Advertisement

A look at all-or-nothing power hitters

Power hitter Adam Dunn is batting .234 with 28 home runs and 74 runs batted in through Friday.
(John Sleezer / McClatchy-Tribune)
Share

Since the early days of fantasy baseball, sluggers like Dave Kingman were enticing to owners for their prodigious power and tape-measure home runs. But those who coveted the long ball more often than not got shortchanged when it came to batting average. Staff writer Tim Hubbard looks at a few current players who fall into that all-or-nothing category.

Adam Dunn

DH | Chicago White Sox

Dunn cemented his spot in the power-pig hall of fame when he hit 41 home runs while batting just .204 last season. He’s actually less of a liability this year, upping his average to .234 to go with 28 home runs and 74 runs batted in through Friday.

Dan Uggla

2B | Atlanta

The second baseman was diagnosed with astigmatism this spring, and has had a miserable time making contact, striking out 146 times en route to a .186 average. Uggla is on the disabled list after LASIK surgery Aug. 16 and is scheduled to return to the Braves’ lineup Wednesday. If the veteran can hit 21 home runs while battling eye problems, imagine what he might do when he can actually see the ball.

Advertisement

Chris Carter

OF | Houston

Carter is doing his best Rob Deer impersonation, hitting 23 home runs in only 393 at-bats, while striking out a shocking 174 times. His .212 average is a killer and though he’s really struggled at home, he does play half of his games in a great hitter’s park for right-handers. Maybe most important, it shouldn’t take much to trade for him.

tim.hubbard@latimes.com

Twitter: @timhubbardLAT

Advertisement