RADIO
Current ADP: 385.7
Rankings Status: Undervalued
Analysis: The term "sleeper" is incredibly overused in fantasy sports today, but here is a player deserving of the title. Anthony Gose has tremendous speed, twice stealing over 70 bags in the minor leagues - most recently in 2011 (79 against only 17 CS). Last year, he swiped 15 (against 5 CS) in limited playing time. Clearly, this man can run - a fact that helped him earn Baseball America's #39 ranking after the 2011 season.
That does not make him a pure speed play, however. His batting average last year was a disappointing .226, but his BABIP (batting average on balls in play) suggests that this number is due for a jump. He did hit .287 on grounders last season, north of the league's .239 mark, but it is to be expected that his speed will get him ground ball hits that other players could only dream of. Therefore, he can likely sustain the .287 number.
Far less sustainable is his .567 mark on line drives - a full 118 points below the league mark of .685. On fly balls, his .091 was also lower than the league's .207, but this may not even matter. Amazingly, Gose managed to hit more line drives (30) than fly balls (24) while focusing on his grounders (60). This would be problematic for many players as grounders tend to favor the pitcher, but Gose has no power anyway. Line drives can find holes, and he can beat out grounders - that hit distribution is ideal for a player with his skill set.
He also has excellent plate discipline, managing a .311 OBP despite the weak average. For Gose, a walk really is as good as a hit - another opportunity to pilfer a base. His speed and plate discipline could lead to him batting second in the Tigers order, a slot that would mean a bunch of runs scored from Miguel Cabrera's bat. While the Tigers are not known for their running game, they are no longer the powerhouse they used to be and could well be more aggressive on the base paths.
Gose is still unproven as a big league performer, but his sensational defense will earn him a long look in 2015. As a left handed bat, he would be on the right side of a platoon with Rajai Davis even if something did go awry. A 30 SB season seems to be a lock if he plays everyday, with a chance at 50 bags, a whole lot of runs, and an average that won't kill you if everything breaks in his favor. That combination of floor and ceiling is worth far more than his current ADP of 385.7 and ranking of 416th.
Don't forget to read all of RotoBaller's 2015 fantasy baseball rankings and rankings analysis for every position to help prepare for your fantasy drafts. Let's win some leagues!
