Jung-Ho Kang is one of several deep sleeper options
This article will include a list of super-sleeper players that can help you get the home runs and stolen bases you so badly need for your fantasy team. These are hitters that are still heavily available in most standard Yahoo leagues. Home runs and steals can still be found.
Stats are through 5/16/15. All players are owned in less than 25% of standard Yahoo leagues.
3B/SS – Jung-Ho Kang – PIT (owned: 19%)
The former Korean Baseball star has finally been given a chance recently to show Pittsburgh whether or not his offseason signing was worth it. So far he hasn’t disappointed. Most have heard of the power he has shown in the past in his professional baseball days in Korea, and it’s looking like a potential 20-plus home run season out of him in the majors is a real possibility. He now has two home runs (while driving in nine runs and scoring six) and is batting .299 in 67 at-bats. An added bonus is his not so flashy, but solid ability to steal double-digit bases. He’s a very intriguing option at the moment if you’re looking for a hitter with long-ball potential as well as the ability to steal bases.
2B/OF – Delino DeShields – TEX (owned: 13%)
DeShields has already stolen 9 bases and hasn’t even cracked 50 at-bats. The Rangers seem to be willing to give him consistent playing time as long as he continues to hit. He’s currently hitting .286 and has 14 runs scored with 9 runs batted in. He has ideal position flexibility in fantasy leagues and can be a real difference maker for teams. Now’s the time to acquire him.
1B – Jon Singleton – HOU (owned: 6%)
Jon Singleton set a Fresno (Houston’s Triple-A team) franchise record with 10 RBI on Wednesday. He now has 12 home runs and 40 runs batted in on the year for Fresno, and could be on the verge of a call-up. It may be true that he had a rough start to his major league career, batting only .168, but this year could be different. If current Astros starting first baseman Chris Carter continues to struggle throughout the next week or two, the job could be made more available, with Singleton getting a shot to prove himself sooner than not. Now wouldn’t be a bad time to take a flier on him in AL-only or deeper leagues. The slugger has 20-plus homer potential. Get him now, stash him away on your bench and be patient if you are in desperate need of HRs.
2B/3B – Luis Valbuena – HOU (owned: 22%)
Valbuena isn’t going to help your team’s overall batting average (career .228 hitter), but he has potential to smack 20-plus home runs and score 80-plus runs. He currently has nine home runs and 20 runs scored in 132 at-bats. Those would be solid numbers for a second baseman, and he also has third base eligibility. If you have a glaring hole in your lineup at the starting second base position and/or your team is in need of some added pop, he’s not a bad option.
OF – Billy Burns – OAK (owned: 2%)
Burns, currently sporting a .288 batting average with seven runs scored and two stolen bases, might be the most underrated and underappreciated speedster in the game today when you consider his league ownership percentage. Yes, he hasn’t gotten off to a blazing start this season since he was called back up in early May, but everyone knows what kind of pest he can be on the base paths. He’s clearly not a home run hitter, but he had an impressive 184 stolen bases from 2011-2015 in the minors. He also hit a respectable .289 during that span. It should only be a matter of time before he starts stealing bases at a noticeable rate for the Athletics.
CD Hill is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from CD, check out his archive.
