If you don’t detonate your fantasy baseball roster when the calendar flips to May, why did you even sign up for this game? C’mon, people.
Let’s review a few priority pickups for fantasy managers in need of help …
Vaughn Grissom, SS/2B, Red Sox (29% rostered)
It’s been quite a journey for Grissom to reach Boston’s lineup, involving soft tissue injuries and illness and a nine-game Minor League rehab stint (during which he hit .333/.444/.400). At last, it appears Grissom will finally make his Red Sox debut on Friday. The 23-year-old middle infielder was acquired in the Chris Sale deal back in December, you might recall. Grissom should immediately serve as the everyday second baseman for Boston and his fantasy upside is significant. He’s hit .320/.408/.475 in the Minors over 1,510 career plate appearances, with solid power and speed totals. Grissom clearly has the sort of profile that deserves fantasy attention. He deserves a roster spot in any deeper league.
Kyle Manzardo, 1B, Guardians (8%)
Manzardo has been feasting at Triple-A Columbus this season, hitting .323/.395/.660 with eight homers and 10 doubles. He’s homered three times over his last four games, building the strongest possible case for a callup.
He has a sweet swing with contact skills and on-base ability. Manzardo sure looks as if he’s capable of contributing at the Major League level; the Guardians’ lineup isn’t so loaded that they can’t possibly squeeze him into the mix.
Brenton Doyle, OF, Rockies (44%)
We seem to be stuck in a staredown over Doyle, as he remains widely available despite our repeated attempts to promote him. Let the record show that he’s still hitting for average, batting second for Colorado in recent days, plus he’s delivered three homers and four steals thus far. Doyle has been a 20/20 guy in the Minors already, so we know his power and speed are legit. The Rockies head into a six-game homestand next week, which means yet another opportunity to take advantage of the friendliest hitting environment in the game.
Let’s not make it awkward, folks. Please give Doyle a look before we’re forced to re-hype him again next week.
Willi Castro, 2B/3B/SS/OF, Twins (31%)
Castro is really surging over the past week, carrying an eight-game hitting streak into an upcoming home series against Boston. During this recent binge, he has five multihit games, seven runs scored, eight RBIs, one homer and two steals. Whatever you need, he’s delivered. Castro also offers eligibility at four roster spots, so you can slot him pretty much anywhere. He swiped 33 bags for the Twins last year, so the speed is certainly real.
