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Every fantasy player wants to boast that he or she picked up a player in the wee hours of their fantasy drafts who put up a genuine a breakout season. Indian outfielder Michael Brantley and Colorado’s Corey Dickerson were perfect examples from last season.
There's nothing more satisfying than picking up a guy in the 20th round of your draft and watching him turn into the latest fantasy stud.
The following five outfielders are being drafted between the 10th and 20th rounds of the average 12-team standard league, but they could return big time on that investment.
Editor's Note: Be sure to check out some more fantasy baseball draft sleepers and undervalued players for all other positions. And our famous ADP Draft Sleepers tool will help you win your drafts.
Marcell Ozuna (OF, MIA)
The Miami Marlins have the potential to put up one of the best young outfields in baseball for the next several years. Of course, we’re all familiar with Giancarlo Stanton, but 23-year-old Marcell Ozuna is still flying under the radar. Ozuna’s skillset means he can offer you power and speed for years to come. Although he was a bit streaky last season, Ozuna enjoyed a breakout campaign, demonstrating that the talent on display during his three 20-HR minor league seasons could carry over into his major league career.
Ozuna ended the 2014 season with a .269 batting average, 23 HR and 85 RBI. He's stolen as many as 17 bases in a single minor league season, but so far we haven't seen him do much damage on the basepaths as a big-leaguer. As last season's extremely high 16.8% HR/FB rate implies, Ozuna can eventually mature into a perennial 25-to-30 HR hitter, but his high strikeout rate may limit his overall future batting average. Expect him to be drafted between the 10th and 12th rounds of the average 12-team standard league.
Joc Pederson (OF, LAD)
Joc Pederson decimated the Pacific Coast League’s pitching by slugging 33 HR and stealing 30 bases last year. Those numbers continue a career trajectory in which his power numbers have increased in each of the past three seasons. By jettisoning Matt Kemp to the rival Padres, the Dodgers have given Pederson a vote of confidence, as well as the everyday centerfield job.
Other than power and speed Pederson provides the Dodgers with a young player who wants to learn and has shown that he is capable of making adjustments in order to correct his shortcomings. A good example of this is how he worked hard to raise his batting average against lefties from .200 in 2013 to .290 last season. Pederson will probably have his share of growing pains, like most rookies. The high strikeout rate will keep him from reaching his .302 career minor league mark, and I wouldn’t expect him to steal another 30 bases this season, but with enough at-bats, he certainly has 20/20 potential. Expect him to be drafted beginning in the 17th or 18th rounds of a standard 12-team draft.
Leonys Martin (OF, TEX)
The Texas Rangers recently announced that Leonys Martin would be their everyday leadoff hitter, which should give his fantasy value a nice boost. Martin stole nine of his 31 bases last season after the Rangers inserted him into the leadoff spot in September. Martin did improve his contact and walk rates, and the strikeout rate diminished a bit, which cumulatively should help him in his role at the top of the Rangers order. Based on his career minor league numbers and the fact that he is still just 27 years old, he may have still have some upside. As a leadoff hitter, Martin has the potential to score 80 to 90 runs, steal 40+ bases, and as he fills in physically, he could eventually flash 15+ home run power. He should add value to your fantasy outfield as a 14th-round pick.
Jorge Soler (OF, CHC)
If everything falls into place, the Cubs are going to have a big time offense in 2015. We’ve been hearing a lot about Kris Bryant and his power surge so far this spring, but the Cubbie who has been creeping up the charts is Jorge Soler. Soler is a pure power hitter who has great bat speed. He doesn’t strike out as much as the typical slugger, and he has enough patience to make opposing pitchers work. He’s not afraid to take a walk when he has to.
Rest assured that even though Soler spent a productive 24 games with the Cubs late last season, he may still experience the same ups and downs as other rookies. He has been a bit of an injury concern and has suffered hamstring problems over the last two seasons, and though he does possess good speed, you shouldn’t expect him to be much of a base stealer. He has also been a bit of a “head case,” clashing with opposing players and teammates alike. He initially refused to report for his minor league assignment, insisting that he belonged with the big club. Soler is just 23 years old, and maturity will likely take care of those kinds of issues.
Defensively, he’s a natural in right field, and should be in the Cubs everyday lineup. With 500 at-bats this season, look for Soler to potentially hit 25 HR in the hitter-friendly confines of Wrigley Field.
Oswaldo Arcia (OF, MIN)
Oswaldo Arcia has a ton of power, but if he expects to make it in the big leagues, he needs to cut down on the strikeouts, and he knows it. Arcia has put in a lot of time in Venezuela this offseason, working on becoming a more patient hitter.
He had a brutal 31% strikeout rate in his first 200 major league games, but at the same time, the 34 HR he hit garnered a lot of attention, especially in this era where power is becoming harder and harder to find.
If Arcia can improve his plate discipline and contact rate, then his major league stats may start to resemble those that made him a lifetime .314 minor league hitter. With legitimate 30-HR power, Arcia can be an extremely valuable fantasy outfielder who you can draft after the 20th round of the average 12-team fantasy league.
