There’s nothing like seeing your late-rounder blossom and become one of the stars of your fantasy baseball team.
There will always be waiver-wire wonders, but sometimes all you need is a good draft of sleepers to give you that edge over the competition.
Plus, there’s nothing like beating an unsuspecting foe with players he never even thought of before.
Chad Billingsley, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Yes, I know, I know, Chad Billingsley was supposed to live up to his potential a long time ago.
The truth is, Billingsley is a power arm and sometimes power arms need more time to develop. He had a rough season in 2011, in which he posted a 4.21 ERA, but the good news is he’s as undervalued as he’s ever been.
If you want to have the greatest WHIP in all the land, look elsewhere, but Billingsley has a career 3.68 ERA and he will get you plenty of strikeouts. I still think it’s only a matter of time before things click for the 2003 first-rounder.
Jason Motte, CL, St. Louis Cardinals
If only every team in baseball could convert a catcher they drafted in the 19th round into a closer.
That’s what the Cardinals did last season, and it actually worked pretty well. Jason Motte posted a 2.25 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 68 innings and he showed real promise in the Cardinals’ World Series run, giving up just three earned runs in 12 1/3 innings and converting all five of his save opportunities.
Plus, it’s always fun for a converted catcher to win the saves category for you in any given week.
John Mayberry, OF, Philadelphia Phillies
You obviously want to keep track of top prospect Dominic Brown this season, but John Mayberry will likely start the season for the Phillies and he actually had a pretty good season in 2011.
In just 249 at-bats, the 2005 first-rounder hit .273 with 15 home runs, 49 RBI and 37 runs. Project that over a full season, and he has the potential to hit 25 homers and drive in 90 runs.
Not bad for a guy far down draft boards.
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