SPECULATOR: Longshot leaders '16

Each year in this space, we close out the pre-season calendar with a look at some possible long-shot league leaders and award winners. We are a week later than usual this year, partially because we intentionally don't want these out-on-a-limb predictions to influence your Draft Day plans. We don't think it is at all interesting to predict a Mike Trout MVP or a Clayton Kershaw Cy Young Award. Around here, we dig deeper....

Batting champions

National League
David Peralta (OF, ARI) hit .312 last year, so maybe this isn't such an outrageous pick. But he did that with a .286 xBA, so our usual approach here at BaseballHQ.com would be to call for regression. (Indeed, we're projecting a .299 BA, essentially splitting that BA/xBA gap from 2015)....

Almost!

You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!

Already a subscriber? Sign in here

More From Speculator

They didn't help you much in the first half, but these rebound targets are primed for a summer surge.
Jun 25 2025 3:09am
The world-renowned (kind of) #BloomBoards make their way to the Speculator. Four of them to sift through!
Jun 18 2025 3:09am
Our annual exercise pitting current players on the age-old 10-step path to prospect stardom list.
Jun 11 2025 3:06am
Two-plus months into the season, we'll use QBaB to see who's making the best quality of contact, and speculate on their outlook going forward.
Jun 4 2025 3:09am
After last week's in-season "UP"side column, it's time to strike a more pessimistic tune.
May 28 2025 3:07am

Tools