The Stalled Base Crown This Season
If you’re a baseball fan, you’ve probably wondered who the most likely candidates are to win the Stalled Base Crown this season. Here are some names that are sure to be in the discussion this year: Jose Altuve, Michael Brantley, Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, and Yordan Alvarez.
WHIT MERRIFIELD KANSAS CITY ROYALS
The Kansas City Royals have been unable to find the right slugger to fill the role of a stolen base thief since their first draft pick, Whit Merrifield. The 33-year-old was a disappointment last season, but he could become the best option for the Royals after all. The Royals may want to give Whit an extension to keep him in Kansas City for the foreseeable future.
In 2019, Whit Merrifield ranked fourth among all sluggers. He posted a career-high of 106 stolen bases. He also won the Fielding Bible Award, which honors the most valuable player in baseball. His defensive numbers are also strong. He has played all 162 games this year.
RONALD ACUNA ATLANTA BRAVES
Last year, the Braves were predicting that Ronald Acuna would be one of their elite five-win players and perhaps the best player in baseball. However, a knee injury kept the rookie from playing much of the year. But the Atlanta team embraced Acuna, and he reestablished himself as one of the most exciting players in the game. In the process, he cemented his spot as one of the best players in the National League.
This is his fourth MLB season, but his tenure in Atlanta could be short-lived. The team could be sellers come July 30 if Acuna doesn’t perform as he has shown. The Braves sit 4.5 games behind the Mets in the NL East and have only a 14.8% chance of making the playoffs this season.
TREA TURNER WASHINGTON NATIONALS
The Washington Nationals have posted a “For Sale” sign on their window and are in the process of telling rival teams that they are open to trades. While this does not include Juan Soto, Trea Turner is the most likely to lead the league in stolen bases this season. Expect plenty of interest to surface as he continues to put up big numbers.
Juan Soto is the best pure hitter in baseball no matter his age and continued great play will be essential for the Nationals’ offense. Meanwhile, shortstop Trea Turner, 27, has consistently put up solid steal rates. He’s the 5th best fWAR in the National League this season and has an average of more than 40 steals per season.
ADALBERTO MONDESI KANSAS CITY ROYALS
While Mendes has not shown much during the first part of the season, he could be a sneaky contender in the AL Central, and his five stolen bases are boosting his fantasy value. The Kansas City Royals are also a team with young, up-and-coming talent. Bobby Witt, Jr. and Nick Lopez have also made big gains this season.
The young and talented shortstop had an exceptional season last year with the Kansas City Royals. He led the majors with 24 stolen bases, and would have tied Mallex Smith’s total of 46 from 134 games last season. If Mendes could improve his on-base skills, he could challenge for 70-80 steals this season.
While the Royals have several good prospects, Xavier Fernandez, Andrew Benintendi, and Michael A. Taylor can all contribute to their team’s offensive success. Moreover, they could also look to veteran outside options. Martin Maldonado and Xavier Fernandez would fit in with the pitching staff, and their combined caught-base percentage is better than Perez’s.
STALLED BASE CROWN THIS SEASON 8X
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