5 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers Who Deserve a Second Chance

Based on their low average draft position, these hitters offer great value.

Fantasy draft season is in full swing, and as you get into the later rounds of your draft you’ll be looking to take some swings of your own.

Baseball is a tough business. Often, young players endure a mediocre start after too much hype and we write them off. But should we?

Enter, the post-hype sleepers.

The five players listed here are some of my favorites based on their average draft position (ADP) and what they can offer if they can fulfill their potential in the major leagues. You’ve heard of all these players before, and maybe your memory of them is not so great, but it could be time to give them another chance. Most importantly, at their current ADP, there’s nothing to lose. 

SEE ALSO: Top Sleepers (Pitchers} | Top Sleepers (Hitters) | Bust Candidates 

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Spencer Torkelson, 1B (DET)

Remember Tork? He was the no. 1 pick in the 2020 draft. Torkleson played 110 games in 2022 and hit only eight home runs while batting .203. Not very impressive, to say the least. But, there are signs of life for the 23-year-old hitter. Torkelson leads all Tigers in exit velocity in spring training, and he launched his first homer on Saturday. Detroit is moving in and lowering the fences in what was the deepest centerfield in baseball, and that should only help Torkelson and his teammate Riley Greene (more on Greene later). After all, Torkelsons’s eight home runs would have been 13 if all his games were played at Great American Ballpark or Oracle Park, according to Statcast. Torkelson is going at an ADP of 293. 

Nolan Gorman, 2B (STL)

It’s crowded in St Louis with Lars Nootbar, Tyler O’Neill, Dylan Carlson and Jordan Walker all making noise for an opening day spot. Don’t forget about Gorman, who has put on a show since getting more playing time while the other Nolan (Arenado) was playing in the World Baseball Classic. Gorman has hit .325 with three home runs, 12 RBIs and an OPS of .988 in 40 spring training at-bats. Gorman had 14 homers and 39 RBIs in 89 games at the major-league level last season. Gorman is going at an ADP of 337. If you’re looking for a Jose Altuve replacement in a deeper league, this could be your guy.

C.J. Abrams, SS/2B (WAS)

Don’t forget that Abrams was a major piece in the deal that sent Juan Soto from Washington to San Diego. His sprint speed is in the 91st percentile of the league – with the new bigger bases and new rules affecting the pickoff, Abrams could be a big boon for your stolen base category. He ran more after his trade to the Nationals, and he hit .306 across the months of September and October for Washington. He’s worth a late flier at pick 245.

Riley Greene, OF (DET)

As much as Torkelson may have been affected by the fences, Greene could have been affected even more. Greene’s five homers would have been 11 if all his games were played in Cincinnati and 13 in Milwaukee -- more than double! Not only that, but Green got a late start to the season due to a fractured bone in his foot. No doubt that injury slowed him down. Greene is hitting .325 with two homers and a .995 OPS this spring across 40 at-bats. The lefty is coming off the board at an ADP of 187.

Jarred Kelenic, OF (SEA)

I know, I know. It feels like we have fallen for this before. This kid always rakes in spring Training and in the minors, and then he struggles at the major-league level. The good news is, everyone else has soured on him and you can have him practically for free at an ADP of 260. Once one of the top prospects in baseball and only 23 years old, I’m willing to give it another go. He’s crushing again in spring training, batting .410 with four homers and an OPS of 1.311. One of these days, this ticket has to hit.