Welcome back to the 2015 Last Word on Fantasy Baseball Guide. Over the next several months we will be releasing player profiles, projections, position rankings, and a number of other articles that will help you dominate your fantasy league this season. Whether you play rotisserie or head-to-head; whether you have a standard draft, a snake or an auction league, and whether its keeper league or a one-year deal; we have all the fantasy information you need.
For the rest of our fantasy baseball profiles and articles, please check out our Fantasy Baseball Guide Page.
Fantasy Profile: Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros
LWOS Ranking 1, Captain’s Value: $27.22
Not long ago, Fantasy Owners had to take one of the top two second baseman early in a draft because there was just no depth at the position.
Not long ago, Robinson Cano was the easy choice for the first second baseman to be grabbed in any fantasy draft.
Not anymore.
Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros had a monster 2014 season, in which he led all of baseball with a .341 average and 225 hits, while finishing tops in the American League with 56 stolen bases. His numbers were astounding; a .360 BABIP, MLB-high 31 infield hits and 22.8 percent line-drive rate that yielded not only a .341 AVG, but also a .377 OBP.
Granted, he doesn’t hit home runs (he’s got 21 career home runs, that’s a half season for a guy like Jose Bautista or Jose Abreu) or drive in many runs (160 RBI in that span). However, the Venezuelan native has always been about contact and speed along with some slick fielding as he made his way up the ladder.
“It’s an honor to be on a team with a batting champion,” stated new Houston Astros bench coach Trey Hillman. “He’s a tireless worker and he’s got a passion for the game. I’m looking forward to seeing him play every day.”
When you consider he’ll easily hit over .310, he’ll steal at least 50 bases for the second straight season, he’ll be close to 100 runs scored (he hit the “pay station” 85 times last year), the fact he’s only 25 years old and the lineup in Houston around him is much improved, you can’t go wrong taking Altuve before Cano – or just after him – in your upcoming draft.
| Year | Team | POS | G | PA | AB | R | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| 2011 | HOU | 2B | 57 | 229 | 221 | 26 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 29 | 0.276 | 0.297 | 0.357 | 0.654 |
| 2012 | HOU | 2B | 147 | 626 | 576 | 80 | 7 | 37 | 33 | 40 | 74 | 0.290 | 0.340 | 0.399 | 0.739 |
| 2013 | HOU | 2B | 152 | 668 | 626 | 64 | 5 | 52 | 35 | 32 | 85 | 0.283 | 0.316 | 0.363 | 0.679 |
| 2014 | HOU | 2B | 158 | 706 | 660 | 85 | 7 | 59 | 56 | 36 | 53 | 0.341 | 0.377 | 0.453 | 0.830 |
| 2015 Projection | HOU | 2B | 710 | 661 | 91 | 7 | 63 | 47 | 38 | 67 | 0.313 | 0.352 | 0.416 | 0.768 |
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