Jake Mangum Sparks Tampa Bay Rays in Exciting Extra-Inning Win Over Red Sox
Jake Mangum, an outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays, had a great game on Monday night. He went 4-for-6 with four singles, two RBI, and a strikeout in the Rays’ thrilling 10-8 extra-inning win over the Boston Red Sox. The 29-year-old rookie is still impressive as a late-blooming fantasy baseball player. He has a unique combination of speed and batting average that has caught the attention of both fans and fantasy managers.
Mangum's Big Break How well it works
Mangum was in the middle of everything during the game, always finding ways to get on base and score runs. His four hits kept the Rays’ offense going, and his ability to come through in tough situations helped Tampa Bay win in extra innings. Mangum showed off his ability to hit at the right time by driving in two runs. This is a skill he learned in the minor leagues and has carried over to the major leagues.
Rising Fantasy Value
Mangum missed more than a month of this season because of a left groin strain, but he has quickly worked his way back into the Rays’ outfield rotation. He has 112 plate appearances and is hitting .302/.333/.368 with one home run, 15 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases. This makes him a surprising source of value for fantasy baseball managers, especially in deeper roto leagues where speed and batting average are very important.
Mangum is only on five percent of fantasy teams right now, but he is still widely available and could help teams that need more outfielders or stolen bases. His minor league stats, which include a .317 average, 56 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases in Triple-A last season, suggest that he may be able to keep up his current level of production, especially since he is consistently good at making contact and is fast.
A Late-Blooming A Newbie's Journey
Mangum’s road to the big leagues has not been typical. After years of working hard in the minor leagues, he finally got his chance with the Rays. They got him from the Marlins and kept him on their 40-man roster after a great season in Triple-A. Mangum is known for being able to play all three outfield positions and being a good defender. His best quality, however, has always been his ability to make contact at the plate. Tampa Bay has found his ability to get on base and cause trouble with his legs to be useful, even though he doesn’t have as much power as some of his peers.
