As the start of the MLB season approaches, it is also time to start preparing for the fantasy baseball season. When it comes time for your league to draft, be on the lookout for some special players hiding in the lower sections of the rankings. Here are five players that you can expect to see in the late rounds.
- 1.Nick Markakis – OF: Despite hitting just three home runs last season, Markakis is a solid pickup if you need some consistency. With a batting average of .296 and OBP of .370 in 2015, Markakis will get you the non-glamour stats while playing every day.
- 2.J.A Happ – SP: This veteran pitcher will return to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016 and will look to build on an excellent finish to last season. In 2015, Happ struggled with Seattle and was traded to Pittsburgh where he finished the season with a 7-2 record and a 1.85 ERA in 11 starts.
- 3.Stephen Piscotty – OF: In his rookie season Piscotty played in just 63 games — hitting .305 in the process. He was also exceptional in the Cardinals postseason series against the Cubs when he had three home runs and six RBI’s in four games. This year the Cardinals will look to have Piscotty as their starting right fielder.
- 4.Danny Valencia – 3B: In the past five seasons Valencia has played for six different teams, but in 2016, the third baseman will hold a starting position for the first time since 2011. In 105 games last season, he hit .290 with 18 HR’s and 66 RBI’s.
- 5.Josh Tomlin – SP: In 10 starts last season, Tomlin racked up a record of 7-2 and a 3.02 ERA. In addition to those numbers, Tomlin averaged 6.5 innings per game and 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings. In 2016, Tomlin will look to become a consistent force in the Indians rotation by building on his short but impressive 2015 season.
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