Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Everyone knows the song “These Boots Are Made for Walkin” by Nancy Sinatra. Well if there was a song about a pair of baseball cleats, it would be about New York Mets OF Lucas Duda.
Duda is currently ranked third in the entire National League with 21 walks through the first 29 games. He is being walked every 18.3 plate appearances and seems to find his way on base every time he steps into the batter’s box. He has proved to be an amazing value pick this season for fantasy baseball owners.
The 27-year-old is hitting exceptionally well, despite his rather mediocre .239 batting average. Duda currently has a ridiculous .391 On Base Percentage, which ranks 15th in the NL. He is practically getting on base every other at-bat, which has caused his fantasy value to go through the roof in the first part of the season. He has mastered the art of drawing a walk and the left-fielder has not swung at a first pitch in 32 consecutive at-bats.
The Dudemeister has quietly crushed seven long balls already this season as well. The monster is very intimidating at the plate and his six-foot-four, 255-pound frame doesn’t hurt. He has the power to hit anything out of the park, but he particularly loves the low-inside pitches. Duda is having a career season at the plate and is on pace to easily crush 25 home runs in 2013.
Duda may only have 11 RBIs, but his mix of power and high OBP make him a worthy fantasy option on a weekly basis. He will continue to be a strong second or third fantasy outfielder as the season moves forward.
Adam McGill is the Senior Fantasy Sports Writer at Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @adammcgill83, like him on Facebook, or add him to you networks on Google here or here.
