fantasy madness

Brandon Woodruff is the highest rated Mississippian (native or college alum) in mlb.com’s list of the top 800 players in fantasy value. Woodruff, a right-hander out of Wheeler High and Mississippi State, is No. 73, which seems a little low for the expected ace of a playoff-contending Milwaukee club who is also considered by some as a Cy Young award candidate. But keep in mind, fantasy value isn’t the same as actual, on-field value, which explains — sorta — why Mike Trout is No. 3 behind Christian Yelich and Mississippi Braves alum Ronald Acuna and why Jacob deGrom, a 2018 and ’19 Cy Young winner, is just No. 15, behind three other pitchers. So, perhaps we shouldn’t read too much into these ratings. Woodruff is one of just two Mississippians rated among the top 100 in this particular chart; ex-Ole Miss star Lance Lynn of Texas is No. 98. Tim Anderson, the East Central Community College alum who won a batting title last season, is No. 135. Really? Next among Mississippians is Madison Central High product Spencer Turnbull of Detroit at No. 263. Turnbull, pitching for a bad team, went 3-17 with a 4.61 ERA in 2019. He’s rated higher than the likes of Corey Dickerson (271), Hunter Renfroe (302), Dakota Hudson (303) and Drew Pomeranz (323), all expected to be significant contributors in 2020. Austin Riley, the ex-DeSoto Central star who might not even make Atlanta’s roster out of spring training, is rated higher (at 279) than former MSU standout Mitch Moreland (498), who figures to play a lot at first base for Boston. Ole Miss alum Zack Cozart, who isn’t currently on a team, is rated No. 768, four spots above Petal High product Anthony Alford, who’s battling for a reserve outfield job with Toronto.