At long last we've reached the half way point of the 2016 season. The deepest position in baseball, at least on the offensive side, has seen a slew of hitters filter across the semipermeable membrane of the waiver wire. The All-Star break is infamous for being a natural turning point for many hitters over the course of a season. Waiver wires can see a flurry of activity in the weeks immediately following the break because any signs of life at this time could suggest prolonged success in the second half of the season. That's where we come in.

This column will take a look at some guys who had bad luck, to be as generous as possible, in the first half who are primed and ready for a strong semester. There are no guarantees in baseball and a couple of other things, apparently. Still, it would be miraculous if some of these guys do not rebound in the remainder of 2016.

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Outfield Targets for Second Half

Michael Conforto, New York Mets

Owned in 31% of Fleaflicker Leagues

It's generally not advised to pick a guy up right after he's been sent down to Triple-A. In this case, it's unlikely that Michael Conforto will be stuck in the minors for very long. After a mighty April showed Conforto to be one of the hottest rookies in baseball, the kid from Seattle struggled desperately at the plate in May and June, fully earning the demotion. In July, he's been replaced by the less-threatening Brandon Nimmo. Nimmo has been serviceable in his time with the Mets, but does not hold the same long-term promise that Conforto does. Though he was swinging a hot bat at Triple-A Las Vegas before the call up, Nimmo has posted a meager .250/.313/.318 line in 14 Big League games and never really showed elite speed or power in any level of the minors. Meanwhile, Conforto has found his swing again back down in Vegas, evidenced by his .340/.411/.580 line with three long balls in just 13 games. Look for Conforto to earn a spot back in New York after the break and contribute for the remainder of the season. However, if Conforto continues his struggles against lefties, he will quickly be confined to a platoon role, albeit the better end of it.

Carlos Gomez, Houston Astros

Owned in 61% of Fleaflicker Leagues

Normally this list excludes any player with more than 50% ownership, but Carlos Gomez has earned a place here with half a season of despicable baseball. Many savvy owners have grown tired of his well below average batting numbers and have found suitable replacement-level talent on the waiver wire. After three consecutive seasons averaging more than 20 HR and 35 SB with Milwaukee from 2012-14, Gomez experienced a down year in 2015. Still, no one could have imagined what was coming in 2016. In 68 games this year, Gomez is sporting an atrocious .217/.282/.332 line with four homers and nine steals. If you spent a high draft pick on this guy and started him regularly throughout the first half, there's almost no chance your team is doing well right now. There's just no way Gomez can continue to swing the bat this poorly over the course of an entire season. Aside from a .304 slugging percentage in his rookie campaign, all of the numbers in his 2016 slash line are lower than any other year of his career. Although his season-long numbers may be too deprived to rescue, there's a good chance Gomez rebounds in some capacity to finish out the second half strong, or at least regress towards his career norms. Those are pretty strong, just so you know. If you have an extra spot on your bench, stash this guy until he (hopefully) finds his way again.

Joc Pederson, Los Angeles Dodgers

Owned in 46% of Fleaflicker Leagues

The All-Star break comes at a perfect time for Joc Pederson, as the young slugger is rehabbing a sprained shoulder sustained after a wall-crashing catch in centerfield against the Brewers on July 1. The one knock against Joc has always been a low batting average, which is steadily getting better with age. After posting a .210 figure in 2015, Pederson bumped it up to .236 before hitting the DL this year. Obviously, .236 is still not very good. However, Pederson is a master of getting on base via the walk. He was sixth among all qualified MLB hitters last year with a 15.7% walk rate, good for a .346 OBP on the year, a full 136 points higher than his average. If you're in a league that counts OBP (especially if it is instead of AVG) then the low average should be manageable, especially given Pederson's immense power. He hit 26 home runs last year and is on pace to repeat that figure this year with 13 before the break. In 2014, his last year with Triple-A Albuquerque, the young gun launched 33 dingers with 30 stolen bases to boot. As Pederson continues to gain MLB experience, the more power he will likely exhibit. He is poised for a big second half when he returns from injury and the odds say that his ownership will shoot up as soon as he shows hints of his true potential. Scoop him up before that happens.

David Peralta, Arizona Diamondbacks

Owned in 39% of Fleaflicker Leagues

David Peralta is a good hitter. You don't need me to tell you--just take a look at his career .294/.344/.484 line. Of course his career only consists of one full MLB season thus far. But that season was a doozy. He led the league with 10 triples, smacked 17 dongs, swiped nine bases and finished the year with a tremendous .312/.371/.522 line in 149 games. Somehow, he earned no official accolades from the stellar campaign and drifted into 2016 as one of the most underappreciated players in the game. He's had some bad luck this season healthwise, but appears poised for a healthy second half. After a lower back strain landed him on the DL back in June, Peralta aims to be back right after the break. There's not much else to say here, except that there is an excellent hitter, soon to be healthy, waiting to be adopted from the waiver wire by any owner with open arms and open eyes. There is the potential for 15 HR and 15 SB in the second half alone with a batting average above .300. What's not to like?

More Options: Curtis Granderson (55%), Cameron Maybin (54%), Josh Reddick (46%), Denard Span, 40%, Lonnie Chisenhall (32%), Randal Grichuk (25%), Max Kepler (24%), Seth Smith (17%), Peter Bourjos (11%), Hunter Renfroe (4%)

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