RADIO
Opportunity May Yield A Sneaky Source Of Steals
Being a sleeper is all about exceeding expectations, and that’s what I expect from Jace Peterson in 2015. As of right now his ADP I’m pretty sure is nonexistent, so you should be able to snag him with your last pick or as a post-draft acquisition. As of right now he appears locked in as the Opening Day starting second baseman for the Braves, but he should have shortstop eligibility in most formats.
Selected in the first round of the 2011 amateur draft and acquired in the deal that sent Justin Upton to San Diego, Peterson showed enough promise to get a cup of coffee with the Padres last season—he only had 53 at-bats and did very little with them. However, he has been impressive so far this spring, outperforming the veteran Alberto Callaspo, and should get an opportunity to prove himself in the early goings of the 2015 season.
Peterson has the skill set to make him a valuable fantasy commodity. In 389 minor-league games, he stole 148 bases and hit .287 (between all levels from low-A to AAA). The speed is something that you can rely on, and he should get on base often enough to utilize it, as he walks at a decent enough clip. While there isn’t any power to speak of, he doesn’t strike out a whole lot either—just 233 times in 1465 minor-league at-bats. He’s developed a nice rapport with Andrelton Simmons, and fields well enough so that there shouldn’t be any risk there.
In Summary
Peterson controls his own destiny. If he can translate his minor-league success to the bigs, he has a great shot at being a sneaky value pick in the middle infield, particularly if you’re looking for speed. You have to expect a learning curve, but since the Braves are in rebuild mode, I believe they’ll be patient with their younger players like Peterson. I’d feel good taking him in the last round regardless of format.
Projected stat line: .272 average, 3 HRs, 42 RBIs, 61 runs scored, 36 SB
