We’re one month into the season, which is a perfect time to reflect on Fantasy Baseball’s developments and what they might imply for the ongoing season. You might think the early results hold significant weight for future performance, but history suggests that this could be a mistake.

For instance, at this time last year, the Royals were unexpectedly thriving at 21-15, sharing the top spot in the AL Central, while the Astros struggled at 12-22 before recovering to win the division.

On the player front, Shohei Ohtani had a leading wOBA of .491, which foreshadowed his outstanding season. Conversely, future AL MVP Aaron Judge ranked 50th in wOBA behind players including Abraham Toro, Daulton Varsho, and Blake Perkins.

While the first month’s performance influences perceptions, over-relying on it can mislead views of players or teams.

Pete Crow-Armstrong’s Emergence

Despite prior critiques of Crow-Armstrong’s batting approach, he’s ranking as a top-10 Fantasy player. He swings at 61.6% of pitches faced, far above the league average of 47.2%. His chase rate is concerning at 44%, but he also aggressively swings at good pitches, showing a zone swing rate of 80.6% this season.

Thus far, he’s improved contact to 85% on swings at pitches in the strike zone. His expected wOBA has seen a notable increase, from a subpar 34.3% to an impressive 43.3%. His athletic abilities further enhance his value.

Is this performance sustainable? Changed positioning in the batter’s box and a stronger swing might contribute to his success. Only time will reveal if he can maintain consistency.

Paul Skenes’ Inconsistent Strikeouts

Skenes shows contrasting elements in his game. Although he is not striking out batters at the expected rate, his low expected wOBA on contact affirms he remains an effective pitcher. A major factor in his drop in strikeout rate could be his overall tendency to pitch for contact rather than dominance.

Nevertheless, Skenes’s stuff suggests this is an anomaly, and with a healthy strikeout ratio in the future, he should regain his status as a top-tier pitcher.

Texas Rangers’ Lineup Struggles

The Rangers have already made alterations to their coaching staff, peaking at just 27th in team wOBA, currently holding a subpar .286. Their struggles appear collective, with players like Josh Smith and Corey Seager facing notable challenges. Despite this, the statistical outlook suggests a potential rebound even if the current season reflects an outlier scenario.

Luis Robert’s Stealing Performance

A considerable amount of discussion surrounded Robert’s disappointing 2024 season, but injury issues played a role in his performance. Observations indicate a return to form, highlighted by his impressive base-stealing stats this season, suggesting a renewed fitness and potential for further development.