Every year the stolen base becomes less and less a part of baseball. There were 2,209 successfully swiped bags last year, down nearly a third from the start of the previous decade (3,279 in 2011). With this season’s addition of the NL DH and more teams likely adopting the “AL style of play,” steals may take an even more dramatic hit than in years past.
A few top base-stealers are left, but they are no secret and will cost you a pretty penny. The less-heralded ones will earn you somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 to 20 steals that can sometimes be more valuable. Many of these undervalued speedsters will not only rack up the bases but also contribute considerably in other categories.
These speedy sleepers are all ranked past the 170th ADP. Many are five-category contributors, but all will help boost your stolen base total.
ADP determined using our consensus Average Draft Position
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Robbie Grossman (OF – DET)
ADP: 174
Robbie Grossman is finally starting to gain some recognition this year with the buzz surrounding the young Tigers. He has risen inside the top 200 for the first time in his career, and for good reason. The 32-year-old outfielder is the best in the league at not chasing pitches. His acute eye allows him to easily get on base where he has consistently stolen bases. Last year he registered 20 bags on 25 attempts, and the year before, he safely swiped eight of nine in only 51 games due to the season cut short by the pandemic.
Grossman also hits for power. He launched 23 long balls last year – his first year with Detroit, while also contributing 23 doubles and three triples. With his OBP reaching .350+ and an improved surrounding cast, the patient outfielder could score nearly 100 runs, as well.
He’s not the fastest player on the field, but he knows how to pick his spots and should produce handily across the board. Expect Grossman to serve as a quality fourth or fifth outfielder and one to target in the mid-to-late teen rounds.
Kolten Wong (2B – MIL)
ADP 194
Barring injury, Kolten Wong should function as the everyday leadoff hitter in Milwaukee. The two-time Gold Glove winner does a little bit of everything while consistently stealing bases. Over an entire season, he could easily reach 20 thefts if he somehow manages to stay on the field.
Last year, Wong also improved his power numbers, reaching a career-high 14 bombs and 32 doubles, despite only playing in 115 games. His 50 RBIs weren’t great, but with the NL DH implemented, the speedy second baseman will no longer have to hit behind the pitcher. Wong’s move to Milwaukee no doubt helped his bat and with a little luck, he could be one of the more productive players at middle infield.
The Hawaiian native is currently going at 226th overall, but the experts like him a few rounds earlier. With a projection of 80/15/60/17/.275, Wong’s late ADP makes him quite valuable.
Oneil Cruz (SS – PIT)
ADP 247
Oneil Cruz is highly undervalued this year. His projections are worthy of a 16th round pick, yet he’s going near the end of drafts. Most sites have him swiping between 14 and 20 bags, but playing for the dismal Pirates, I believe they let him loose and he finishes closer to the latter.
Because he’s so tall, many scouts project a high strikeout total, but there should be no doubting his abilities. After hitting 12 home runs in Double-A to go along with 18 steals and a .292 batting average, the Pirates promoted Cruz to Triple-A, where he hit five home runs in six games while walking six times and stealing a base. Cruz even launched a homer in the Big Leagues for good measure over his two-game cup of coffee, where he went three for nine with three RBIs.
Cruz dealt with a forearm strain last year, limiting his playing time. But entering this season fully healthy, the young Dominican could make the roster out of Spring Training or at the very least by early May. Over the last few years, the Pirates’ shortstop production has been dreadful, so it shouldn’t take long for the organization to hand over the reins to Cruz. A 20/20 season could very easily be the result, making for the 6’7″ behemoth a must-have sleeper in the late rounds.
Raimel Tapia (OF – COL)
ADP 267
Raimel Tapia fizzled down the stretch last year and saw his playing time diminish. He lost most starts to Sam Hilliard or Connor Joe (both good sleepers), but with the DH coming to the NL, the Rockies should have more than enough room to find steady playing time for their ideal leadoff hitter.
Tapia doesn’t strike out, gets on base, offers a little power, and has speed to burn. Last year he swiped 20 bags on 26 attempts in 133 games. Tapia also possesses the tools to hit in the .300s, but a .285 average seems more likely. He shouldn’t be a platoon candidate because he hit lefties for a better average (.292 – but with less power).
The Rockies have some exciting young talent and are still looking to improve this Spring. With their under-the-radar presence and Tapia leading off, the quick-footed center fielder makes for a great sleeper and could be in for a career year.
Vidal Brujan (2B/OF – TB)
ADP 316
Vial Brujan is fast. He has the wheels to rack up a few steals a week if he can somehow find his way into the lineup. He only played in 10 games last year and didn’t hit at all, but that should hardly scare you off the Rays’ lighting fast prospect who attempted a steal in more than half his games last year.
Brujan exhibited top 10 percent sprint speed in his short coffee cup, giving fantasy managers just a glimpse into his abilities. He stole 68 bases between his two stops at Double-A and Triple-A (158 games) and could easily reach 30 if he plays in 100 MLB games this year.
The Rays will mix and match their lineup as they always do, but many consider Brujan the future at the keystone to pair with Wander Franco up the middle. The young Dominican could finish in the top 10 of stolen bases if he can earn enough playing time.
Harrison Bader (OF – STL)
ADP 245
Harrison Bader showed last year that he can still be a relevant fantasy player, ranking in the top three percent in sprint speed. The talented center fielder could be a fine late-round source for 12+ stolen bases. If he can stay healthy, the hard-nosed Bader could produce a solid 20/15 season with enough RBIs and runs scored to make him a valuable fifth outfielder.
He’s at no risk of losing playing time, and with the NL DH, batting near the bottom of the lineup won’t hurt his production as much as it has in the past. Bader’s going undrafted in many leagues, making him a vastly under-appreciated asset, which you should use to your advantage.
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Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.
