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Sam Berger lists his top-four fantasy baseball sleepers to target in drafts for the 2024 MLB season. These are overlooked and undervalued players to draft.
Major League Baseball season is just around the corner. Opening Day is fast approaching and fantasy baseball managers are counting the seconds until their league drafts. That means preparation has begun, and it's time to get ready.
Who are the players in this year's drafts that you're not thinking about drafting, but should? Who are the guys that will surprise everyone but you?
Today, we will talk about four fantasy baseball sleepers for 2024. Let's discuss these players who could help steal you a fantasy championship.
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2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers
Brayan Bello, SP - Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox may not compile a lot of wins this upcoming season, but one thing they certainly have a lot of is young players on the rise. One of those players being counted on heavily to deliver in his third professional season is young and promising flamethrower, Brayan Bello.
The 24-year-old Dominican Republic native has shown tremendous upside in his first two seasons in the big leagues. He has yet to register huge numbers from a fantasy perspective, but remember that he has barely begun to showcase his skills.
My first fantasy sleeper of 2024 has often been compared to former Sox great and baseball Hall of Famer, Pedro Martinez. Yes, that is pretty high praise and setting large expectations for a pitcher at such an early stage of his career.
However, Bello has the stuff and the makeup to follow the same trajectory as Martinez. His pitches come at hitters like lightning on a hot summer night, and his control is excellent. With that said, he is still a work in progress and hasn't yet come close to reaching his ceiling.
Why Brayan Bello has been named the Red Sox' Opening Day starter https://t.co/yshfqDCKPt #RedSox pic.twitter.com/RzbfElQIrH
— WEEI (@WEEI) March 19, 2024
Barring an apocalypse, the Red Sox aren't going to win the World Series this year. The team they constructed doesn't have the talent to keep up with the big boys in the American League. This holds even more true from a pitching staff perspective. For some reason, the rebuilding Sox refused to add quality depth to the rotation this offseason.
Their one "major acquisition" was Lucas Giolito, who was expected to anchor the rotation. At the beginning of March, it was declared that Giolito was out for the season with an arm injury, leaving Bello as the prime candidate to lead the staff. A heavy load immediately was placed on the shoulders of the 6-foot-1, 195-pound slightly framed right-hander, and he was just named the team's Opening Day starter.
With a 4.24 ERA and 1.34 WHIP registered in 157 innings in 2023, no fantasy owners were blown away by his stats. However, his numbers improved from his rookie season, finishing with 12 wins, 132 strikeouts, and a respectable 45 walks allowed.
With 15 quality starts and 7.6 K/9 innings, Bello showed he has what it takes to take the next step in 2024. He is the star of the Red Sox rotation and could be the missing piece of your fantasy staff this upcoming season. Keep your eyes on the kid from the DR, and plan to draft him in the middle-to-late rounds when your number is called.
Nolan Jones, OF - Colorado Rockies
The second name on my list of fantasy baseball sleepers for 2024 is Colorado Rockies outfielder, Nolan Jones. Another third-year professional, Jones had what some considered a breakout season in 2023. However, he didn't make his season debut until late May and is only 25 years old.
The young rising star and Pennsylvania native showed off his skill set in 2023, raising the eyebrows of the coaching staff. After making his debut for the Rockies last spring, he wasted no time making strong first impressions. He had an impressive .942 OPS in his first 28 games and was finding ways to contribute immediately to the big-league roster.
After getting only 86 ABs with the Guardians in 2022, Jones came to Colorado and performed like a star in the making in his first full season. He ended his rookie campaign with 20 HRs, 20 SBs, 62 RBI, and 60 runs scored in just 106 games. He also seems to have a knack for extra-base hits, as he collected 22 doubles and four triples during that span.
Nothing to see here, just Nolan Jones doing normal Nolan Jones things. Ball was crushed. pic.twitter.com/5W4yOeEyXy
— Discuss Baseball (@discussbaseball) March 15, 2024
Something of note: the outfielder who also may have eligibility in some leagues at 3B/1B didn't seem to only benefit from batting in the thin air and friendly confines of Coors Field. The slugger had a .928 OPS at home compared to a .935 OPS on the road. Versatility defines this sleeper pick, which adds value to any successful championship roster.
Now, let's not get ahead of ourselves here. There are some red flags. Jones needs to cut down on the strikeouts, having struck out 126 times in 326 ABs last season. With that said, this spring in the Cactus League, he has preached more patience at the plate.
"I want to go out and have a great season. I don't want to give up any at-bats," the power hitter said earlier this month.
At the end of 2023, from August 1 on, Jones inserted himself into the National League Rookie of the Year conversation by slugging .317 with 11 HRs and a 1.008 OPS. He will look to continue the momentum when the season opens next week. He's a unique talent who should be considered a valuable piece of fantasy rosters in 2024.
Tyler O'Neill, OF - Boston Red Sox
Coming in at No. 3 on this list is another member of the rebuilding Red Sox. Outfielder Tyler O'Neill is the definition of a true sleeper in 2024. The 28-year-old Canadian is not a household name; however, he is in a great position to succeed in his first season in Boston.
Known primarily for his defense, O'Neill came to the Red Sox this offseason from the Cardinals to replace former Sox OF Alex Verdugo. Likely to bat fifth or sixth in an above-average lineup, he will see plenty of pitches to crush over the Green Monster at hitter-friendly Fenway Park.
The right-handed hitter stands at 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, which doesn't seem overly imposing on paper. However, if you stand next to him, you will be blown away by the physique of this athlete possessing the body of a weightlifter. He has strength and speed, which should excite fantasy managers late in drafts.
There are plenty of reasons for optimism with O'Neill this season, but there are also some red flags. The 2020 National League Gold Glove Award winner has only had one exceptional season in his six years in the big leagues.
In 141 games in 2021, the muscle man hit .286 with 34 HRs and 80 RBI in 482 ABs. He also swiped 15 bases, the highest total of his career. He scored 86 runs, and had a .912 OPS and 6.3 WAR, all career highs. So why hasn't O'Neill produced similar numbers in any other season? The simple answer? Health.
Don't love this being an issue this early on. Tyler O'Neill needs to have a bounce back year for the Red Sox. Being healthy needs to happen for him to reach his previous level. https://t.co/tlILVr6517
— Scranton Red Sox (@ScrantonRedSox) March 15, 2024
In six seasons, O'Neill has averaged only 80 games played. Seeing the field in only half of his team's games almost every year in St. Louis certainly didn't help stimulate fantasy production. But when he played most of the season in 2021, he produced the type of numbers fantasy managers need from their second- or third-rostered outfielder.
What does all this mean? If O'Neill and the Red Sox can manage his workload in 2024 and the player can take care of his body, there is a great chance he can repeat what he did three years ago. Yes, it's a big IF; however, the pieces are in place. He's in a new environment for the first time in his career, he hits in a hitter-friendly ballpark, has a top-tier manager in Alex Cora, and is part of a solid lineup.
A healthy O'Neill will translate to a solid and consistent fantasy baseball sleeper who can be grabbed late in your upcoming drafts. His current ADP is 226, so grab him in the later rounds and enjoy the value of your selection this summer.
Jose Siri, OF - Tampa Bay Rays
The final player on my 2024 sleeper list comes from the American League East Rays, and his name is Jose Siri. The Rays are one of the stronger teams in the AL, with talent all around. They are also one of the youngest squads in baseball, which is exciting for fantasy fans.
Hitters I project above a 60% HR/Brl in 2024
- Isaac Paredes
- Thairo Estrada
- Jose Siri
- Nolan Arenado
- Danny Jansen
- Gavin Sheets
- J.P. Crawford
- Patrick Wisdom
- Luis Rengifo
- Brandon Lowe
- Orlando Arcia
- Salvador Perez
- Kyle Schwarber— Jon Anderson (@JonPgh) March 13, 2024
One of those promising young guys is Siri, an outfielder, who made his MLB debut in 2021 with the Houston Astros before being traded to the Rays in 2022. He's coming off a year in which he hit 25 home runs and stole 12 bases in 101 games for Tampa. The power is raw, and his speed may be showcased even more in 2024. Siri recently told reporters that he wants to steal 30 bases this season.
Power and speed must be plentiful on any fantasy manager's championship roster. Siri has both and still has yet to manifest them completely into his arsenal.
The 28-year-old is smack dab in his prime, so if he's going to breakthrough, it will be this season. He has all the tools, including being an above-average defender, which will likely keep him in the everyday lineup. He also barreled 13.2% of the pitches he saw last year, so we know he can make hard contact at any given time.
With all sleepers, there usually come some warning labels, and with Siri, there is no exception. In 2023, the Dominican Republic native far and away had his best season as a major leaguer. However, he hit just .222 (right around his career average) with a measly .791 OPS.
He must be more consistent at the plate this season to justify holding onto him as the year progresses. With that said, at an ADP of 251, getting him toward the end of your draft will be a steal if things turn out as planned.
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