Fantasy: 5 rookies/prospects to target in 2019
With spring training underway and draft days quickly approaching, here are five rookies and/or prospects to target for the 2019 fantasy baseball season.
(Average draft positions as of Feb. 24, courtesy of FantasyPros)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - Blue Jays - 3B - ADP 46
MLB's top prospect and Blue Jays third baseman of the future, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., has nothing left to prove in the minors after he dominated opposing competition to the tune of a .381/.437/.636 slash line across multiple levels last season. Despite the expectation Toronto will hold back the 19-year-old's big-league debut to manipulate his service time, Steamer projects Vladdy to hit .306/.368/.511 with 22 home runs and 78 RBIs over 124 games - numbers certainly worth rolling the dice on. Don't wait too long to grab him as he's likely to be gone by the fourth round.
Victor Robles - Nationals - OF - ADP 125
With Bryce Harper increasingly likely to sign elsewhere, a spot in the Nationals' outfield is open for Victor Robles, MLB's No. 4-ranked prospect. Washington is hoping Robles can catch fire in his first year like Juan Soto did last season, becoming a fantasy owner's dream. Steamer doesn't project Robles to do as well as Soto did at the plate (.274/.335/.417, 12 HRs, 59 RBIs), but the base-stealing potential gives the 21-year-old added fantasy value. He's worth checking out in the ninth or 10th round.
Eloy Jimenez - White Sox - OF - ADP 151
There is no timetable for Eloy Jimenez's big-league arrival as the White Sox do the service-time dance with their 22-year-old top prospect. When he does reach the majors though, expect him to do some damage. He raked in the minors last season, combining to hit .337/.384/.577 with 22 homers and 75 RBIs in 108 games. Steamer is projecting Jimenez to hit more homers (24) and drive in more runs (81) than Guerrero, although he is projected to strike out a lot more. He's worth taking a chance on and stashing on your bench if available in the 10th round or later.
Yusei Kikuchi - Mariners - SP - ADP 194
The Mariners' big offseason addition, Yusei Kikuchi, is a seasoned rookie at 27 years old, having spent the past eight years in Japan. While his numbers overseas were brilliant at times (2.35 ERA, 10.4 K/9 in 2017) it's tough to predict how well a Japanese pitcher will do through his first season in the big leagues. Additionally, Kikuchi suffered from shoulder problems last season, which affected his stuff and numbers. Steamer projects he'll be an average starter (eight wins, 143 Ks in 143 IP) who's worth taking a flier on in the 13th round or later if you need to fill the position.
Danny Jansen - Blue Jays - C - ADP 209
Offensive catchers are hard to find in fantasy, which makes Blue Jays backstop Danny Jansen an intriguing player to keep an eye on. With Toronto's rebuild in effect and Russell Martin shipped out of town, Jansen is expected to get plenty of reps behind the plate. Steamer projects 12 home runs, 46 RBIs, and 47 runs for the 23-year-old, which would have made him a top-12 offensive catcher in baseball last season. If you're willing to wait for a catcher, Jansen could probably be had as late as the 16th or 17th round.
Honorable mention:
Nick Senzel - Reds - 3B - ADP 224
Josh James - Astros - SP - ADP 239
Francisco Mejia - Padres - C - ADP 263
Jesus Luzardo - Athletics - SP - ADP 365