Everyone is searching for the "sleeper" pick that can win their league, and it's true-sleepers and free agent pickups often do make enough of a difference to win fantasy titles. That's what I'm here for. Here is a player at every infield position, currently being drafted outside the Top 200, that can really provide a spark to your team with your last pick.
Catcher: Stephen Vogt, Oakland Athletics (ADP-322, Other positions: 1B, OF)
Vogt is way off the radar, as he should be in terms of owners looking to snag a primary catcher.Vogt may be extremely useful in deeper leagues however, or for owners who can commit to checking their rosters daily. Vogt's playing time will be limited, but against right-handed pitching last season he slashed .291/.331/.439 with eight home runs and 29 RBI. Expect more of the same in 2015. Attentive owners can pair him with another catcher with good splits and use them when they're in to combine for top catcher production.
Bonus Call-Francisco Cervelli, Pittsburgh Pirates (ADP-408). Other positions: 1B
First Base: Mike Napoli, Boston Red Sox (ADP-259, Other positions: none)
Napoli is the type of "not sexy" pick that surprises his owners with mid-round production from an extremely last draft slot. Prior to last season in which Napoli was limited to 119 games, his past three full-season home run totals were 30, 24, 23. He's a right-handed slugger playing in a park built for them, and he's surrounded by both table-setters and RBI guys to drive him home.
He is a bit prone to strikeouts, but he also walks quite a bit too and reached base at a .370 clip in 2014. 30-home run potential this late in a draft can win you a league, and if he tops 20 he's an absolute steal.
Bonus Call-Adam Lind, Milwaukee Brewers (ADP-330, Other positions: none)
Second Base: Jedd Gyorko, San Diego Padres (ADP-261, Other positions: none)
Gyorko was a popular sleeper just last season, but an injury-plagued season in which you slash .210/.280/.333 with 10 home runs with power as your calling card can depress any player's value. The good news?
Gyorko is still only 26 years old, and the burden of carrying a putrid offense is completely off his shoulders. Gyorko will begin the season further down in the order, likely seeing more fastballs as pitchers will need to expend more energy dealing with former All-Stars and Rookies of the Year at the top. He must cut his strikeout rate and be more durable, but 2B isn't particularly strong. He has the upside of a Top 10 player at the position.
Bonus Call-Brett Lawrie, Oakland Athletics (ADP-268, Other positions: none)
Shortstop: J.J. Hardy, Baltimore Orioles (ADP-267, Other positions: none)
Last season was not a good one for Hardy, who hit just .268 with nine home runs. But are we all really throwing in the towel on him? He hit 77 home runs over the three previous seasons at a position where power is notoriously scarce, and he's going to hit in one of MLB's best lineups top to bottom. Hardy shouldn't be separated by 68 picks from Jhonny Peralta-spend those picks on high-upside pitchers instead if you're waiting on SS.
Bonus Call-- Jung-Ho Kang, Pittsburgh Pirates (ADP-275, Other positions: none)
Third Base: Pedro Alvarez, Pittsburgh Pirates (ADP-237, Other positions: 1B)
Alvarez was a major disappointment last year, appearing in just 118 games and hitting 18 homers to go with his typically poor batting average. That's no reason to abandon ship though. Alvarez hit 30 or more homers in each of the previous two campaigns, and his HR/FB ratio actually was better in 2014 than either of those seasons. He can easily return to his 30-plus home run output, and do it for what might be your very last pick. If he does get back to that level, his power will also play at 1B, creating trade scenarios at two positions.
Bonus Call-Miguel Sano, Minnesota Twins (ADP-334, Other Positions: SS)
*All ADP stats courtesy of FantasyPros.com
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