Shortstops were once thought to be the center of the offense in baseball, then it became strictly a defensive position. Now, there are some great options all across baseball, including some sleepers in the later rounds for fantasy purposes. Here are some shortstops to keep an eye on should you need one in the later rounds of your drafts.
Jhonny Peralta, St. Louis
Last year, Peralta hit .305 with 11 home runs and 55 RBI. He is a perfect fit for the Cardinals offense, a good situational hitter and can produce in the Cardinals lineup. At an ADP of 222, you can get a solid starter in the later rounds should you want to wait on a shortstop. Peralta has been a good fantasy option for the last few years, and this year should be no exception. He is in my queue to be drafted as a starter, should I not select a Tulowitzki or Reyes early.
Jose Iglesias, Detroit
In that lineup, Iglesias could see a lot of fastballs with protection up and down the order. He will also score a lot of runs. With his ADP at 312, he could be one of the better sleepers in your draft. There is little to no risk in taking Iglesias, so save him for the last few rounds, and stash him as a good backup.
Jed Lowrie, Oakland
Last year, he hit .290 with 15 home runs and 75 RBI. Lowrie has been able to hit his entire career, but just was unable to stay healthy. Last year was his first full season with no issues, and he produced a great season in terms of fantasy value for a middle infielder. There is no reason why he will not be able to duplicate last year’s production, and be a catalyst to the Athletics offense. With an ADP of 192 in the 17th to 19th round, there may not be a better option at shortstop.
Others to keep an eye on: Derek Jeter, NYY, Miguel Sano MIN, Mike Aviles, CLE.
ADP’s are based on data from FantasyPros.com
Stay tuned for the rest of the “Fantasy Baseball Draft Advice: Sleepers by Position” series.
