Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) -
Answer this question if you can. Among outfielders, who is the only player currently in the Top-10 in runs, hits, doubles, home runs, runs batted in, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS?
If you said Manny Ramirez, Jason Bay, Carlos Beltran or Ryan Braun...they are all nice guesses, but incorrect.
The answer my fellow fantasy owners is Baltimore Orioles centerfielder Adam Jones.
Jones was a 2003 supplemental draft pick of the Seattle Mariners and the centerpiece of the Seattle-Baltimore trade involving pitcher Erik Bedard.
He's also on a hitting tear, batting .417 for the last seven days with three home runs. For the season he is hitting .363 (2nd among outfielders) with 35 runs scored (1st), 45 hits (3rd), 12 doubles (2nd), 8 HRs (8th), 25 RBIs (8th), an on-base percentage of .420 (2nd), slugging percentage of .669 (1st) and an OPS of 1.089 (5th).
All this from a player with an Average Draft Position (ADP) of 179!
Jones is by far the early leader for "2009 TSN Best Bargain" award - at least among hitters. Zack Greinke (ADP 117) will also garner plenty of votes on the pitching side of the ledger after starting the season in record fashion.
The top of the Baltimore lineup has been very good this year with Brian Roberts, Jones, Nick Markakis and Aubrey Huff all hitting well. The foursome has scored 110 of the Orioles 169 runs through 33 games (5.12 rpg) which has them ranked 10th in the major leagues.
Jones, who struggled through the 2007 season, mainly trying to learn how to his the breaking ball (not uncommon among young hitters), has apparently finally found the secret. He is also hitting less fly balls (Ground Ball vs. Fly Ball percentage has risen from 1.32 in 2008 to 1.68 this year).
All-in-all, the 23-year-old is proving to be a rising star and worthy of your attention. In keeper leagues he would certainly be worth going after as his upside is almost unlimited.
| Top Outfielder Statistics through May 12th |
| Player | Team | ADP | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | AVE | SLG | OPS |
| Manny Ramirez | LAD | 25 | 92 | 22 | 32 | 6 | 20 | 0 | 0.348 | 0.641 | 1.133 |
| Jason Bay | BOS | 34 | 112 | 29 | 35 | 9 | 35 | 4 | 0.313 | 0.643 | 1.098 |
| Brad Hawpe | COL | 132 | 92 | 16 | 33 | 5 | 25 | 0 | 0.359 | 0.652 | 1.096 |
| Adam Dunn | WAS | 66 | 115 | 19 | 36 | 11 | 28 | 0 | 0.313 | 0.643 | 1.091 |
| Adam Jones | BAL | 179 | 124 | 35 | 45 | 8 | 25 | 3 | 0.363 | 0.669 | 1.089 |
| Ryan Braun | MLW | 6 | 114 | 22 | 39 | 8 | 28 | 3 | 0.342 | 0.614 | 1.071 |
| Carlos Beltran | NYM | 13 | 123 | 20 | 46 | 6 | 25 | 4 | 0.374 | 0.593 | 1.058 |
| Raul Ibanez | PHI | 122 | 115 | 24 | 38 | 9 | 25 | 3 | 0.330 | 0.661 | 1.058 |
| Kosuke Fukudome | CHC | 339 | 99 | 21 | 33 | 4 | 17 | 4 | 0.333 | 0.566 | 1.021 |
| Nick Markakis | BAL | 31 | 126 | 33 | 44 | 6 | 30 | 1 | 0.349 | 0.579 | 1.008 |
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