The man also known as "Pronk," is four seasons removed from hitting over 100 RBI's and at least 24 home runs in four consecutive seasons. Now, Travis Hafner has only had 932 AB in over four years and is trying to make a comeback. Hafner has begun this season being owned in less than 10% of leagues and has not started off slow, hitting over .300 and getting on base efficiently. Currently hitting 5th in the Cleveland Indians lineup, I think Hafner has the opportunity to turn in a pretty decent season compared to the results more recent fantasy baseball fans are used to. Hafner is also being surrounded by pretty decent hitters in the Indians line up with Orlando Cabrera, Shin-Soo Choo and Carlos Santana.
Danny Espinosa, 2B, Washington Nationals- Owned in 9% of leagues, with such a scarcity in terms of the position he plays, Danny Espinosa is not a terrible option for people looking for production out of their MI or 2B position. Espinosa has started the season on a positive note and should just get better with time as the season progresses. He has hit safely in 4 out of his first 9 AB and will make a believer out of a lot of fantasy owners by seasons end.
Julio Borbon, OF, Texas Rangers- Owned in just 5% of leagues, hitting ninth in the Texas Rangers lineup offers a lot of opportunities with the guys that follow him like Elvis Andrus, Ian Kinsler and Josh Hamilton. Borbon has begun the season with 3 RBI's in just his first 8 AB and will continue to produce for fantasy owners out there in need of OF help. I expect more out of Borbon this season, especially with the mediocre numbers he produced last season and the potential of the Rangers lineup with a little less pitching to back up all of their hitting this year.
Randy Wells, P, Chicago Cubs- Wells pitched very well in his first start of the season going 6 innings, with only 1 earned run and 6 strikeouts while picking up the victory over the Diamondbacks. His next starts are projected as: @ Milwaukee, @ Colorado and vs Dodgers, which is not an awful lineup for Wells over the next few weeks. I expect Wells to be steady all season and give the Cubs some needed effective pitching at the end of their rotation. I expect Wells to return to his 2009 form when is ERA was around 3 with his BAA around .260.
Mike Leake, P, Cincinnati Reds- I have personally been a fan of this kid since he went to the Reds from Arizona State. I think he has all the talent a pitcher would need to succeed in the majors and now he is slowly putting it together after struggling in the second half of last season. He started well this year with a victory over the Houston Astros, where he pitched 6 innings and only allowed 3 hits and 2 ER. Leake will have his ups and downs as he gets used to pitching in a rotation and being relied upon by Dusty Baker, but I expect him to be solid in 2011.
Chris Tillman, P, Baltimore Orioles- Only owned in 5% of leagues, I believe Chris Tillman offers some good value for a fantasy owner in need of some pitching. He most likely will receive good run support and he has a manager that is very good at getting his team wins and that means cutting Tillman's nights short sometimes to go to the bullpen; which can be a good thing. Tillman in his first start went 6 scoreless innings and picked up the win for the Orioles and is projected to face: @ Rangers and vs Yankees, so do not expect magic, but I believe he will be effective this season.
