2012 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers are based on a standard single season redraft mixed AL/NL fantasy baseball league for the 2012 season. Scoring settings include: runs scored, home runs, RBI, stolen bases, and batting average – (R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG). ( ) = players age.
Sleepers are based on players who have the potential to make a significant statistical impact during the 2012 season.
2012 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers – Top 10 Hitters
Ike Davis – NYM – 1B (24)
Starting out on a huge breakout pace to begin the 2011 season, Davis was developing into the Mets’ top power hitter and run producer before getting injured in early May. Dealing with an ankle injury that forced him to miss the remainder of the 2011 season, Davis will enter the 2012 season looking to continue upon his breakout status. With Davis expected to be fully healthy and healed to begin the 2012 season, there is plenty of potential to believe that Davis could lead the Mets in home runs and rbi in 2012.
2011 Major League Stats: 129 AB, 20 R, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 0 SB, .302 AVG
2012 Stat Projections: 80 R, 28 HR, 95 RBI, 2 SB, .290 AVG
Mike Moustakas – KC – 3B (23)
Considered one of the top power hitting minor league prospects entering the 2011 season, Moustakas earned his major league call-up in early June last season and immediately took over as the Royals everyday starting third baseman. After struggling initially at the plate to begin his major league career, Moustakas improved significantly as the season went on and he gained more experience. As the Royals cornerstone at 3B, Moustakas should take over as one of the Royals top power hitting run producers during the 2012 season, as he will likely bat 5th or 6th in the everyday lineup.
2011 Minor League Triple A Stats: 223 AB, 38 R, 10 HR, 44 RBI, 1 SB, .287 AVG
2011 Major League Stats: 338 AB, 26 R, 5 HR, 30 RBI, 2 SB, .263 AVG
2012 Stat Projections: 70 R, 25 HR, 80 RBI, 5 SB, .275 AVG
Jason Kipnis – Cle – 2B (24)
Entering the 2011 season as one of the top second base power hitting minor league prospects, Kipnis earned his major league call-up with the Indians in mid-July last season. Wasting no time in realizing his major league hitting potential, Kipnis immediately racked up 7 home runs, 9 doubles, and 5 stolen bases over just 136 at bats in the Indians lineup. With the starting 2B job his for the taking in Cleveland, Kipnis could easily become a 15 home run and 15 stolen base player during the 2012 season.
2011 Minor League Triple A Stats: 343 AB, 65 R, 12 HR, 55 RBI, 12 SB, .280 AVG
2011 Major League Stats: 136 AB, 24 R, 7 HR, 19 RBI, 5 SB, .272 AVG
2012 Stat Projections: 85 R, 15 HR, 70 RBI, 15 SB, .285 AVG
Yonder Alonso – SD – 1B/OF (24)
As one of the top hitting first base prospects in the minors over the past three years, Alonso enters the 2012 season with an opportunity to finally take over as an everyday major league starting first baseman. With the starting 1B job his for the taking in San Diego, Alonso is an advanced hitting and experienced rookie who could easily make a run at rookie of the year honors in the NL for the 2012 season. Expect Alonso to hit in the middle of the Padres’ lineup and become a factor as a power hitting run producer who can also hit for a .300 batting average.
2011 Minor League Triple A Stats: 358 AB, 46 R, 12 HR, 56 RBI, 6 SB, .296 AVG
2011 Major League Stats: 88 AB, 9 R, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 0 SB, .330 AVG
2012 Stat Projections: 75 R, 18 HR, 85 RBI, 5 SB, .290 AVG
Devin Mesoraco – Cin – C (23)
As one of the best hitting catcher prospects in the minor leagues during the 2011 season, the 23 year old Mesoraco will be given an opportunity to take over as the Cincinnati Reds everyday starting catcher as rookie in 2012. Offering an excellent power hitting bat, Mesoraco has plenty of potential to tally 15 plus home runs during the 2012 season. Fantasy baseball teams will definitely want to target Mesoraco has a high upside catcher pick in their fantasy baseball drafts this season.
2011 Minor League Triple A Stats: 436 AB, 60 R, 15 HR, 71 RBI, 1 SB, .289 AVG
2011 Major League Stats: 50 AB, 5 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB, .180 AVG
2012 Stat Projections: 50 R, 15 HR, 55 RBI, 0 SB, .270 AVG
Lonnie Chisenhall – Cle – 3B (23)
After beginning the 2011 in the minors, Chisenhall received his major league debut call-up in late June of last season. Deemed the starting third baseman of the future in Cleveland, Chisenhall took a few baby steps into that direction over the second half of the 2011 season. With the starting 3B job his for the taking to begin the 2012 season, Chisenhall offers solid power hitting ability to become a 20 home run threat in the Indians lineup in 2012.
2011 Minor League Triple A Stats: 255 AB, 45 R, 7 HR, 45 RBI, 0 SB, .267 AVG
2011 Major League Stats: 212 AB, 27 R, 7 HR, 22 RBI, 1 SB, .255 AVG
2012 Stat Projections: 65 R, 18 HR, 70 RBI, 2 SB, .260 AVG
Dee Gordon – LAD – SS (23)
A proven stolen base threat with plenty of speed to burn, Gordon enters the 2012 season as one of the top base stealing players in the entire majors leagues. With the starting shortstop position his for the taking in Los Angeles, Gordon who racked up an excellent .304 batting average and 24 stolen bases over 224 at bats with the Dodgers as a rookie last season, will look to continue on his success in 2012. As the Dodgers everyday leadoff hitter, there is plenty of potential for Gordon to rack up at least 40 stolen bases this season.
2011 Minor League Triple A Stats: 288 AB, 51 R, 0 HR, 24 RBI, 30 SB, .333 AVG
2011 Major League Stats: 224 AB, 34 R, 0 HR, 11 RBI, 24 SB, .304 AVG
2012 Stat Projections: 90 R, 2 HR, 35 RBI, 40 SB, .290 AVG
Salvador Perez – KC – C (21)
Entering the 2011 season having never played above Single A in the minors, the 21 year old Perez zipped through the Royals minor league system in 2011. After spending 79 games at Double A and just 12 games at Triple A, Perez was called up by the Royals in August and immediately took over as the starting catcher. With a successful major league debut under his belt in 2011, Perez is poised to break out as one of the top hitting catchers in the majors during the 2012 season. Possessing an excellent eye at the plate to go along with a little pop in his bat, Perez could easily tally a batting average around .290 plus while also adding in around 10 home runs.
2011 Minor League Double A Stats: 286 AB, 35 R, 9 HR, 43 RBI, 0 SB, .283 AVG
2011 Minor League Triple A Stats: 48 AB, 5 R, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 0 SB, .333 AVG
2011 Major League Stats: 148 AB, 20 R, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 0 SB, .331 AVG
2012 Stat Projections: 40 R, 10 HR, 45 RBI, 0 SB, .290 AVG
Zack Cozart – Cin – SS (26)
Entering the 2011 season as a duel threat offensive player who was coming off of a 2010 minor league season at Triple A that resulted in 17 home runs and 30 stolen bases, it only seemed reasonable to expect Cozart to be given an opportunity to make his major league debut and eventually start in the Reds lineup at some point during the 2011 season. Finally getting the call in early July, Cozart took over as the Reds starting shortstop and immediately made his presence felt at the plate as he racked up 2 home runs to go along with a .324 batting average over just 37 at bats. Unfortunately his major league showcase was cut short as he endured a freak injury that caused him to undergo elbow surgery and miss the remainder of the 2011 season. Now entering the 2012 season, Cozart is positioned to take over as the Reds everyday starting shortstop, and he should provide a solid combination of power and speed in the Reds lineup as a rookie this year.
2011 Minor League Triple A Stats: 323 AB, 57 R, 7 HR, 32 RBI, 9 SB, .310 AVG
2011 Major League Stats: 37 AB, 6 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB, .324 AVG
2012 Stat Projections: 80 R, 15 HR, 60 RBI, 10 SB, .280 AVG
Jose Tabata – Pit – OF (23)
After turning in a solid rookie season in 2010, Tabata entered the 2011 season with growing expectations to lead the Pirates offensive attack. And while Tabata started the 2011 season looking like a breakout candidate, he eventually went into a slide at the plate and eventually dealt with injuries over the second half of the season that limited him to just 20 games played. Now entering the 2012 season fully healthy and ready to become the Pirates everyday leadoff hitter, Tabata is poised to rack up 30 stolen bases, while also tallying a good amount of runs scored and a solid batting average.
2011 Major League Stats: 334 AB, 53 R, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 16 SB, .266 AVG
2012 Stat Projections: 80 R, 5 HR, 40 RBI, 30 SB, .290 AVG
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