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BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues
OWNED IN: 22% of Fleaflicker Leagues
ANALYSIS: Is it too late for a 29-year-old, who was taken in the 17th round, to finally break out? Mitch Moreland would say this was all apart of the plan and everyone should take notice.
Moreland's career .258 BA and .319 OBP does not conjure up a "wow factor" to the minds of many. Even the career .291 BABIP and 20.8 K% should not excite anyone either. Just to add salt to the already open wound, Moreland has never stayed healthy enough to warrant serious fantasy consideration....until now!
Moreland's 2013 campaign of 23 HR and 60 RBI will get demolished this year if he can stay off the disabled list. He has all time highs in BA, SLG% and OPS. At his current pace the HR, RBI, BABIP and wRC will also be off the charts and make him an even more formidable player for the Texas Rangers and for all fantasy leagues.
The other big difference in Moreland's success this year has been his ability to lower his pull rate and smack more hits to the opposite field. Moreland is crushing the ball to the opposite field 25% of the time and his doubles tally thus far has been a direct result of it.
Like the Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford, Moreland is enjoying a big step forward this season and is looking at career bests in almost every important hitting category. Bottom line is that Moreland should be universally owned.
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