Hunter Pence - Fantasy News & Updates
Hunter Pence - Fantasy News & Updates
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Nothing fancy -- Pence delivered sound five-category production while greatly improving his BB/K ratio, an encouraging sign of growth for any young hitter. Talented, athletic and composed, the Astros right fielder is precisely the sort of hitter worth owning next year as he heads into his prime.
The long ball tied Pence's home run mark from last season, so he has eight games to set a new career mark. His 22.2 AB/HR rate is still quite similar to last year's 23.8 figure, so the outfielder will need to get the mark below 20 if he wishes to become a consistent 30-homer player.
Pence had a pair of multiple hit performances before Saturday's home run, so the outfielder looks to be over his .158 (3-for-19) slide in five games from Sept. 11-15. He should continue to fare well at Miller Park on Sunday, where he holds a respectable .280 lifetime batting average.
That's back-to-back two-hit contests for Pence, who badly needed something to get him going after he went 1-for-12 without a run scored or an RBI in the three games prior to his multi-hit performances. Despite his recent funk, a hot start to the month -- he ripped at a .435 clip (10-for-23) during the month's first week -- has raised his average to .288 on the year.
Pence has been seeing the ball very well during his last 10 games, launching four homers and driving in 10 runs while putting up a .393 average (13-for-33) and a .550 on-base percentage. Pence's emergence as a full-spectrum fantasy star has been one of the nicer breakthroughs of the 2009 season, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him move out of the sixth spot and into a more RBI-friendly role before the end of the season.
Pence's second tater in as many contests also extended his hitting streak to eight ballgames. He's closing in on the career-best 25 dingers he recorded last season, and it's apparent he should be able to eclipse that mark by the end of the campaign.
That's seven consecutive games in which Pence has recorded at least one hit, a streak which has included a pair of doubles and home runs. The beginning of the hitting streak occurred in late August, a month in which he batted .232. Lest owners fret over whether Pence can regain his footing in September, they should remember that the right fielder hit .223 in August 2008 before posting a .302 mark in September.
Pence made his first All-Star Game this year after hitting .298 with 11 homers and 37 RBIs in the first half of the season, buoyed by a terrific May in which he hit .388. It's been all downhill since as the young slugger went on to hit .257 in June and .245 in July before bottoming out with a .224 clip in August. Friday's multi-hit effort, his first since Aug. 12, could be just what he needs to get back on track.
Pence has run hot and cold in his third big league season and the current month is no exception. Outside of a 6-for-15 run from Aug. 10-12, the dynamic outfielder has only posted two multi-hit efforts for the rest of the month. But despite his on-again/off-again routine, things haven't been all bad for Pence, who has still managed to make his mark with six homers and 14 ribbies, his best totals in any single month this year.
After having a home run overturned by instant replay in his previous at-bat, Pence made sure to take modern technology out of the mix when he rocketed an eighth-inning blast Sunday in a win over the Brewers. Pence has swatted five homers in August -- tied for his most in any month this season -- including two in back-to-back games.
A power surge is in the works for Pence, who mashed a pair of taters Aug. 12. He needs to three more for his second straight 20-plus homer campaign.
Kudos to those of you who stuck with Pence during his mediocre month of July (.245 AVG, .357 SLG). The 26-year-old slugger seems to have not only rediscovered his power stroke, but his bat speed as well. Pence turned in his third consecutive 2-for-5 effort Wednesday, lifting his average to .291. Throw in his 52 RBIs and 11 stolen bases, and you've got a five-tool fantasy stud who's just hitting his stride.
Pence has largely stopped running of late -- just two SBs since June 14 -- but he continues to hit for both power and average. The outfielder may not reach 25 home runs like he did last season, but his multiple-category contribution ensures that he’ll remain a solid option in mixed leagues the rest of the way.
Pence has been lacking power recently, as he’s gone without an RBI over the last eight games and plated just 11 just runs in 26 contests last month. However, he’s maintained his value in mixed leagues, batting .292 with 13 jacks and 10 steals, giving himself an outside shot at a 20-20 campaign.
The good news: this bomb came off fearsome Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez. The bad news: it came in the ninth inning of a 10-3 loss. They all count the same in fantasy, though, so owners won't be complaining. The homer was Pence's second in his last four starts, and may signal that he's beginning to pull things together after a cooler-than-usual stretch.
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