Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers 2010 - Hitters

A few days ago, we analyzed the 2010 fantasylate season chance this year with the A's. He
baseball pitcher sleepers to watch in 2010. Today,hit.293 with 20 homers and 63 RBI in 2009 at
we take a look at the more important side of thethree minor league stops. Wallace is easy to
equation - fantasy baseball hitters sleepers.recognize; he's a big pear-shaped guy. He won't be
Unless you like to mortgage the present for thewith the Jays until 2011.
future, or play in a deep keeper league, most ofJ.P. Arencibia, Blue Jays, C -- J.P. Arencibia will have
us don't want to pick sleepers who won't be up into wait his time behind John Buck and Jose Molina
the majors until September. Hence, the playersin Toronto. Arencibia had a good year at Las
you see in all italics below will be definites forVegas last year with 21 homers and 75 RBI. The
starting the 2010 fantasy baseball season in theJays picked him in the first round of the 2007
majors and with starting roles. Keep your eyes ondraft. With his power, he'll likely get a call-up
these guys as your 2010 fantasy baseball draftsometime in 2010.
comes closer to see if they are going to stick inDesmond Jennings, Rays, OF -- Desmond Jennings
the bigs to start the season.had a super '09 season in the minors with a
Austin Jackson, Tigers, OF -- Jackson will get acombined.318 average,.401 on base, and 52 stolen
chance to show his stuff early as a starter forbases in 59 attempts. Tampa Bay has already
the Detroit Tigers. He's the key player in thesent Jennings back to Triple-A to start the
trade that sent Curtis Granderson to theseason. The Rays, however, have built a team
Yankees. Jackson rose through Double-A andthat can compete with the big money Yankees
Triple-A last year with a.285 and.300 average withand Red Sox on a shoestring budget so Jennings
43 stolen bases. If you are looking for steals,could get his chance with the Rays this year.
Jackson could be a nice late round addition inScott Sizemore, Tigers, 2B -- Scott Sizemore is
mixed leagues.coming off of a serious injury from the Arizona
Jason Heyward, Braves, OF -- Heyward isFall League, but is ready to go. At 25, he's one of
regarded as the #1 newcomer in the 2010the oldest member of our newcomer sleeper
season. In fact, many have Heyward rankedteam. Sizemore was.308 with 17 homers and 21
ahead of fireballer Stephen Strasburg. He's astolen bases in the minors last year. Sizemore will
prototypical right fielder with a great on-basebe the starting second baseman on opening day
percentage of.408 last year. Many regardfor the Tigers this year.
Heyward as having all-star upside to carry on hisJustin Smoak, Rangers, 1B -- Justin Smoak is a
6' 5", 240 pound frame. He's certainly got off to aswitch hitter with adequate power. Smoak hit.290
great start going 8-18 with 6 walks.with a.410 on-base percentage last year in the
Buster Posey, Giants, C -- A preseason favoriteminors. His defense is outstanding, even if he
to join BallparkBob's All Name Team, Busterdoesn't have the pop that many first basemen
Posey will be a backstop for the Giants this year,can deliver. Smoak will likely start the year in the
although he'll likely share the job with Bengieminors and be a late season call up.
Molina. Eli Whiteside was Molina's backup last yearChris Carter, Athletics, 1B -- Chris Carter is a
but with a.244 lifetime average, he won't stickpower hitter who hit 64 homeruns over the past
long with Posey biting at his heels.two seasons. Carter was the MVP of the Texas
Carlos Santana, Indians, C -- Another lock for theLeague last year, as he added a.337 batting
All Name Team, Santana dominated pitchers lastaverage. Carter has played mostly first base in his
year at Double-A Akron, whacking 23 homerscareer, but he could get a shot as DH or in left
with 97 RBI and a.290 batting average. He's also afield this year. When the Athletics traded Brett
great contact hitter with more walks thanWallace, they were clearly giving Carter the nod
strikeouts last year. Lou Marson, acquired fromas their future. Carter may push Daric Barton for
the Phillies, is still the starter, but expect Santanathe starting first base job, but more than likely
to get to the Show late in 2010 and be thehe'll have some more time in the minors for
starter in 2011 if he can improve his defense.seasoning.
Alcides Escobar, Brewers, SS -- When theMichael Saunders, Mariners, OF -- Michael Saunders
Brewers traded J. J. Hardy to the Twins, it wasentered the 2009 season after shoulder surgery,
clear that Escobar was at the top of the depthstarted in Triple-A, and made it to the majors in
chart. No doubt, Alcides Escobar will beJuly. The Canadian will likely be the fourth
Milwaukee's opening day starter. Escobar stole 42outfielder in the Mariners rotation.
bases at Triple-A last year and 4 during a briefDavid Freese, Cardinals, 3B -- David Freese
appearance in September with the Brew Crew.started the year with the Cardinals, but was
He hit.298 last year, but won't help you any in thequickly sent down. Freese, 27, hit.313 with 12
power department. He'll hit at the tail end of thehomers and just 1 steal last year in the minors.
Brewers lineup this year, but could move up in theIt's important that Freese perform well in spring
future if he improves that on base percentage. Iftraining to earn the third baseman job that
he struggles at the plate, his glove will keep him inmanager Tony LaRussa has said is his club's
the Milwaukee lineup.biggest need for 2010. Expect Freese to hold on
Brett Wallace, Blue Jays, 1B -- Brett Wallace, theto the job, but he may be on a short leash if he
key player in the Matt Holiday trade, and thendoesn't perform quickly as the Cards also have
ironically also in the Roy Halladay deal, will get aAllen Craig waiting in Triple-A.