting one for all fantasy managers. James Loney is going to be running the show at first base for the Dodgers and should put up some great numbers. Loney’s .919 OPS was .127 points higher than his career minor league OPS, so don’t be shocked if he doesn’t eclipse 20 Home Runs. At the same time, with his 6′2″, 220 lb. frame, don’t be surprised if he has officially found his power stroke. A season similar to Adrian Gonzalez’s 2007 season could be in store if Loney’s power development holds steady. Many owners who need a first basemen in the later rounds of their draft should keep Loney in mind. If he slides to the 8th or 9th round, you may have just picked up a serious steal.
2008 Season Predictions: .301 avg – 93 runs – 23 Hr’s – 94 rbi
Photo from MLB.com, under the Creative Commons License
Related posts:
- Prospect Spotlight: Mike Stanton Florida Marlins top prospect, Mike Stanton, received a lot...
- Prospect Spotlight: Desmond Jennings Tampa Bay Ray’s prospect Desmond Jennings is no stranger to...
- Prospect Spotlight: Austin Jackson Austin Jackson was the #27th ranked prospect by MLB.com,...