Every year there are players who you wouldn’t expect to make an impact on a baseball team, that come out of nowhere and provide fantasy value. Sometimes this player may just be running into a hot month, but other times, gems are discovered that continue to make a difference for the rest of the season.
Every season tons of teams make sign an unknown player or make a call up of an unknown name who in turn becomes a gem but not all fantasy players are aware of these players until it’s too late. This often happens on small market teams that don’t get a ton of coverage. However you want the edge in your fantasy league it is paramount that you are able to identify and scoop up some of these players before the rest of your league does. You don’t want to be the guy that misses out on last seasons Charlie Blackmon, Alex Wood or Kole Calhoun so be sure to keep these players on your scout team and remain ahead of the curve.
A.L. East
1) Rob Refsnyder, Second Base, New York Yankees
The Yankees have a lot of prospect talent in the outfield and catcher positions but those spots are all essentially locked in already for next year. That is what makes Refsnyder an intriguing option. He will probably start the season behind Stephen Drew but if he struggles Refsnyder is likely the next man in line. He showed the ability to bat for a high average at all levels of the minor leagues and could score a decent number of runs in a Yankees lineup that if healthy should be much more productive that last season.
2) Christian Walker, First Base, Baltimore Orioles
Walker managed to make it briefly to the orioles roster last September but should have a good shot at retaining a spot this year. Slugger Chris Davis struggled mightily last year which could have him relegated to designated hitter duties paving the way for Walker to make his impact. He showed pop last year in the minors by hitting 26 homers with 25 homeruns while also batting .288.
3) Dalton Pompey, Outfield, Toronto Blue Jays
Pompey is only 22 but already received a small sampling of the big league life last year when September call-ups rolled around. While he only batted .231 he only had 39 at bats. Pompey should the ability to hit for an average in the minors last year where he batted over .300 before his call-up. His biggest attribute is speed however with 113 steals to only 20 caught stealing. If Pompey starts out on the major league roster will likely be a great late round steals provider.
4) Rusney Castillo, Outfield, Boston Red Sox
Castillo is one of the few players on this list who is almost guaranteed a starting roster spot right out of the gate next season. He played in only 10 games last year but was very good batting .333 with two homeruns, six runs and RBI and three steals. Castillo is only 27 and if he stays healthy he could be a special player for the Red Sox next year.
5) Alex Colome, Starting Pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays
Colome has spent a ton of time in the minors, racking up nearly 700 innings. This however is likely the year where he finally sticks to the major league roster. He has pitched each of the last two seasons to good success. He’s not a strikeout artist and needs to limit the walks but on Rays teams who’s top prospects are still a year or more away Colome needs to step up and fill one of the voids on that roster.
A.L Central
1) Tyler Collins, Outfield, Detroit Tigers
Collins certainly isn’t a threat to win any batting titles as he’s only a .270 hitter, however the power he provides is legitimate. The last two seasons in the minors Collins has hit 49 homeruns and is making a strong case to stick with the Tigers next season.
2) Danny Salazar, Starting Pitcher, Cleveland Indians
Salazar finally managed to make it the big leagues last season and stick around. He ended up with 110 innings pitched with over a strikeout per inning, but had an ERA over 4.00. Salazar ahs dynamic stuff and is always going to be beneficial in the strikeout category for fantasy. If Salazar can start to get better command of the strike zone he could wind up really breaking through this year.
3) Kris Medlen, Starting Pitcher, Kansas City Royals
A forgotten man after he underwent his second career Tommy John surgery, the Royals managed to sign him to a friendly team contract. While he may not be on the team right away as he finishes rehabbing from the surgery Medlen could end up being an ace on the Royals rotation in the second half of the season. Medlen was one of the top pitchers in the National League prior to his injury and as a man who has already overcame the surgery once I believe he can come back a second time and regain his former glory.
4) Avisail Garcia, Outfield White Sox
Garcia has yet to even play half a season in the majors but has been a solid contributor when healthy. Garcia will only be 24 this season and after spending the offseason recovering from injury he will look to come to spring training in great shape and ready to make an impact. Garcia has the ability to be a near .300 hitter with 20-25 homerun potential, with the only thing holding him back being his health.
5) Jose Berrios, Starting Pitcher, Minnesota Twins
The Twins who are in desperate need of pitching are likely to promote Berrios to their rotation in 2015. Berrios posted good numbers in the minors with a career 3.05 ERA and a better than strikeout per innings strikeout rate. In the monster ballpark that is Target Field Berrios could find himself fairly successful in his first season. Even though he is only 21 he has already pitched as high as AAA and after the disaster that was the Wins rotation last year it seems probably that Berrios makes the roster sooner than later.
A.L. West
1) Jesse Hahn, Starting Pitcher, Oakland Athletics
In year one of being an Oakland A Hahn should have little trouble converting to the American League. In 73 innings last season Hahn was very good for the Padres posting an ERA just above 3.00 and striking out nearly a batter an inning. Hahn will be pitching a lot of his games in a big home ball park just like he had in San Diego. If there is one concern with Hahn it is that he walks too many batter averaging 3.9 BB/9. If he can limit the walks he will surely find success in his first year in Oakland.
2) Joey Gallo, Third Base, Texas Rangers
If Gallo does indeed make it to the major league team this year he may wind up being the best prospect called up all season. He has remarkable power which he displayed last year when he belted 42 homeruns. Strikeouts are a definite concern for him as he racked up 179 of them but still managed to bat .271. If he gets better control of the strike zone and limits those strikeout numbers there is no telling what this kind might be able to do in that small ball in Texas.
3) Andrew Heaney, Starting Pitcher, Los Angeles Angels
Even though Heaney’s first season in the majors was essentially a fail he still has tons of talent. Heaney is a great strike thrower who also has a strong groundout to fly-out ratio 1.22. Heaney has impressive command for someone his age and had a strikeout ratio 9.1. He doesn’t have the most overpowering stuff but as a left handed pitcher with a deceptive delivery there is potential here for Heaney to breakout this year.
4) George Springer, Outfield, Houston Astros
Springer was on his way to having a breakout season last year before injuries derail this season. Springer only appeared in 78 games and only batted .231 but he showed his great eye and power while hitting 20 homeruns and owning an OBP of .336. The frightening take from last year are the 114 strikeouts. If he is able to cut down on the strikeouts (although in a significant way) he has a chance of being a very well rounded player who can bat for at least a respectable average and speed with tons of power upside.
5) James Paxton, Starting Pitcher, Seattle Mariners
In two seasons in the majors Paxton has only accumulated 98 innings pitched. However in those 98 innings has been a successful pitcher. He owns a 2.66 ERA and has only allowed five homeruns. He only averages 7.3 K/9 for his career but if he can manage to stay healthy this season Paxton could be a legitimate force behind ace Felix Hernandez.