Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
The shortstop position in fantasy baseball has become a bit of a crapshoot in recent years. Big names like Hanley Ramirez, Troy Tulowitzki, Ian Desmond, and Jose Reyes are all ranked among the top players at their position, but they all come with some lingering injury concerns.
However, there are several stopgaps worth grabbing in the later rounds. One of these late-round sleepers to look for after the top-10 options is SS Andrelton Simmons of the Atlanta Braves.
Simba was a popular sleeper during 2013 drafts, but the stopgap hit a meager .248 throughout the year. He was simply unable to get into any kind of rhythm at the plate, as he dispassionately hit under .230 in the months June and August.
Simmons did hit 17 home runs, though, and showed that he possesses 20-plus home run potential. Considering the lack of consistent power-hitters at the position, Simmons could find himself among the top-10 shortstops when it is all said and done.
The Dutch born infielder is only 24 years old and he has a long career ahead of him. He is an outstanding defensive talent, and that alone, will keep him active on a daily basis. Simmons does have a lot of work to do in the cage, but the lack of competition for playing time will do wonders for the youngster’s confidence.
Simmons will be a decent low-end option to take a shot on this spring. The shortstop isn’t worth a pick in the early rounds, but he could potentially turn into a steal anywhere after the first 10 rounds.
2014 Projection: .278 Batting Average, .328 On Base Percentage, 22 HRs, 82 runs scored
Adam McGill is the Senior Fantasy Sports Writer at Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @adammcgill83, like him on Facebook, or add him to you networks on Google here or here.
