Normally, I would follow suit with other fantasy baseball writers and beg you not to come after me if my advice does not pan out, but this time I don't mind. Come after me and demand your $20 you spent on the draft back that you would have spent on pizza or baseball tickets.
I'm not saying you're going to win your league. However, if you can snatch some of these sleeper picks late in the draft, you'll have a better chance.
Before I introduce my list of valuable yet underrated players, let's define sleeper picks: These players can provide substantial value in a specific category and are oftentimes drafted in a later round than the players' potential upside dictates. I'm not advising you to draft them ahead of bonafide stars; instead, in middle-to-late rounds when the big names have left the pool, these picks have proven to be commodities.
Gerardo Parra, OF
Average draft position on Yahoo!: 184.6
Outfielder Gerardo Parra will most likely bat in the middle of the deep Rockies lineup and will surely benefit from the big bats of Carlos González and Nolan Arenado. That factor, along with Parra's .338 batting average over the last three seasons at Coors Field, makes him a viable choice as early as the 12th or 13th round.
Trevor Story, SS
Average draft position on Yahoo!: 230
Exceptional rookie shortstop Trevor Story is currently tearing up Spring Training with a .378 batting average and six home runs. Although Spring Training statistics should not be considered so highly, these statistics are indicative of a player on a hot streak and feeling confident heading into the season. The mental factors along with his procurement of a starting job in the hitter-friendly ballpark are why I'm drafting him in the last few rounds.
Additionally, with shortstop Jose Reyes' upcoming trial for allegations of domestic abuse and his injury history, Story is a solid insurance option.
Maikel Franco, 3B
Average draft position on Yahoo!: 127.8
Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco is a power machine. In his rookie season he hit 14 home runs and 50 RBI in only 304 at-bats. Expect the power numbers to balloon in his first full season at the major league level. You can grab him between the 11th or 14th round, and I'd be comfortable taking him as early as the eighth.
Yunel Escobar, 3B
Average draft position on Yahoo!: Not in the top 250
Angels shortstop Yunel Escobar is not getting the attention he deserves. Coming off of a healthy 2015 campaign in which he hit for a .314 average and scored 75 runs, he should continue the same type of production. Additionally, the presence of Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Kole Calhoun sitting behind him in the lineup will increase his runs total.
Starlin Castro, 2B/SS (in Yahoo! leagues)
Average draft position on Yahoo!: 192.8
Another player seemingly lost in the shuffle is Yankee second baseman Starlin Castro, who is also eligible at shortstop in Yahoo leagues. With his position versatility and movement to a hitter friendly ballpark in Yankee stadium, Castro is a high-value pick in the later rounds of the draft.
In the interest of moving on to pitchers, I will honorably mention a few other hitters to look for in the later rounds. These batters include Cardinals outfielder Randal Grichuk (176.5), A's outfielder Billy Burns (162.1), Twins first baseman Byung-Ho Park (224.2), and Giants third baseman Matt Duffy (167.4), who is also eligible at second base in Yahoo leagues.
Andrew Heaney, SP
Average draft position on Yahoo!: Not in top 250
Angels pitcher Andrew Heaney is heading into his age 25 season after posting a 6-4 record with a 3.49 ERA last season. He should continue to develop for an Angels team with solid defense behind him. He is often going undrafted, so do not hesitate to grab him in one of the final rounds for a low-risk, decent-sized reward bench spot.
Johnny Cueto, SP
Average draft position on Yahoo!: 70
Although Johnny Cueto may not be a "sleeper" per say, I still think he is being drafted a little too late, around the 6th - 8th round. I would not be surprised if he returns to ace form in pitcher friendly AT&T Park and returning to the National League — in his final four-and-a-half years on the Reds, he threw no higher than a 2.82.
Jason Hammel, SP
Average draft position on Yahoo!: 194.5
Cubs starting pitcher Jason Hammel is a candidate to have a strong season with a lot of wins thanks to the Cubs' star-studded offense. Cubs batters should provide plenty of runs for Hammel this season resulting in possibly a plethora of wins. Although his ERA last year was not pretty (3.74), the wins and strikeout potential are what he should be drafted for.
Honorable mentions include Angels starter Hector Santiago (NR), White Sox starter Carlos Rodon (141.9), Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija (147), Brewers closer Jeremy Jeffress (232.2, just grabbed the closer role), A's closer Sean Doolittle (177.6), and Yankees starter (although I usually avoid AL East pitchers) Luis Severino (202.4).
The aforementioned players can provide solid value in later rounds of the draft. Remember to go for the biggest value possible in later rounds, and do not shy away from young players who have displayed huge potential. Remember, even Mike Trout, who hit just .220 in his short 2011 campaign, didn't take off immediately.
Related links:
Online gambling on fantasy sports a dangerous habit for college students
Staying sane in the crazy realm of fantasy football
Reach the reporter at Graham.Paul@asu.edu or follow @GrahamASUpress on Twitter.
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