X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Hitter Sleepers at Each Position for Fantasy Baseball Drafts (2024)

Christopher Morel - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, MLB Injury News

Joey Pollizze identifies the best fantasy baseball hitter sleepers at each position in 2024. Some of these players are draft day values at their current ADP.

A sleeper in fantasy can mean a lot of different things. It can mean a player who is undervalued in drafts, or it can mean a player who is going super late in drafts that you take a flier on. Either way, though, it's a player you take a chance on later in your draft.

This article will discuss one hitter sleeper at each position you should target in 2024 fantasy baseball drafts. All of these players on this list are going somewhere in the back half of the draft, so it won't cost much to select them.

Some of these names will be more out there, while others will be young players that could be in store for a big season. So, let's dive in and look at who the best hitter sleepers are at catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, outfield, and designated hitter.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

First Base Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

Nathaniel Lowe, Texas Rangers

It came down to Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino and Texas Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for this sleeper spot. But, I decided to go with the latter, given his later ADP and his possible opportunities in a much better offense. Lowe's current average ADP is 182, which means he is likely going somewhere between the 16th to 18th rounds, depending on your league size.

That seems extremely low for a hitter who not only bats behind Marcus Semien and Corey Seager but has also been a consistent fantasy option over the past three years. Last season, Lowe hit .262 at the plate with 17 HRs, 82 RBI, 38 doubles, 89 runs scored, and 93 walks. His RBI, doubles, runs scored, and walks were all career-highs. On top of that, the first baseman played in 161 contests, marking the third straight season he has played over 156 games.

Lowe remains a key contributor to this Rangers offense and hit third in the order in 144 of 161 games last season. With Semien and Seager hitting one and two, the first baseman should continue to see more RBI chances in 2024. He also hit 27 HRs just two years ago, so the power could even out for him this year. We could see him hit somewhere between 22-25 HRs.

 

Second Base Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

Zack Gelof, Oakland Athletics

Oakland A's second baseman Zack Gelof is the next player to make this list after a strong 2023 rookie season. It's a small size for Gelof, who appeared in just 69 games with the A's last year. But in those games, he showed his potential and broke records that stood for over three decades.

One of the franchise records that he broke was the fastest to 10 HRs in A's history. That previous record was held by Mark McGwire after he launched 10 HRs in just 41 games between the 1986 and 1987 seasons. But Gelof winded up hitting his 10th home run in just the 35th game of his young career. The young second baseman finished the year with a .267 batting average, 14 HRs, 32 RBI, 20 doubles, and 14 stolen bases.

It might be a small sample size; however, the rookie did a little bit of everything in his first year. That production will be big for fantasy managers who take a chance on the 23-year-old. With his ADP well into the 13th round, the A's second baseman is worth the risk because of his upside at the position.

 

Shortstop Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

Jackson Holliday, Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Jackson Holliday is a player you might have to stash, assuming he doesn't make the team's Opening Day roster. If he does, though, his ADP will likely skyrocket. But for now, MLB Pipeline's number one prospect currently has an ADP in the 17th to 19th round.

It remains to be seen if Holliday winds up starting the season with the Orioles' MLB roster. However, the expectation is that he will eventually be a part of the club this season. Stashing the top prospect in baseball and the former 2022 first-round pick could be extremely important in becoming a fantasy baseball champion. The 20-year-old shortstop hit .323 with 12 HRs, 75 RBI, 30 doubles, and 24 stolen bases across four levels in the minors last season.

Holliday can do it all, and he'll be extremely valuable in all formats -- when he does make his MLB debut. Rookies tend to have their struggles at the plate, but they also have huge upside in fantasy. Just look at Elly De La Cruz with the Reds last year.

 

Third Base Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies third basemen Alec Bohm is coming off his best fantasy and MLB season last year. Bohm hit 20 HRs with 97 RBI and 31 doubles behind a solid .274 average. His expected batting average (.290) also landed him in the top 7% of the league last year, according to Baseball Savant. 

It was nice to see Bohm showcase his power at the plate last year after only hitting 13 in 2022. His 20 home runs, 31 doubles, and 97 RBI were all career-highs, and the 27-year-old has now driven in 169 runs over the past two seasons. Those kinds of numbers will be helpful in both roto and points leagues.

A lot went right for Bohm in his first year. If he can replicate that success in 2024, fantasy managers should be happy enough with that production, considering his ADP. The Phillies third baseman's current ADP is at 149. You can draft a player who is coming off a solid season in the 13th to 15th round on an offense that should be able to score a lot of runs in 2024.

 

Outfield Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

Jarred Kelenic, Atlanta Braves

If you were looking for an extreme sleeper in fantasy drafts this year, outfielder Jarred Kelenic might just be that player. Kelenic was traded from the Seattle Mariners to the Atlanta Braves early in the offseason, and it could be a fit that revives the 24-year-old's career. It might be a long shot to have him on this list, but I'm going to bet on the talent and situation here with the outfielder.

Kelenic showed glimpses of his potential early in the 2023 season when he hit .283 with 10 HRs and 26 RBI through the first 52 games of last year. However, over the final 53 games, the left-handed slugger hit just .221 with one HR and 23 RBI. With the outfielder now joining a dominant Braves squad, playing time won't be easy. But the talent is there, which is likely why Atlanta traded for him in the first place.

Kelenic was drafted sixth overall in the 2018 MLB Draft out of high school. He immediately made an impact in the minors and hit .286 with six home runs, six triples, and 42 RBI in rookie ball as an 18-year-old. Now, he goes to an organization that has a history of developing young talent.

The new Braves outfielder is going undrafted in most fantasy drafts this season, so it won't cost a lot to select him in the final round. He'll likely compete with Marcell Ozuna for playing time in left field or at DH this season. But if he can perform, Atlanta will make sure to find a spot for him in the lineup every day.

 

Designated Hitter Sleeper

Christopher Morel, Chicago Cubs

The final sleeper of this list is Chicago Cubs utility player Christopher Morel. Morel will have a ton of position eligibility in fantasy this year at 2B, 3B, OF, and DH, so that's always a plus. He is also a player who is still young, has a ton of upside, and has the best chance on this list to launch over 35 HRs in 2024.

Last season, Morel started the season in Triple-A, where he was unstoppable. In 29 games with Triple-A Iowa, he blasted 11 HRs, 31 RBI, and nine doubles behind an absurd slash line of .330/.425/.730. That power then translated to the majors when he was called up. In 107 games with the Cubs, he hit another 26 HRs and 70 RBI. That gave the right-handed slugger a total of 37 HRs between both leagues.

Morel might not hit for a solid average -- just .247 last year -- and will strike out a lot. However, he'll give fantasy managers much-needed HRs, doubles, and even triples. The 24-year-old utility specialist will also always hit the ball. Hitting the ball hard doesn't always translate to hits, but his 92.1 mph average exit velocity and 50% hard-hit rate both landed in the top 9% in the majors. That should surely lead to some extra HRs for him in 2024.

 

Catcher Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

Jonah Heim, Texas Rangers

The second Texas Ranger who makes this list is catcher Jonah Heim. Like Bohm, Heim is coming off his best season in the majors and even made his first All-Star appearance in 2023. The 28-year-old hit a career-best .258 with 18 HRs, 95 RBI, and 28 doubles. The switch-hitting catcher almost doubled his RBI total (48) from the 2022 season, which shows just how dominant he was at the plate last year.

As a result, his ADP seems a bit too low at a thin position after such a strong season. Heim might not have the upside of some of the catchers who are going earlier than him in drafts like Gabriel Moreno or Francisco Alvarez. But, he has such a high floor because of his potential extra-base hit numbers.

Now, a lot of talking points that were mentioned earlier for Lowe also apply here with Heim. He hit fifth or sixth in the order for most of the year and was a part of a Rangers lineup that averaged the third-most runs per game last season (5.46). In 2024, the catcher will still be hitting behind players like Semien, Seager, Lowe, and Adolis Garcia, so there should be a ton of chances to drive them in.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Fantasy Baseball Advice




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Anthony Santander

Hoping to Hit Soon
Luis Robert Jr.

Returning in Short Order
Alex Bregman

Could Return Later This Week
Ketel Marte

Day-to-Day with Groin Tightness
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Hunter Greene

Suffers Setback on Monday
Philadelphia 76ers

Kyle Lowry Staying With 76ers
Kyle Anderson

Lands in Utah
Kevin Love

Traded to Jazz in 3-Team Swap
Norman Powell

Traded to Miami
John Collins

Dealt to Clippers
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Tied For 14 at Travelers Championship
Xander Schauffele

Finishes Tied For 61 at Travelers Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Robert MacIntyre

Finishes Tied For 17 at Travelers Championship
Si Woo Kim

Finishes Tied For 11 at John Deere Classic
Viktor Hovland

Withdraws From Travelers Championship
Tommy Fleetwood

Finishes Tied For Second at Travelers Championship
Brian Campbell

Wins John Deere Classic
Bronny James Jr.

Scores 10 Points
Harrison Ingram

Limited on Sunday
Golden State Warriors

Isaiah Mobley Drops 16 Points
Ryan Rollins

Staying with Bucks
T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Still Not Close on New Contract
Terry McLaurin

Still Not Pleased with Contract Situation
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Yu Darvish

to Make Season Debut on Monday
MLB

Nationals Fire Dave Martinez, Mike Rizzo
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
KaVontae Turpin

Arrested on Two Charges
Cole Ragans

to Begin Throwing on Monday
Theo Johnson

Prioritizing his Health this Offseason
Andrés Giménez

Andres Gimenez Hits 10-Day Injured List
Jermaine Burton

Continues to Show Growth
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
Austin Cindric

Remains an Overrated Road Racer
Cam Ward

"Not Expecting" to be handed Starting Job
Chase Claypool

Eager to Get Back on the Field
Wyatt Langford

Activated, Playing on Saturday
Jay Huff

on the Move to Indiana
Cam Whitmore

Wizards Acquire Cam Whitmore from the Rockets
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Jock Landale

Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Moritz Wagner

Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Jaxson Hayes

Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF