Player Spotlights - Luke Hochevar and Chris Coghlan

Luke Hochevar and Chris Coghlan March 20, 2010

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SP Luke Hochevar,Royals, - Luke Hochevar’s professional career has indeed gotten off to a tumultuous start, not unlike the chaotic process that brought him into the big leagues in the first place. Originally drafted by the Dodgers in 2002, Hochevar declined this option to pitch for the University of Tennessee instead. He went on to have a very successful college career, culminating in 2005 with a 15-3 record, an ERA of 2.26, Whip of 1.13 and 154 strikeouts in 139 innings. He was then selected by the Dodgers once again in the 2005 amateur draft, but couldn’t reach an agreement. Finally, in 2006, the Royals made him the #1 selection and he began his professional career at the age of 22. Now 26, Hochevar has turned into somewhat of an enigma, with an accumulated 5.88 ERA, 1.47 WHIP over three major league seasons. Also surprising is how his K per rate has fallen from over 8 during his minor league seasons, to 5.8 at the major-league level. Hochevar has pretty good stuff, with a fastball that can reach the mid-90’s, a hard slider and a good curve. On the basis of upside potential, he’s worth a flier in the final rounds of fantasy drafts this year.

OF/2B Chris Coghlan, Marlins, - After getting the call in early May 2009 it took a little while for the 24 year-old Chris Coghlan to make an impression for the Marlins. He had a rough May, batting an anemic .212 in that month. By the All-Star break, he was hitting just .245, with 2 HRs and 4 SBs, and many fantasy teams had given up hope at that point. For those with patience, Coghlan went on to show significant improvement after the break, proceeding to hit .372, with 7 HRs and adding another 4 SBs in the second half of the 2009 season. He earned the NL rookie of the year award for his efforts, and now enters the 2010 season as the starting left-fielder for Florida. Coghlan’s minor league history suggests that we probably shouldn’t expect much improvement over his 2009 BA and HR numbers, but he does seem to have untapped 20 SB potential that failed to emerge last year. With his ADP still hovering around the 18th round area, Coghlan makes a solid player to add as your 4th or 5th fantasy outfielder in 2010.

Player Spotlights By Junkyard Jake JunkyardJake.Com

Player Spotlights - James Shields and Garrett Jones

James Shields and Garrett Jones March 16, 2010

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SP James Shields,Rays, - A very consistent fantasy option during the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Tampa Bay's James Shields fell victim to an uncharacteristically substandard second half in 2009, ending the year with a disappointing 4.14 ERA, and only 11 wins. While he started the 2009 season looking like the reliable pitcher we had become accustomed to, with 6 wins a 3.42 ERA and a Whip of 1.26 through the All-Star break, his 2nd half ERA 5.16 was an unpleasant surprise for fantasy owners. As a consequence, his fantasy value has taken a significant hit in 2010, with his ADP dropping from the 7th round in 2009 to about the 11th round in most recent 2010 drafts. Shields is never going to overwhelm hitters with his 90 MPH fastball, but it's his skill in combining this pitch with his excellent 80 MPH change-up and impressive control that makes him effective. Slated to be the Rays opening day starter, Shields seems undervalued and is a likely rebound candidate to target in fantasy drafts this year.

OF/1B Garrett Jones, Pirates, - Before his breakout season last year, 28 year old Garrett Jones seemed destined to languish as a career minor leaguer. Originally drafted by the Braves in 1999, Jones was shipped off to the Twins organization a few years later, and didn't begin to show his power potential until 2004 when he hit 30 HRs for Minnesota's AA affiliate that year. Still, up until last year, Jones had compiled just a .258 average during his time in the minors, and doubts remained about his ability to consistently handle major league pitching. After a trade to the Pirates in 2009, Jones received his first opportunity of significant playing time when the team traded Nyjer Morgan to the Nationals. He responded with 10 HRs and a .310 BA during the month of July, and finished the season with 21 HRs and a .293 average in 314 at-bats. It remains to be seen if Jones can follow through in 2010, and his .208 BA against left-handers last year is a concern, but he should represent a decent source of mixed-league power at a 15th round price.

Player Spotlights By Junkyard Jake JunkyardJake.Com

Player Spotlights - David Aardsma and Kendry Morales

David Aardsma and Kendry Morales March 7, 2010

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RP David Aardsma,Mariners, Drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2003, David Aardsma progressed rapidly to the AAA, where he was being groomed as the clubs future closer. In 2004, he saved 11 games for AAA Fresno, but struggled with his control. That same year, he made it to the Giants, but continued to have trouble pitching strikes in his limited debut. From 2005-2008, Aardsma bounced between the minor and major league teams of 4 different organizations with erratic results. After seizing the closer assignment for Seattle in 2009, the 27 year old pitcher was finally able to produce a noteworthy season, with 28 saves, an ERA of 2.52 and a WHIP of 1.164. Aardsma has decent stuff, and his pitch selection/velocity is almost identical to Boston's Jonathan Papelbon. Both pitchers mix in a splitfinger fastball and slider while primarily relying on a 94-95 MPH fastball. Aardsma's 4.3 walks per nine innings wasn't awful in 2009, but the biggest potential liability associated with him remains the possible reemergence of control problems.

1B Kendry Morales, Angels, - It's safe to say the Angels look like geniuses after replacing the uber-expensive Mark Teixeira with farmhand Kendry Morales last year. That transition could not have worked out better, as Morales finished up his first season as the Angels new first-baseman with 34 HRs, 109 RBIs and an impressive .306 BA. Before 2009, Morales had exhibited 30 HR power in the minors, but it had never translated to expected performance when he was called up major league auditions during those years. Morales obviously quieted all doubts concerning his abilities last season, and looked especially good after the All-Star break, when he hit .330 with 19 HRs compared to .284 with 15 HRs in the first half. While there are always doubts and risk inherent with young players who generate sparkling fantasy numbers seemingly out of nowhere, when you consider his second half performance along with his minor league resume, Morales looks to be a legitimate rising star.

Player Spotlights By Junkyard Jake JunkyardJake.Com

Player Spotlights - Brett Anderson and Scott Sizemore

Brett Anderson and Scott Sizemore February 28, 2010

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SP Brett Anderson,A's, - While fellow left-hander David Price received more publicity in 2009, it was Oakland's rookie Brett Anderson who ended up looking like the more accomplished rookie pitcher. Originally drafted in the 2nd round by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Anderson was traded to the A's in 2008, and had only 6 starts at the AA level before joining Oakland’s rotation in 2009. The 21-year old didn't disappoint, compiling 11 victories with 150 K's in 30 starts. Most encouraging was the rookie's ability to improve in the 2nd half of the season, lowering his ERA from 4.64 to 3.48, and his WHIP from 1.37 to 1.19 in the 2nd half. Anderson consistently throws strikes and his fastball is usually seen in the 92-93 MPH range. He also mixes in an effective 80 MPH slider about 30% of the time, and rounds out his arsenal with an excellent curve and solid changeup. Anderson generally pitches to contact, but still generated 7.7 K/9 while walking just 2.3 batters per 9 innings in 2009.

2B Scott Sizemore, Tigers, - Scott Sizemore was relatively quiet during his first three years in the minors, compiling a .289 average and only 11 HRs in 248 games over the 2006-2008 timeframe. In 2009, after reaching the Tigers AA affiliate at the age of 24, Sizemore turned his game up a notch, hitting .307 with 9 HRs in only 59 games. After his promotion to the AAA level, Sizemore continued his offensive surge hitting another 8 HRs while maintaining a .308 average through 71 games at Toledo. Along with his good average, and recent HR power, Sizemore also offers some speed on the base paths, notching 58 steals in 378 career minor league games. With Placido Polanco being shipped out of Detroit this past offseason, and only the light-hitting Ramon Santiago seemingly in his way, Scott Sizemore has an opportunity to capture significant playing time for the Tigers at 2nd base in 2010. You should be able to snag Sizemore past the 25th round in your fantasy draft as a solid sleeper pick.

Player Spotlights By Junkyard Jake JunkyardJake.Com

Player Spotlights - Stephen Strasburg and Gordon Beckham

Stephen Strasburg and Gordon Beckham February 23, 2010

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SP Stephen Strasburg,Nationals, - One of the most anticipated pitching prospects to come along in recent memory, Stephen Strasburg certainly appears to have the talent to match the accolades that have been showered on him since the Washington Nationals made him the #1 pick in the 2009 amateur draft. Anyway you chose to look at his pitching performance at San Diego State, the numbers are gaudy. Last season, he went 13-1 with an ERA of 1.32, striking out 195 batters in 109 innings. His career WHIP in college ball is just under .80, and he once struck-out 23 batters in a single game. His fastball has been clocked as high as an obscene 103 MPH, and he consistently throws in the high-90's with superb control and good location. Strasburg complements his heater with a hybrid curve/slider breaking pitch that typically freezes hitters, and his recent development of a change-up makes his arsenal even more imposing. For fantasy purposes, Strasburg is well worth a pick in his current 20th round ADP.

2B/SS/3B Gordon Beckham, White Sox, - A standout college middle infielder at the University of Georgia, Gordan Beckham was selected by White Sox in with the 8th pick in the 2008 amateur entry draft. This was also the year that scouts really began taking notice of Beckham, when he ultimately ended up leading the SEC in hits, slugging percentage and homeruns (28). The stocky SS also finished 2nd in the league with a .411 average that year, while displaying some skills on the basepaths with 17 swipes . During his brief stay in the minors, Beckham didn't show much power or speed, but made enough contact to generate a .322 BA in 59 games. Called up in June last year, Beckham started off slow, but ended up batting .270 with strong power/speed numbers that translate into 22 HRs/11 SBs over 162 games. Beckham's 8th round ADP in early baseball drafts seems a bit high, but if he qualifies at 2B/SS this could be a fair price to pay for a middle infielder with 20 HR potential.

Player Spotlights By Junkyard Jake JunkyardJake.Com

Player Spotlights - Wade Davis and Jason Heyward

Wade Davis and Jason Heyward February 15, 2010

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SP Wade Davis,Rays, Wade Davis isn’t the type of pitcher who overwhelms you with his stuff, but he was an effective pitcher at the minor league level, and he continued to impress when he got the call for a major league audition in September last year. In fact when you compare his minor league numbers compiled over 6 seasons (3.28 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9, 8.7 K/9) to his composite stats over his six major league starts in late 2009 (3.72 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9, 8.9 K/9), they are remarkably similar. Especially encouraging was Davis’s ability to sustain his minor league trend of avoiding the longball. In 36 innings with the Rays he gave up only two HRs, and 14% of the flyballs hit off the 24 year-old righty turned into harmless infield outs. Davis primarily throws a 92 MPH fastball, but perhaps his best pitch is his 75 MPH, big-breaking curveball. The rookie makes an excellent fantasy pitcher to add in the late rounds of your mixed league draft.

OF Jason Heyward, Braves, - Jason Heyward entered the Braves farm system at the precocious age of 17, advancing rapidly to a limited AAA level audition at the age of 19 in 2009. Considered by many scouts to represent the best pure hitting prospect in the 2010 prospective big-league class, Heyward will be given a fair chance by the Braves to win the right-field job out of Spring Training. Judging from his minor league career, the left-side hitting Heyward has demonstrated an uncanny ability to hit almost equally well against both left and left-handed pitching. Through last year, Heyward had a .318 minor league average, while showing the type of power and speed that projects him as a possible 20HR/20SB player once he reaches the majors. More reasons for optimism concerning Heyward 1) his strong work ethic, and 2) the fact that he is an exceptional fielder with a strong arm. In early drafts, the aspiring right-fielder is going in the 24th round, but that will no doubt change if he gets the call on Opening Day.

Player Spotlights By Junkyard Jake JunkyardJake.Com

Player Spotlights - Adam Lind and Leo Nunez

Adam Lind and Leo Nunez February 11, 2010

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OF Adam Lind,Blue Jays, The path to notoriety as a reputable power hitter certainly wasn't smooth for Adam Lind, but after three previous tries at the major-league level the young slugger finally settled in and produced an impressive stat line in 2009, finishing with 35 HRs, 114 RBI with a batting average of .305. Lind had always been a standout hitter in the minors, showing good patience at the plate, and ultimately finishing with a very respectable .318 BA, and 55 HRs in 419 minor league games. However, what was most surprising about Lind's terrific season last year, is that he had never shown 35 HR power before. For example, his minor league stats translated into about 22 HRs per season, while his pre-2009 major league numbers suggested 18 HRs over 162 games. If you are going to draft Lind this year, it will likely cost you a 4th round pick, but it may be realistic to expect a slight drop in HR's to the 25-30 level.

RP Leo Nunez, Marlins, - Leo Nunez pretty much inherited the Marlin's closer position out of default in 2009, but the results were generally good across the board - 26 saves, an ERA of 4.06, a WHIP of 1.25 and a .230 BAA. This of course is not to say that Nunez can now be considered a reliable closer, as he did have 7 blown saves last year. However, with the ability to throw in the mid-90's with decent control, he is off to a good start. The Marlins unloaded their 2009 opening day closer Matt Lindstrom in the offseason, and although they did recently sign Derrick Turnbow, Nunez enters 2010 as the clear favorite to close games for Florida. The really good news for fantasy purposes is that Nunez seems like one of the better values in drafts this year. He is currently being taken in about the 19th round, right after closers like Matt Capps and Kerry Wood.

Player Spotlights By Junkyard Jake JunkyardJake.Com

Player Spotlights - Mat Latos and Jeff Francoeur

Mat Latos and Jeff Francoeur February 8, 2010

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SP Mat Latos,Padres, Following his call up by the Padres in July 2009, Mat Latos proceeded to notch 4 victories over his first 5 starts, including a one-hitter against the Reds in late July. Over these impressive 5 games Latos had an ERA of 2.43, a WHIP of .95, and was striking out about 7 batters per nine innings. Unfortunately, the 22 right-hander wasn’t able to keep up pace in 2009, ending the season with a 4-5 record and an ERA 4.62, but don’t let this discourage you from taking a chance on this promising young pitcher in this year’s draft. Latos throws with good control, featuring a fastball in the 95 MPH range, and excellent complimentary pitches with good movement. During his time in the minors, Latos showed steady progress, culminating last year, where he finished with a 1.37 ERA, and a WHIP of only .747. Latos is currently going in about the 25th round in fantasy drafts.

OF Jeff Francoeur, NY Mets, - After his last couple disappointing seasons with Atlanta, it’s easy to forget Jeff Francoeur’s auspicious rookie season back in 2005, when he hit 14 HRs in only 70 games. He followed up his 2005 rookie debut with a 29 HR campaign in 2006, and although his homeruns dropped to 15 in 2007, he still delivered over 100 RBIs for the Braves that year. In 2008, Francoeur reached the low point of his young career, batting just .239 with 11 HRs in 155 games. Right before the Braves gave up on the once promising power hitter in 2009 and traded him to the Mets, he was lumbering through another mediocre season, with just 5 HRs and a .250 average through 82 games. While he is clearly no sure thing entering 2010, it is encouraging that Francoeur hit .311 with 10 HRs in 75 games with the Mets last year, and seems like a great value in the late rounds of fantasy drafts.

Player Spotlights By Junkyard Jake JunkyardJake.Com

Player Spotlights - Matt Holliday and Carlos Quentin

Matt Holliday and Carlos Quentin April 25, 2009

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OF Matt Holliday,A's, It had been stated many times going into the 2009 season - Matt Holliday might have a difficult time adapting to his new Oakland address after being traded from Colorado. With only one week remaining in April, some fantasy owners are surely wishing that they had heeded this seemingly prescient prognostication. Holliday does currently lead the A's in RBIs with 10, but the fact that he is batting just .254 with zero HRs and zero stolen bases can only be described as a serious performance malaise. So what might be the worst case scenario for Holliday this season? On one hand, there is no denying Holliday's rare talent, not many players possess the quick bat and consistent, powerful swing of the A's leftfielder. However, based on Holliday's historical performance away from his former Corrs homefield before 2009, it might be best to temper expectations down to about a .285 BA, with 20 HRs, 80 RBI and hopefully 15-20 SBs.

OF Carlos Quentin, White Sox, - After joining the White Sox in 2008, Carlos Quentin wasted no time impressing his new team, winning the left field spot in April, and going on to lead the team in homeruns, RBIs, and slugging percentage. As if his 36 homeruns and 100 RBI were not convincing enough, consider that Quentin did his damage in only 130 games, as he missed significant time after a September wrist injury. At the plate, he shows good discipline and a quick and powerful swing. He can typically crush inside fastballs, and adjusts swiftly to breaking balls. In the new 2009 season, Quentin has stormed out of the gates with 7 homeruns over the first 16 games, helping to rebuke any discussion that last season's 36 homerun explosion was a fluke. This 26 year-old emerging star will likely challenge for the league lead in HRs again this season, and has rapidly become a fantasy force.

Player Spotlights By Junkyard Jake JunkyardJake.Com

Player Spotlights - Cole Hamels

SP Cole Hamels, Phillies April 11, 2009

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SP Cole Hamels,Phillies, Heading into the 2009 season there has been much apprehension about Cole Hamels elbow inflammation dilemma, a problem that caused the young right-hander to miss the majority of spring training, and also his opening day assignment. Unfortunately, as he returned to the mound on April 10th, he did nothing to alleviate concerns about his health, yielding an exorbitant 11 hits, and 7 earned runs in just 3.2 innings. Indeed, despite his back to back exemplary seasons in 2007 and 2008 where he totaled 29 wins with outstanding ratios (3.22 ERA, 1.10 WHIP over the past 2 years), Hamels has had a minor history of elbow problems. Most recently, he missed one month of the 2007 season with a mild strain, so hopefully this is similar situation and he will get back on track soon. Keep an eye on Hamels pitch velocity for a clue on his recovery, he normally should be around 90 MPH on his fastball.

Player Spotlights By Junkyard Jake JunkyardJake.Com

Player Spotlights - Scott Kazmir and Corey Hart

Scott Kazmir and Corey Hart March 28, 2009

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SP Scott Kazmir,Rays, Operating with his trademark wicked fastball, and improving changeup, it's easy to forget that Scott Kazmir is just 25 years old, because he has been such a workhorse for the Rays over the past four years. Somewhat ironically, it is also his extensive use that has some fantasy players shying away from Kazmir in 2009. The young lefty's durability came into question last season, when he had some minor elbow soreness during Spring Training, and then tailed off significantly after the All-Star break. Going into July, he was flaunting his usual strong ratios, with a 3.04 ERA, and 1.17 WHIP, but he seemed to tire in the 2nd half, usually lasting only 5 innings, and posting a below par 4.03 ERA with a disappointing 1.38 WHIP. While questions about Kazmir’s stamina have caused him to drop in fantasy drafts to around the 8th round, he probably represents a nice bargain if you can grab him there.

OF Corey Hart, Brewers, - Although we saw Corey Hart’s batting average drop from .295 in 2007 to .263 last season, this was mostly the result of a dreadful September (.173 BA, 0 HRs), but he has otherwise been a fairly good prototype of consistency from year to year. Dating back to his first significant minor league season in 2002, Hart has steadily delivered about a .290 BA, with an unambiguous 20 HR/20 SB ability. Now 27, Hart enters 2009 in his prime, and as the only player in Brewers history to accomplish consecutive 20/20 seasons. Batting in the middle of a potent lineup behind Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, he still has some upside, especially if he can improve his plate discipline. Hart probably won’t last past the 5th-6th round in your draft this year, but he is a great player to add with expectations of about a .285 BA, 20-25 HRs, 85 RBI and 20+ stolen bases.

Player Spotlights By Junkyard Jake JunkyardJake.Com

Player Spotlights - Kevin Slowey and Matt Kemp

Kevin Slowey and Matt Kemp March 22, 2009

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SP Kevin Slowey,Twins, Kevin Slowey emerged as an interesting fantasy prospect in 2008, with an ERA of 3.99, a 1.15 WHIP, and 12 wins in 27 starts. He throws an effective assortment of pitches, mostly using his 90 mph fastball, and mixing in a cutter, slider, a slow curve and a changeup. Although some scouts have suggested that Slowey doesn't have any one pitch which can be described as dominant, few pitchers can match his ability to throw strikes. In fact, the 24-year old was clearly one of the best control pitchers in the league last year, yielding just 24 walks in 160 innings. Dating back to 2005, his first year in the minors, Slowey has consistently demonstrated this type of impeccable control, allowing just 1.31 walks per 9 innings. The Twins righthander represents a solid addition to your fantasy roster in 2009, with the potential to pleasantly outperform his 14th-15th round draft position.

OF Matt Kemp, Dodgers, - After two years as a part-timer, Matt Kemp was given the chance to play everyday for the Dodgers last season, and the results were a fantasy-friendly .290 average, 18 HRs, 76 RBIs and 35 stolen bases. Going into 2009, there should be little dispute as to Kemp's status as LA's starting centerfielder, and if he spends a fair amount of time batting from the 4 or 5 spot, we could hopefully see an improvement in his HR and RBI numbers. While Kemp started off slow in the HR department in 2008, hitting only 3 HRs through May, his power kicked into gear around June, and he proceeded to hit 15 HRs over the June through September stretch of the season. Assuming that his late season HR pace is more indicative of his power potential, Kemp is well worth a 3rd or 4th round pick and is a candidate to join the 25/25 club in 2009.

Player Spotlights By Junkyard Jake JunkyardJake.Com

Player Spotlights - Jonathan Sanchez and Nelson Cruz

Jonathan Sanchez and Nelson Cruz March 13, 2009

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SP Jonathan Sanchez,Giants, It's difficult to assess Jonathan Sanchez's potential fantasy value in 2009, because he hasn't been able to consistently perform at the major league level thus far in his young career. One thing is for certain, he has exhibited the ability to consistently produce strikeouts. Throughout his minor league career, Sanchez tallied about 1.3 strikeouts per inning and over his limited major league experience, he has produced about one strikeout per inning. His primary pitch is a fastball, which he typically throws in the 90-94 mph velocity range, and he also throws a changeup, slider and curve. What makes Sanchez relatively unique, is the movement he can generate on his fastball and changeup. While he does sometimes struggle to throw strikes, the movement on his pitches helps to create an above-average frequency of swings without contact. Assuming he secures a spot in the Giants rotation this spring, Sanchez is worth gambling on in the later rounds of your draft.

OF Nelson Cruz, Rangers, - Nelson Cruz was once considered a top prospect, but was only able to show brief glimpses of his potential during his early years in the minors. He is now 28, and while he has still been bouncing between the minors and majors for the past three years, he seemed to really put everything together last year at triple-A Oklahoma, with 37 HRs, 99 RBIs, a .342 average and 24 stolen bases. After getting called up to Texas in August , Cruz initially struggled, but then went on to have an exceptional September, where he hit .356, with 6 HRs and 23 RBIs in 90 at-bats. Although Cruz does seem to strikeout at a fairly high rate, his power proclivity is undeniable, and combined with his untapped stolen base potential, he makes a terrific player to add to your fantasy roster, at a very reasonable ADP of about round 11-12.

Player Spotlights By Junkyard Jake JunkyardJake.Com