![Josh Bell was named an All-Star for the first time this season. [Image Source: Flickr | Keith Allison]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2019/6/30/660x290/b_502x220x82/josh-bell-was-named-an-all-star-for-the-first-time-this-season-image-source-flickr-keith-allison_2287479.jpg "Josh Bell was named an All-Star for the first time this season. [Image Source: Flickr | Keith Allison]")
As we are around the halfway point of the MLB regular season, let’s take a look at some fantasy baseball surprises.
These are the players who according to Fantasy Pros didn’t have an average preseason overall ranking of 250 or better (250 players are drafted in a 25-round, 10-team league). Fantasy Pros averaged out the average preseason rankings that were provided by a bunch of experts.
Here are the biggest fantasy surprises near the midway point of the season (one at each position other than three outfielders and five starting pitchers). All stats provided are from games played through Sunday, June 30, and star leaders were found at MLB.com. This wasn’t an easy chore, so there are plenty of honorable mentors.
Catcher: Robinson Chirinos (Astros), Omar Narvaez (Mariners), Mitch Garver (Twins), Christian Vazquez (Red Sox)
First base: Dan Vogelbach (Mariners), Howie Kendrick (Nationals), Michael Chavis (Red Sox)
Second base: Brandon Lowe (Rays)
Shortstop: Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres)
Outfield: Shin-Soo Choo (Rangers), Alex Gordon (Royals), Austin Riley (Braves)
Starting pitcher: Brandon Woodruff (Brewers), John Means (Orioles), Yonny Chirinos (Rays)
Closer: Luke Jackson (Braves), Greg Holland (Diamondbacks), Taylor Rogers (Twins)
Catcher - James McCann, White Sox
The 29-year-old McCann entered the season with a career .240 average. So the .319 he is hitting thus far was unthinkable entering the year, and he also has nine homers and four steals (previously had two in his career).
First base - Josh Bell, Pirates
After a promising 2017 rookie season, Bell saw a sharp decline in his power numbers in 2018. That hasn’t been the case this season, and he ranks first in the majors in RBIs (70), tied for ninth in homers (22), 14th in runs (61), and 23rd in batting average (.301).
Second base - Tommy La Stella, Angels
In 828 career at-bats entering the season, La Stella had a grand total of just 10 home runs. He already has 16 in 280 at-bats in 2019 along with a .304 batting average which is 19th-best in MLB.
Shortstop - Dansby Swanson, Braves
The first overall selection in the 2015 draft, Swanson was unable to live up to expectations in his first two full years in the league (2017-18). He has been much-improved in 2019, as he has impressive counting stats of 55 runs, 52 RBIs, 15 homers, and seven steals.
Third base - Hunter Dozier, Royals
While Dozier received plenty of playing time for the Royals in 2018, he wasn’t very good as evidenced by his .229 batting average and .278 on-base percentage. Those numbers have improved to .294 and .379 respectively in 2019, and he also has hit 13 long balls.
Outfield - Trey Mancini, Orioles
Much like Bell, Mancini saw his production drop in 2018 after an excellent rookie season in 2017. His .302 average in 2019 ranks 21st in the majors, his 55 runs are tied for 32nd-most, and his 17 homers are tied for 43rd-most.
Outfield - Hunter Pence, Rangers
For many years, Pence was very much fantasy-relevant, but his last productive season entering this year was back in 2014. Signed to a minor league deal in the offseason, Pence has exceeded everyone’s expectations with a solid .294 batting average, 15 home runs, 48 RBIs, and 44 runs.
Outfield - Jeff McNeil, Mets
McNeil hit .324 in 63 games for the Mets last year, but it wasn’t clear he’d have an everyday spot in 2019. He has (partially due to Jed Lowrie not yet appearing in a game), and he has been raking as his .348 batting average leads the majors.
Starting pitcher - Mike Soroka, Braves
Soroka pitched fairly well in his first five starts in the majors in 2018 posting a 3.51 ERA, but he has taken it to a whole different level thus far in 2019. In 14 starts, he is 9-1 with a 2.13 ERA and 0.98 WHIP (just shy of amount of innings necessary to qualify for ERA and WHIP leaders).
Starting pitcher - Lucas Giolito, White Sox
Once a highly touted prospect, Giolito had yet to put it together in the big leagues and finished with an ugly 6.13 ERA over 32 starts in 2018. He has found his way in 2019 and is first in the majors with 11 wins, seventh in both ERA (2.72) and WHIP (1.02), and tied for 15th with 115 strikeouts.
Starting pitcher - Jake Odorizzi, Twins
Entering 2019 with two straight seasons sporting an ERA over 4.10, Odorizzi wasn’t on many fantasy draft radars. The 29-year-Old has been stellar though, as he is tied for the second-most wins in MLB with 10, ranks eighth with a 2.73 ERA, and 14th with a 1.07 WHIP.
Starting pitcher - Mike Minor, Rangers
Minor finished 2018 with a 4.18 ERA, his first year as a starter since 2014. This year has been a different story, shown by his 2.40 ERA (second in MLB) to go along with eight wins and 110 strikeouts.
Starting pitcher - Frankie Montas, Athletics
It’s safe to say Montas won’t end the year on this list because on June 22, he was suspended 80 games for a positive PED test. It’s a shame for his owners as he owns the sixth-best ERA in the majors (2.70), and only five pitchers have more wins than his nine.
Closer - Hector Neris, Phillies
Neris wasn’t expected to close for the Phillies after they signed David Robertson. He has performed well in the role though as his 16 saves are tied for 13th-most, and he has 46 strikeouts in 34 innings.
