Anyone that has been around the fantasy-baseball world for even a minute is well acquainted with the term “sleeper.” At this time of year, everyone entering drafts is in search of those players with cheap draft stock that can pay off big time.
My picks have, so far, regularly been available for those final couple of rounds in early drafts based on consensus ADP around the industry. Each of them has the potential to deliver serious value for fantasy managers and could become an absolute steal this season.
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Sleepers Outside the Top 300: Kike Hernandez
The following player is a sleeper to consider in the late stages of 2023 fantasy-baseball drafts.
Kike Hernandez (2B, SS, OF – BOS)
Despite the fact that Hernandez has played just 81 2/3 innings at shortstop over the past two years in Boston, he is the favorite to man the position for the Red Sox in 2023. In addition, the versatile veteran could end up in the top part of the batting order. That development would immediately enhance Hernandez’s fantasy value, as he would likely be in one of the two spots in front of RBI machine Rafael Devers.
Hernandez enjoyed a career year as the main leadoff man for the Red Sox in 2021, posting a .786 OPS with 20 HR, 60 RBI and 84 R over 134 games. Those numbers all fell off last year, but at age 31, Hernandez should still be plenty capable of something similar. Manager Alex Cora has even suggested recently that he wants Hernandez to swipe some bags in 2023.
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