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FanGraphs | Jay Jaffe: Jeff McNeil, newly minted player for the Mets, is a total throwback kind of hitter. With his high batting average and low K-rate, he hearkens back to a time of Barry Larkin, Tony Gwynn, or Bill Madlock when hitters were contact-first. With contact at an all-time low, that could be a huge asset.
Baseball Prospectus | Jarrett Seidler and Kevin Jebens ($): Finally, finally, finally... Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is being called up to the big leagues. Not only is he the best prospect in baseball making his debut, but he could be one of the best players in baseball period, as PECOTA projects him to be a top-ten hitter in 2019.
The Athletic | Mark Simon ($): A lot of contenders are contending, yes, but their defense is severely lacking. The Yankees and Red Sox trail the Rays significantly in defensive contributions, for one. The Mariners are socking home runs but have an atrocious defense behind Omar Narvaéz and Domingo Santana. The Pirates are also off to a good start but injuries have left them with defensive unknowns.