It is crunch time for fantasy baseball drafts as Spring Training is now in full swing and the regular season is mere weeks away from opening day. If you are doing your research, which you should be, then the top rated fantasy players in the American League Central should be second nature to you. The names like Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Joe Mauer and Josh Willingham are atop every perspective fantasy GM’s draft day wish list.
Fantasy baseball is an easy draft to partake in, at least for the first five rounds; as by then the top fifty or so players are off the board and each team in the league has one or two representatives. If you are playing in a deeper league of say 12 GM’s and 20 rounds then you had better have an idea of who you are going to be looking at with that 240th pick.
This is eDraft’s fantasy sleeper guide and we are continuing our analysis of potential fantasy sleepers and draft day bargains as we move on to the American League East. From the East division we are focusing on the lesser-known and undervalued players whom you can look at grabbing in those later rounds while your co-general manager’s are struggling to find serviceable fantasy options.
Here are ten position players worthy of draft day consideration. Stay tuned to eDraft for fantasy pitchers from throughout the National League and American League. To check out eDraft’s division by division fantasy sleeper analysis click on each division and draft away. NL East, NL Central, NL West, AL East and AL West.
Eric Hosmer - First Base, Kansas City Royals
The sophomore slump struck Eric Hosmer last season as his numbers fell across the board. There is no reason to think that Hosmer can’t regain the stroke and approach that he had in his rookie campaign. With all this kids talent (he’s still only 23 years old) he should rebound nicely to become the feared bat in the middle of the Royals lineup again. Hosmer should rank in or near the top-five AL first baseman, while he is no Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder; Hosmer will still post some solid numbers. It is unlikely that Hosmer will survive on draft boards past the tenth round, but anywhere around there would be a steal of a pick. Consider taking him earlier in the draft as this kids potential is sky high.
Lorenzo Cain - Outfield, Kansas City Royals
Lorenzo Cain did not have the season people were expecting last season due in large part to injuries that forced him to miss all but 61 games on the year. This season Cain once again projects as the Royals everyday centerfielder and so long as he stays healthy he will see 450-plus at-bats. Cain doesn’t have much pop in his bat as 10 projected homeruns is his ceiling, he should produce with 50-plus RBI and 60-plus runs scored while hitting around .270 on the season. Cain is a savvy base stealer as he doesn’t run too often but his success rate is high; expect 16-plus stolen bases out of him for the season. Cain has value in deep leagues only as the outfield is ultra-competitive in terms of fantasy positions.
Alcides Escobar – Short Stop, Kansas City Royals
Alcides Escobar is an under-valued everyday shortstop for the Royals. What he lacks in power he makes up for with his speed on the bases. While he isn’t going to knock out many homers (be happy with five at the most), he has the potential to swipe 30-plus bags on the year. Last season he put up a slash line of .292/.331/.390 to go along with 35 steals, 52 RBI and 68 runs scored. Baseball draft sites seem unsure how to gauge his value as he is all over the board ranging from $2 to $12. Escobar is a top eight fantasy option at the position yet he could probably be had near the 15th round in most drafts.
Mike Moustakas - Third Base, Kansas City Royals
Mike Moustakas is poised for a breakout year this season after last season’s sophomore struggle. Despite hitting 20 homeruns with 73 RBI and a slash line of .241/.298/.412; many people expected more given his gaudy Triple-A numbers in 2010. It isn’t likely that fantasy owners will see a 36 homerun season; however 20-plus is reasonable to go along with 70-plus RBI and runs scored. Moustakas needs to cut down on his strikeouts and raise his batting average about 30 points all the while keeping his OPB over .300 and the SLG around .420. Moustakas is very capable of posting these kind of numbers and because of that potential he would make a tremendous value pick around the 12th round, anything later than that and consider it a steal.
Jason Kipnis - Second Baseman, Cleveland Indians
This second-year player for the Indians is creating a lot of fantasy buzz as general managers are banking on a successful 2013 campaign. The reason for such optimism is that the 2012 season was a revelation for Kipnis as he hit 14 homeruns, had 31 stolen bases and chipped in with 76 RBI and 86 runs scored. The legitimate potential is here for a 20/20 season as Kipnis has the pop in his bat and has the speed on the base paths. A decent hitter who projects to hit around .270, he will be seeing time in the three hole batting ahead of Nick Swisher and Carlos Santana. Entering only his second-year, Kipnis has shown he is a top-five AL fantasy option at the position. Expect Kipnis to be off the board by the end of the fifth round at the latest. If by some fluke you see him anywhere after your fifth pick he is an absolute no-brainer for your next selection.
Lonnie Chisenhall - Third Base, Cleveland Indians
Jason Kipnis is not the only Cleveland Indian who is generating some fantasy-buzz. Starting third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall is creating a stir as he is poised to open the season with the big club and get the majority of the playing time at the hot-corner. I’ve said it before and I’ll reiterate it here; I put zero stock in spring ball stats, having said that Chisenhall is tearing the cover off the ball this spring with the biggest improvement coming in his bat-speed at the plate. I’d only consider Chisenhall in AL only formats as his power numbers don’t project well and his average is very pedestrian. A deep league value pick in the latest of rounds and a decent gamble in keeper leagues.
Ryan Doumit - Minnesota Twins
Ryan Doumit showed some fantasy worth last season as he filled in admirably for the injured Joe Mauer. Doumit had a decent season with 18 homeruns, 75 RBI and a slash line of .274/.325/.460. This season Doumit will likely see time at DH, catcher and maybe even some outfield. I don’t envision a similarly successful season for Doumit in 2013 as his power numbers are likely to take a dip due to the irregular playing time. Not a bad pick in late rounds due to his position eligibility.
Aaron Hicks – Centerfielder, Minnesota Twins
Aaron Hicks has exactly zero major league experience, he also hasn’t played a day of ball above Double-A. That being said it is quite likely that Hicks opens the season as the Twins starting centerfielder. His play has impressed manager Ron Gardenhire enough to seriously consider putting the 23 year-old rookies out there come opening day. With regular playing time Hicks becomes a nice sleeper pick. It is difficult to project stats for him as he hasn’t really faced any major league talent outside of spring training. If you have the space on your roster and can afford the luxury of it, Hicks would make a nice draft and stash player in keeper leagues. His true fantasy worth is probably a couple seasons away and you will look like a genius by picking him up now.
Tyler Flowers – Catcher, Chicago White Sox
As a part-time player last season, Flowers got only 136 at-bats on the year. Despite the limited playing time he still cranked out 7 homeruns and drove in 13 RBI. This season Flowers figures to be the everyday starting catcher and he should get closer to 450 at-bats on the year. Project out his numbers and he seems capable of a 15-plus homerun, 45-plus RBI season. Like most catchers, Flowers doesn’t hit for a great average and his OBP is also on the low side; however, he should post a decent slugging percentage. One could easily take Flowers at or near the end of the draft, a solid investment on an everyday player who just might surprise a few folks throughout the season.
Honorable Mentions
Johnny Giavotella – Second Base, Kansas City Royals
In two season of major league experience, Johnny Giavotella was never in the running for a starting role on the club. This season he figures to be in the running for the starting gig at second base. Giavotella is probably the underdog to Chris Getz; however he could still stick with the big club for the season as a utility infielder and spot-starter. Like most young second baseman, Giavotella lacks any real homerun power; however, what he can do is hit for a solid average and get on base. Two consecutive seasons at Double-A and Triple-A have shown that Giavotella can wield the stick as he hit over .322 each season. It remains to be seen as to whom will get the starting nod at the position, if Giavotella wins out he would make a solid sleeper pick in one of the late rounds.