Fantasy Baseball 2013 - Players to Watch

C
-Mike Zunino, SEA
It looks like the future may be now for M's uber-prospect Mike Zunino. Over his last seven games, he's hitting .350 with 4 RBI, 7 runs scored and a HR. If you're in a 2-catcher league, scoop him up immediately. And those of you in standard leagues should keep an eye on him, because he appears to hitting his stride. Obviously, I wouldn't drop someone like Jonathan Lucroy (MIL) or Brian McCann (ATL) for him. But if you happen to be stuck with a Jason Castro (HOU) or a Russell Martin (PIT) at C, you might want to roll the dice.


1B
-Yonder Alonso, SD
Since returning from the DL, Alonso has been hot for San Diego, posting a .380 average over his last 6 games, with 3 RBI and, rather surprisingly, 3 SBs as well. While I don't expect him to steal many more bags, it should be noted he's already doubled last year's total with 6, and could potentially reach double-digits at the rate he's going. And while he may not hit for much power, which is hard to overlook at the 1B position, he may surprise in that regard. Someone to watch in deeper leagues, especially if you need to raise your BA.


2B
-Omar Infante, DET
Due to return from the DL sometime this weekend (possibly as soon as Friday), Infante was hitting .309 with 6 HR and 4 SBs before he hurt himself. And, over the last 7 games before he went down, he had been on a tear, hitting .478 with a HR, 3 RBIs and a stolen base. While there's bound to be some rust after sitting out for the last 2 weeks, he's not a bad player to target if he was dropped in your league and you need middle infield help. At the very least, he's someone to watch, especially since he hits in that insane super-lineup they've got in Detroit.


3B
-Todd Frazier, CIN
Don't look now but Reds' 3B, Todd Frazier, has been mashing over his last seven games, hitting .392 and knocking in 7 RBIs. And, not only does he play in Cincinnati, which is undoubtedly a hitter's park, but he is very well capable of producing big power numbers, having hit 19 HRs in only 422 at-bats last season, so the HRs should come. With that being said, I wouldn't get crazy and drop someone of value for him, but if you're stuck with a player like Michael Young (PHI) or Brett Lawrie (TOR) at 3B, you may want to give Frazier a second look.


SS
-Xander Bogaerts, BOS
It's difficult to say when Red Sox uber-prospect, Xander Bogaerts, might get the call up to Boston, but I'm starting to get the feeling that it could be soon. Which means, if you're in a deep league, sign & stash him immediately. His power is for real, and there's a fairly good chance he could actually be just as good, if not better than Baltimore's Manny Machado, who, like Bogaerts, is also only 20 years old. But don't let his age fool you. The guy is a quick learner, and could be up with the big league club sooner rather than later. Could he bomb? Of course. Prospects in fantasy are always a gamble, and many of them don't pan out. But those who do are extremely valuable, needless to say.


OF
-Christian Yelich, MIA
Like Bogaerts, Yelich is another uber-prospect, but unlike his counterpart in Boston, he's already up getting at-bats with the big league club. And he didn't disappoint in his first major league game, going 3 for 4 and knocking in 2 RBIs. Granted, he did drop a goose egg in his second game, but he definitely has the potential to help your fantasy team down the stretch. Not only can he hit for a high average and power, but he can steal bases as well. And playing for Miami, his at-bats are all but guaranteed. So, if you're in a deep league and need help in the OF, pick him up, especially if you've got Nelson Cruz (TEX) or one of the other Biogenisis clients on your roster.


SP
-Chris Archer, TB
This list may be starting to look like the Future Games roster, but that's for good reason, as rookie Chris Archer has been totally dominant since getting the call from the minors, posting a 4-0 record, with a 1.62 ERA and 23 Ks over his last 6 starts. What's more is his stuff has looked absolutely electric, so I'd be willing to go out on a limb and say this is no fluke. Though never considered a truly elite prospect, like Bogaerts & Yelich, he has always had the pedigree, and it's no surprise he's seeing success in the majors. So, if he's still available in your league, I'd pounce on him. With that being said, I wouldn't get too crazy with it. I'd probably draw the line at a Jeremy Hellickson/Jarrod Parker-caliber pitcher, but feel free to cut anyone below that level for him.


RP
-Pedro Strop, CHC
With Kevin Gregg on the trading block in Chicago, it's a strong possibility the Cubs will have a new closer within the next few days. And even if Gregg stays, he's been struggling mightily as of late, giving up 7 earned runs over his last 8 innings pitched. So, it's fairly likely he'll get demoted even if he stays in Chicago. And if he does, I'm leaning toward Strop for saves over his fellow bullpen arms Blake Parker and James Russell. Since coming to Chicago, he hasn't allowed a single run out of the pen, and has experience pitching in late-game situations. So, if you're in a league where saves come at a premium, you may want to invest in Strop.


+MLB