Brett Davis – USA Today Sports
It’s a very exciting time in the fantasy baseball world. Tons of young stars have taken over the league, and this year has seen a bunch of big-time rookies debut.
On Tuesday, two of the biggest hitting and pitching prospects in the league made their debuts as New York Mets SP Zack Wheeler and Tampa Bay Rays OF Wil Myers had varying success in their first games.
Wheeler pitched in the second game of a doubleheader for the Mets against the Atlanta Braves and finished with an impressive six shutout innings. He showed off his scary-good fastball, consistently hitting 95-97 MPH, to record seven strikeouts. He allowed just four hits, but did show off control problem by issuing five walks.
In 13 games in the minor leagues this season, Wheeler issued about 3.5 walks per nine, and his control wasn’t any better in his debut. It’s one of the big concerns about the 23-year-old, but as long as he limits the walks he should continue to have success like he did Tuesday against a very good Braves lineup.
On the other side was Myers, the 2012 Minor League Player of the Year got the first hit of his career — a single – but finished 1-for-7 with two strikeouts in two games. Fantasy owners shouldn’t fret too much about one day, however, and should be excited about the tremendous power potential he shows. Myers knocked 14 four-baggers this year in the minors, one year after hitting 24, and it won’t be long before he shows that in the bigs. He’s not only a one-trick pony though, as he consistently hit well over .300 in the minors.
The future is bright for these two, and they should be owned in all fantasy baseball leagues.
Rich Arleo is a fantasy sports expert with Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @Rarleo, ‘Like’ him on Facebook and add him to your networks on Google.
