The Major League season isn’t even a month old. Even so, it is not too early to take a look at the players who have surprised up to this point. Of course, surprises can be both good or bad. In this Fantasy Baseball Early Surprises edition, we will see who qualifies. Let it be noted that just because they are included here, it doesn’t forecast performance in the months ahead.

However, fantasy managers will want to watch these players to see if they return to their career levels. Further, let it be said right at the top that no one will be included here because of injury. No one can control injuries. Those players who are hurt don’t deserve to be downgraded because of it. Are there players not included that you see as surprises? I’m sure there are, so let’s talk about it!

Bryce Harper All of a Sudden Can’t Hit

In 2023, Bryce Harper began the season injured. He returned before anyone expected and did find his groove. Fully healthy in 2024, many were looking for him to return to his career norms at the plate. In the early going, however, except for one game, Harper has been lost at the plate.

Entering Monday’s action, Harper is hitting just .190-3-7. All three of those home runs were hit in one game. In his last 27 at bats, he has just two hits. He hasn’t driven in a run since April 5 and has touched the plate just once in that time. Even worse, in his last five games, Harper has struck out at least twice three times.

As could be expected, all of Harper’s stats are down, way down. Fortunately for those that drafted him, Harper does have an outstanding track record. There is every reason to believe that his .277/.397, 83 OPS+, .205 BAbip 24.6K% and 10.8BB% will look more like his usual .389/.520, 142 OPS+, .322 BAbip, 21.6 K% and 14.8BB%.

In the end, patience is all that is needed for those managing Harper on their fantasy team. Of course, no one needs me to point that out. Even so, Harper is clearly one of the biggest surprises of the young 2024 baseball season.

What has Happened to Julio Rodriguez?

Right from the outset of 2024, I was a big supporter of Julio Rodriquez. When ESPN had him ranked as the 36th player in points leagues, I came out strongly, saying that it was insane for him to be that low. While it is less than a month into the season, there is egg all over my face.

The reason? Rodriguez is about as ice cold as a player could be. Rodriguez wasn’t even in the starting lineup Sunday. Without doubt, that is what happens, even to stars, when a player is in a 3-20 slump. As this is being written, Rodriguez is only hitting .186-0-5. Most shockingly, he only has two stolen bases.

Obviously, no one could have expected this from a player that hit 60 homers to go with 178 RBIs and 62 steals in his first two seasons. His 33.3 K% is way higher than last year (24.5) and he hasn’t been hitting the ball with authority (.289 BAbip vs .334 career). When one considers his 32 OPS+ (131 career), all you can do is shield your eyes and hope that you are hallucinating.

Unfortunately, Rodriguez being included on this Fantasy Baseball Early Surprises edition isn’t an illusion. In looking at his 2022 rookie season, he began with a hit in just one of his first five games. It took Rodriguez a bit to heat up. However, once he did, he was a force the rest of the way. As with Harper, patience is required. Many managers are probably receiving low ball offers. Reject them all.

Spencer Steer is the Breakout Star for Cincinnati

There were many, including me, that thought that Spencer Steer was headed for a good season in 2024. Even so, I don’t think that anyone was predicting that Steer would blow the roof off the fantasy universe like he has. As of Monday, Steer is hitting a robust .346-3-18. Additionally, his steals match those homers. Among his 18 hits, he has six doubles. He has touched the plate 12 times.

The RBIs are second and the doubles are seventh in the majors. His BA is in the top 15. Those with Steer in points leagues are smiling with all that’s within them. Why, you might ask? Because of this: of all fantasy players, Steer trails only Mookie Betts on the ESPN platform in points (90-71). Not bad for a player taken in the tenth round on average.

Of course, what Steer is doing is far above what he’s produced in his first two seasons:

2024: .346/.477/.674, 207 OPS+, .385 BAbip, .327 ISO, 15.4 K%, 15.4BB%

Career: .269/.359/.461, 119 OPS+, .317 BAbip, .192 ISO, 20.9K%, 10.6BB%

The question: can Steer keep it up? Probably not, but does that really matter? He is one of the most valuable fantasy players at the moment. You simply ride it for all it’s worth. Best of all, his multi position eligibility only adds to his value.

Reid Detmers is Pitching Lights Out for the Angels

By a show of hands, who knew that Reid Detmers would have the fifth most fantasy points among starters three weeks into the season? Unquestionably, no one should have their hands in the air. No one in the fantasy community predicted the massive break out that Detmers is having. While we are at it, the same could be said of the Angels, who currently sit in second place in the A.L. West.

Without question, a lot of that success must be placed at the feet of Detmers. As of Monday morning, Detmers is 3-0 with a 1.04 ERA, 0.808 WHIP, 1.46 FIP, 26K, 6BB and a 40.6 K% in 17.1 innings. His K% is so far above his norm, it is almost impossible to comprehend it (24.9). Further, his FIP mark is tops in the majors. For context, the two teams that he has faced, Boston and Baltimore, are good hitting teams. Even better, two of the starts were on the road.

In the end, for a pitcher that was drafted on average in the 12th round, nothing more could possibly be asked of Detmer. Without doubt, he is a clear regression candidate. Be that as it may, he definitely belongs on this Fantasy Baseball Early Surprises edition. Simply stated, managers need to keep placing him in their starting lineups and enjoy the ride.

Ronel Blanco is a Pitching Machine

When it comes to stories, none surpases Ronel Blanco. As is well known by now, Blanco was working in a car wash when Houston extended him an offer. Coming out of spring training, he was not guaranteed a spot in the 2024 Houston rotation. Even more to the point, there was no expectation that Blanco would be on the Astros roster at all.

However, Blanco did take his place in the rotation. Certainly, no one announced themselves louder than he did in his first start. No hitters have that effect. After his gem against the Blue Jays, many in the fantasy community rushed to pick him up. At the time, I considered that a mistake. To come to that conclusion, was look at his schedule. Blanco’s next two starts came against the hard hitting Texas Rangers.

Now that those starts are over, conclusively, I was wrong. Three weeks in, Blanco stands out like a beacon on a hill on a dark night. In the first game against Texas, all he did was pitch one hit shutout ball over six innings. In the second, the Rangers finally scored a run against him. No worries, as again in six innings, Blanco allowed a pair of runs on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks.

As of Tuesday, Blanco is 2-0 with a 0.86 ERA, 458 ERA+, 2.99 FIP, 0.714 WHIP, 16K, and 9BB over 21 innings. His 2.6 H9 leads baseball. Not too shabby for a pitcher who was 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in 17 games (seven starts) last season. There is nothing in his minor league numbers to suggest he can keep this up. Regardless, Blanco has earned his spot on this Fantasy Baseball Early Surprises edition.

Other Surprises:

Kevin Gausman, SP, Toronto Blue Jays, (0-2, 11.57 ERA, hasn’t pitched 5 innings in a start)

Pablo Lopez, SP, Minnesota Twins, (1-2, 4.86 ERA 8 earned runs in last 9.2 innings)

Ronald Acuna, OF, Atlanta Braves (no homers, 5 RBIs through 59 at bats)

Anthony Volpe, SS, New York Yankees, (.373-2-8, .464 OBP, 6 SB, 22 hits, 14 runs)

The Final Word

Thank you for joining me for this Fantasy Baseball Early Surprises edition! As always. debate and discussion are highly encouraged. Agree or disagree with anything in the article? Let’s talk about it.

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