Points leagues for Fantasy Baseball create a different challenge than playing in standard rotisserie leagues. Roto leagues are pretty straight forward in the sense that you want to compile as many stats as possible in each category. Points leagues differ, however. In a roto league, one home run counts the same as one stolen base. But in a Fantrax standard points league, a home run is awarded four points, while a stolen base is worth two. Understanding the scoring settings sounds simple, but it will also help you tremendously.
If you play in a dynasty points league, you know that prospects are also significant. We at FantraxHQ have one the best prospect writers in the Fantasy industry in Eric Cross. If you are looking for a great prospect list for Fantasy Baseball, look no further than Eric’s “Top-250 Fantasy Prospects.” Having a general idea of how value prospects is a great idea. But, in points leagues, some player’s values change because of the scoring system. It naturally means stolen base specialist are not as valuable as they would be in a roto league. Be sure to check your scoring settings though as your league may not use the standard scoring system.
Points Leagues Scoring For Fantrax
| Hitting | Points | Pitching | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 1 | Win | 10 |
| Double | 2 | Loss | -5 |
| Triple | 3 | Save | 7 |
| Home Run | 4 | Inning Pitched | 1 |
| RBI | 1 | Quality Start | 3 |
| Run | 1 | Strikeout | 1 |
| Walk | 1 | Earned Run | -1 |
| Stolen Base | 2 | ||
| Hit By Pitch | 1 |
You will find the default points league scoring for Fantrax leagues above. Many commissioners will add things to this or change point values. Sometimes, strikeouts will be a negative point value. If this is the case you will likely want to avoid hitters with high strikeout rates. For the purpose of this article, I will be breaking down prospects who are more valuable using Fantrax standard scoring for points leagues.
Points Leagues Specialist: Hitting Prospects
A critical stat to look for when valuing hitters for points league is slugging percentage. Home Runs are king in standard points leagues, as you can see in the chart above. Extra base hits are also valuable. In a standard 5×5 roto league, a player who hits a ton of doubles does not score any better than a player who hits a ton of singles. But in points, when a player hits a double, he is awarded two points vs one for a single. Finding players who hit a lot of home runs, walk at a high rate, and compile extra-base hits are important. With the understanding of standard Fantrax points leagues, let’s take a look at prospects who gain value in points leagues.
Marco Luciano, SS, San Francisco Giants
The Giants have a future stud on their hands in Marco Luciano. Already regarded as one of the top prospects in baseball, Luciano could be even more valuable in points leagues. As a 17-year-old, he dominated the AZL rookie league, finishing third in home runs with ten, and fourth in slugging percentage at .616. Luciano also showed great discipline at the plate, walking 15.2 percent of the time. Last year, he had an average fly ball distance of 310 feet and a max exit velocity over 105 miles-per-hour. Both of those stats are quite impressive for a 17-year-old.
17-year-old Marco Luciano, the #SFGiants’ No. 3 prospect, with a no-doubter out to left. pic.twitter.com/z8LYkm6QRw
— William Boor (@wboor) June 22, 2019
Power is Luciano’s top tool and a primary reason he should be successful in points leagues. He has elite bat speed and excellent hand-eye coordination that leads to consistent contact. 35 home run power is possible in the future for Luciano. He will continue to fill out his six-foot-two, 178-pound frame and will continue to grow into more game power. As he does, he will likely become an average runner. If there is any player who can take the number one spot from Wander Franco, it is Marco Luciano. He has all the tools to be an elite Major League player and will be a tremendous asset for Fantasy Baseball leagues. The crazy thing is, based on his skill set; he will be even more valuable in points leagues.
Bobby Dalbec, 1B/3B, Boston Red Sox
Bobby Dalbec has made his way up to the Major League club this season with the Red Sox and shown off his massive power. It is not surprising to see Dalbec have five home runs in his first nine games, given his 70-grade raw power. Last season, between double-A and triple-A, Dalbec smashed 27 home runs in 562 plate appearances.
Bobby Dalbec has been in the big leagues for nine games and he has as many home runs as Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar combined. pic.twitter.com/QUif2AnGmo
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) September 9, 2020
The hit tool has always been one of the biggest questions in Dalbec’s hitting profile. He has a career .261 batting average in the Minor Leagues, which is respectable, but not great. The good news is, in Fantrax standard points leagues, that will not matter. When Dalbec hits, he is an extra base-hit machine and even chips in a few steals. The extra-base hits will help him score very well in points leagues, and Dalbec won’t be hindered by not having a healthy batting average. In double-A last season, he posted a 15.5% walk rate in 439 plate appearances which is another boost to his value in points leagues. In a season where many prospects have struggled upon being called up, Bobby Dalbec looks the part and should be owned everywhere for the stretch run in Fantasy.
Mason Martin, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates
From a purely offensive standpoint, Mason Martin might be the steal of the 2017 MLB Draft. The 17th round pick has dominated at every Minor League level. If you are in a league where strikeouts hurt, Martin might not be your guy though, as he has over a 30 percent strikeout rate in his Minor League career. But, in standard Fantrax points leagues, Martin should provide great value.
While Martin’s hit tool is suspect, he has legitimate 70-grade raw power. Last season, he led all hitters in low-A and high-A with 35 home runs in 131 games. The next closest hitter had 28. It is possible that Martin could be a platoon hitter given the lefties splits, given his .955 OPS against right-handed pitching and .720 OPS against lefties. Regardless, Martin has ample power and gets a lot of extra-base hits. His ISO of .304 last season proves that. Given the power, and the fact Martin has never had a walk rate less than ten percent at any Minor League level makes him a potential points league stud.
Alexander Mojica, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates
When it comes to prospect circles, Alexander Mojia flies under the radar. The Pirates were able to sign him as part of their 2018 J2 class for just $350,000. While Mojica is not a household name, he should continue to rise in prospect ranks and is a player to keep an eye on in dynasty leagues. Playing in the Dominican Summer League last year at 16 years old for most of the season, Mojica was the best-qualified hitter in OPS (1.048) and wRC+ (182). He slashed .351/.468/.580 with a 17 percent walk rate and a 15.6 percent strikeout rate. It is east to see Mojica having an above-average hit and power tool with excellent plate discipline. Any player that shows the ability to walk more than he strikeouts at 16 years old has excellent plate discipline.
Mojica has a very pull heavy approach, which plays into his home run power. If he can learn to hit the ball to all parts of the field, we could see an exceptional hitter in the makings. Mojica may be under the radar, but he is a prospect you need to check out, especially if you play in a Fantrax points league.
Heriberto Hernandez, C/1B, Texas Rangers
The Rangers versatile catcher Heriberto Hernandez has played all over the field in his professional career. He has seen time at catcher, first base, and right field, but will likely find his home in a corner outfield spot or designated hitter long-term due to fielding concerns. Good thing fielding does not play a factor in Fantasy Baseball because Hernandez can flat out hit.
In 2019, in 234 plate appearances between rookie ball and low-A, Hernandez slashed .345/.436/.635. Thirty-two of his 69 hits were extra-base hits, including 11 home runs. Hernandez continued his strong season in the Arizona Fall League. Being one of the younger players in the league, he was the league leader in home runs and RBI and finished second in doubles.
Hernandez fits the mold of a points league specialist as someone who has significant raw power and walks at a high rate. As a future 60-grade raw and game power, Hernandez had an average fly ball distance of nearly 315 feet, which is quite impressive given his age. Last season, he walked at a 12.4 percent rate produced a .436 OBP. The high amount of extra-base hits will score him plenty of points as well. Hernandez will be a player I am watching closely as he continues to develop in the Minor Leagues. His bat has a chance to be very special if he continues to grow and develop his tools.
Statistical References: Fangraphs and Prospects Live
Media References: William Boor and Jared Carrabis
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