10 late-round AL-only fantasy gems

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Hitting on your sleeper picks is a major part of any fantasy format - especially in league-specific formats. The talent pool is already reduced to 15 teams, forcing you to take a gamble on forgotten veterans, untested prospects, bounce-back candidates and bench platooners.

Here are 10 players - one for each position - worth taking a shot at late in your AL-only drafts:

C Mike Zunino, Mariners

Zunino is being drafted as the 12th catcher off the board in AL-only leagues. The Mariners' backstop clubbed 12 home runs in just 192 plate appearances in 2016. Only five AL catchers hit 20-plus homers last season, and if Zunino can just keep his OBP above .300, he should see enough plate appearances to join that club. He won't hit for contact, but he doesn't really need to.

1B Joe Mauer, Twins

If Mauer maintains an OBP north of .360 while hitting second or third in the order, a 60-run, 60-RBI season is his baseline; that's what he has managed with sub-par talent around him since 2013. The real question is whether up-and-comers Miguel Sano, Max Kepler and Byron Buxton, as well as stalwart Brian Dozier, can break out as a team, bolstering Mauer's production.

2B Whit Merrifield, Royals

Even if Merrifield doesn't improve on his 81-game rookie season stats - a .283 batting average, 44 runs and eight stolen bases - those numbers stretched over 150-plus games translate to an above average fantasy player. He should win the starting 2B job over talented but raw Raul Mondesi and will push Alcides Escobar for leadoff duties.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

3B Joey Gallo, Rangers

Gallo is blocked at 3B by Adrian Beltre but could emerge as a dark horse candidate for a 1B/DH role. His prodigious power comes with strikeout warts but if he can finally put the full package together, Gallo will easily hit 30-plus HRs - and maybe more. Even if he starts the season at Triple-A, taking a flier on Gallo is relatively low risk with an potentially high reward.

SS Jose Iglesias, Tigers

You do not want to wait long on SS in AL-only formats. But if you do - and wind up with Iglesias, you get a batter who was an All-Star as recently as 2015 when he hit .300 with 11 SBs in 120 games. You'll be in tough if he's your primary option, but you can pair him with another late SS pick like Marcus Semien and pray that one of them pans out.

LF Robbie Grossman, Twins

Twins OF Eddie Rosario hit a major-league-leading 15 triples as a rookie in 2015 but took a step back last year, playing much of the season at Triple-A. Grossman posted a .386 OBP in 99 games in Rosario's absence. If Rosario continues to struggles with plate discipline, you just might see Grossman manning left field while Rosario percolates in the minors.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

CF Mallex Smith, Rays

Smith stole 16 bases in 72 games last season for the Braves. He hit a disproportionate number of ground balls last year, but has the type of elite speed that will help him leg out infield hits. With Kevin Kiermaier manning center field, expect Smith to be moved to one of the corners. If he makes some natural progress at the plate, he could wind up with 30-plus SBs.

RF Steven Moya, Tigers

He's an outfield injury away from an everyday role in the majors, but like Gallo, Moya can crush balls into the bleachers. Also like Gallo, he has struck out far too often at the major league level (37.6% of his 133 PAs). J.D. Martinez has missed 30-plus games in two of three seasons in Detroit; if his injury concerns come into play before Opening Day, Moya will be worth a late-round flier.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

SP Yovani Gallardo, Mariners

Gallardo is in play for the final spot in Seattle's rotation and could be a solid asset, even though his worth is measured in quantity rather than quality. Prior to last year's 118-inning dud in Baltimore, Gallardo had pitched 184 or more innings in seven straight seasons - all of them in hitter's parks. He'll lack in Ks, but 175 innings, 10 wins and a 3.75 ERA is realistic if he stays healthy.

RP Joakim Soria, Royals

Soria was an effective middle reliever in his first season back in Kansas City since 2011, striking out 68 batters in 66 2/3 innings. His 4.05 ERA was the worst of his career, but he compiled a 2.99 ERA over the three seasons prior. He was the Royals' closer in the first two years of manager Ned Yost's tenure in Kansas City, so if Kelvin Herrera stumbles, Soria could return to the role.