Top 100 Hitters: Second Half Sprint

As the All-Star break fades in the rearview mirror, it’s time to buckle up for the wild ride that is the second half of the fantasy baseball season. Your draft-day darlings may have let you down or catapulted you to the top, but now is the moment to separate the contenders from the pretenders. The second-half Top 100 hitter rankings for the rest of the season are here, ready to guide you through the highs and lows, the streaks and slumps. Embrace the chaos, trust the process, and let’s dive into the rankings that will shape your championship run. Optimism is our watchword, because every at-bat is a new opportunity, and every swing could be the one that turns your season around. Here’s the lowdown on who’s rising, who’s falling, and who’s worth keeping an eye on in the coming weeks.

Rising

• Brenton Doyle – It’s been three weeks since our last top 100 hitters ranking, and no one has proven us more wrong than Brenton Doyle. He’s been on an absolute tear, hitting .389 with nine homers, and posting a staggering 273 wRC+ over that span.  Doyle has swiped 20 bases on the season, showcasing the speed he’s had throughout his ascent. The thin Colorado air is working wonders for him, but fantasy managers don’t care why the production comes. Doyle does everything well and has cemented his place in fantasy lineups for good. It’s high time we acknowledge the impression he’s made.
• Trea Turner – Two weeks ago, I boldly predicted that Trea Turner would deliver first-round value in the second half. Since then, he’s been the fourth-best hitter in the league by wRC+ and WAR, hitting .400 with five homers and 19 runs and RBIs. Time for a premature victory lap on that prediction! Turner is proving that he can be trusted as the Phillies play for high stakes the rest of the season. His elite performance is a reminder of why he was a high draft pick and should reassure managers who might have been concerned by his early-season form. Turner’s resurgence is perfectly timed for fantasy managers looking to make a playoff push.
• Mike Trout – Reports indicate that Mike Trout could be back in the Angels’ lineup by the end of the week, starting with a rehab assignment at AAA Salt Lake on Monday. He began the season strong, with ten homers and six steals in just 19 games, though his average suffered due to a .194 BABIP. We must treat him like the first-round talent he is, even if he’s as fragile as glass. Enjoy Trout’s contributions while they last, because we can’t always have nice things like a healthy Trout. The potential for a second-half surge from one of baseball’s all-time greats is tantalizing, and even in a partial season, Trout can make a massive impact.

Falling

• Bo Bichette – Bichette is sidelined again, this time with a moderate calf strain after ongoing issues with his right calf all season. He’s expected to miss multiple weeks, and his performance has been below replacement level for 2024, with a dismal 69 wRC+ on the back of merely four homers and five steals. Bichette is off our list, and honestly, this should have happened sooner. The ongoing injuries have sapped his effectiveness and reliability, making him a liability in fantasy lineups. It’s a tough pill to swallow for those who invested heavily in him, but the reality is that Bichette’s struggles have rendered him unplayable. It’s time to look for more dependable options.
• Brice Turang – Turang is in a slump, hitting just .143 over his last 10 games with a 20 wRC+, despite managing a few steals. His patience at the plate has kept him afloat, but he’s now facing bad luck with BABIP for the first time this season. This exposes the lack of difference between Turang and someone like Esteury Ruiz who has disappeared as quickly as he was discovered. If you’re not desperate for speed and someone sees value in him, it might be time to move on. The early-season promise has given way to reality, and it’s becoming clear that Turang’s skill set might not be enough to justify a spot on your roster.

Watching

• Coby Mayo – Mayo is arguably the best prospect in the minors yet to make his major league debut. He’s on pace for around 45 homers in the minors this year while hitting over .300. The Orioles should give him a shot after the trade deadline if not before. If he were better defensively, he’d likely already be in the majors. Mayo’s power potential makes him a tantalizing prospect, and his imminent call-up could provide a significant boost to fantasy teams needing a late-season surge. Keep a close eye on the Orioles’ roster moves, as Mayo’s debut could be a game-changer.
• Matt Olson – Matt Olson’s last 14 days have been a mixed bag: a 57% hard-hit rate and 44% pull rate, but a .136 BABIP resulting in a .121 average with a single homer. Is he a sleeping giant ready to awaken? The underlying metrics suggest that Olson’s struggles might be temporary and that a breakout could be on the horizon. His power and ability to drive in runs make him a valuable asset when he’s firing on all cylinders. Don’t give up on him just yet, as a hot streak could be just around the corner.  For now, he is staying put in the rankings.
• Julio Rodriguez – Rodriguez might finally be heating up. In the 10 games before the All-Star break, he hit three homers, with 13 combined runs and RBIs, and a .533 average for a 330 wRC+. He’s showing a strong 95.3 average exit velocity, but his .813 BABIP and 33% strikeout rate are concerns, along with a flyball rate below 37%. Rodriguez’s recent performance hints at the immense potential he possesses, but the high strikeout rate and low flyball percentage suggest there’s still need for improvement. Julio is in full monitor mode for fantasy owners, just be cautious of buying the recent hot streak.