We continue our tour around the diamond when it comes to fantasy baseball sleepers with a stop at second base. We’ve already highlighted our favorite catchers and first base options when it comes to 2024 sleepers in previous editions of this series.
Now we enter another position, like catcher, that should be waited on in drafts. I’ve talked about it several times already in this series when it comes to the importance of fantasy baseball positions. There are positions more important than others in finding a top end guy. Second base is not one of them and that’s where this article comes into play.
Use your earlier selections of positions such as first base, third base, the outfield and pitching. There is a ton of value to be found in the later rounds when it comes to positions such as second base.
Each year I do this sleeper series, offering my favorite sleepers per position leading up to draft season. Typically per position I will offer my three favorites, while offering five sleepers for the outfield, starting and relief pitchers.
You can find the other editions of this series below:
Brandon Drury (Los Angeles Angels)
ADP: 235th
Position: 24th
2023 Stats: 523 BA, .262 BA, 26 HR, 83 RBI, 61 R, 0 SB & 136 SO
2024 Projections: 518 PA, .262 BA, 24 HR, 78 RBI, 67 R, 3 SB & 124 SO
When it comes to sleepers, finding those that will have plenty of opportunities in terms of plate appearances is a plus. Finding those established guys with great draft value is tough when it comes to sleepers but that’s what we have in Drury. If you’re lacking power numbers on your roster heading into the back end of your drafts, don’t worry because Drury is there. He has posted back-to-back seasons of 28 and 26 homers respectively. He’s topped 83 RBIs in both of those seasons as well. He’s inline for another 25-ish homerun season with 80 RBIs. It’s hard enough to find power stats late in drafts, let alone at a position like second base. He’s currently being drafted in the 19th round of 12-man leagues.
Jorge Polanco (Seattle Mariners)
ADP: 240th
Position: 25th
2023 Stats: 343 PA, .255 BA, 14 HR, 48 RBI, 38 R, 4 SB & 88 SO
2024 Projections: 416 PA, .254 BA, 17 HR, 57 RBI, 53 R, 6 SB & 91 SO
Polanco will be playing for the first time in his 11 year career for a team that isn’t the Minnesota Twins. Now in Seattle, the biggest question mark for Polanco remains if he can stay healthy. These are the types of players that as sleepers, we have to take a swing at. If Polanco can stay healthy, he has a real chance to finish as a top 12, heck even a top ten, second baseman in fantasy baseball. He was on pace to hit for 25 homers and 84 RBIs a season ago if he were to have played 140 games. Sure those numbers won’t match up now playing in one of the least hitter friendly ballparks in T-Mobile Park but the potential is still there. Like Drury, finding power numbers this late in drafts is rare. He’s currently being drafted in the 20th round of 12-man leagues.
Willi Castro (Minnesota Twins)
ADP: 309th
Position: 33rd
2023 Stats: 409 BA, .257 BA, 9 HR, 34 RBI, 60 R, 33 SB & 99 SO
2024 Projections: 444 BA, .248 BA, 11 HR, 41 RBI, 59 R, 20 SB & 100 SO
Steals are one of the hardest categories to come by when it comes to fantasy baseball category leagues. What we typically look for when it comes to middle infielders is the ability to swipe a few bags. That’s what Castro offers as he stole 33 bases a season ago and is projected to do 20-plus again this season. Castro also offers a batting average that isn’t going to sink your lineups as well as oftentimes, elite base stealers can do. Now, Castro is not technically a starter but finished third on the Twins in plate appearances a season ago. He can play anywhere on the diamond and proved that a season ago. It will take some luck on Castro’s end to see 120-games again, but the Twins have to get him involved. He’ll be eligible in nearly every position when it comes to fantasy baseball as well. This is a selection for deeper leagues, but the risk-reward is massive.
*All stats and projections were provided by Baseball Reference
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