Top five fantasy baseball outfielders

Cody Bellinger (John Maxmena, Wikimedia Commons)

In the sixth of an eight-part series, it is time to focus on the top five fantasy outfielders. Number one on the list is the 2019 National League most valuable player, Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Like Alex Bregman of the Houston Astros, Bellinger can be found number one at two different positions. Bellinger was also first among first basemen.

5) Mike Trout–Los Angeles Angels–This eight-time American League all-star is recognized as one of the game’s greatest superstars, and was the American League most valuable player from a year ago. In 2019, Trout led Major League Baseball with a .438 on base percentage, and the American League with a .645 slugging percentage. In 600 plate appearances, Trout had 45 home runs and 104 runs batted in, scored 110 runs, and collected 137 hits, 27 doubles, two triples, 11 stolen bases, 110 walks, and 303 total bases.

4) Juan Soto–Washington Nationals–In only two years of Major League Baseball, Juan Soto of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic has put together a solid resume. In his rookie season of 2018, he batted .292 with 22 home runs and 70 runs batted in, and lost out to Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves for the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Then in 2019, Soto batted .282, with 34 home runs and 110 runs batted in. He then batted .333 with three home runs and seven runs batted in during the 2019 World Series as the Nationals beat the Astros in seven games.

3) Mookie Betts–Los Angeles Dodgers–One of Major League Baseball’s most electrifying outfielders has moved from the East Coast to the West Coast in 2020. From the blockbuster deal between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason, it will only be Betts in a Dodgers uniform this year, as starting pitcher David Price has pulled out because of coronavirus. The 2018 American League MVP, Betts, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, led Major League Baseball with 135 runs scored in 2019. He also had a batting average of .295 with 29 home runs and 80 runs batted in last season.

2) Ronald Acuna Jr.–Atlanta Braves–The native of La Guaira, Venezuela, batted .280 with 41 home runs and 101 runs batted in during the 2019 season. Also a year ago, Acuna Jr. led the National League with 127 runs scored and 37 stolen bases. In 715 plate appearances, Acuna Jr. also had 175 hits, 22 doubles, two triples, 76 walks, a .365 on-base percentage, .518 slugging percentage, 324 total bases, and one sacrifice fly.

1)Cody Bellinger–Los Angeles Dodgers–Cody Bellinger has only been in Major League Baseball for three years, and has become an offensive stud. In 2019, he was the National League MVP after leading the National League with 351 total bases. He also scored 121 runs, and had 170 hits, 34 doubles, three triples, 47 home runs, 115 runs batted in, a .305 batting average, .406 on base percentage, and .629 slugging percentage.