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2015 Fantasy Baseball: Top 15 Stolen Base Specialists

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By @Tidow1212

2015 Fantasy Baseball: Top 15 Stolen Base Specialists

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Stolen bases are oftentimes the most overlooked stat during fantasy baseball drafts, but they remain incredibly important, particularly in category leagues. Use this as a reference in efforts of drafting players who do a bit of everything.

15. SS - Alcides Escobar - Kansas City Royals

2014 Japan All-Star Series - Game 5: Samurai Japan v. MLB All-Stars
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15. SS - Alcides Escobar - Kansas City Royals

2014 Japan All-Star Series - Game 5: Samurai Japan v. MLB All-Stars
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Alcides Escobar had a bounce back year in 2014, batting .285 and accumulating a .317 OBP to go along with 31 stolen bases. He won't go nearly undrafted like he did last season, since it's unlikely that he will bog down your average with a season like he had in 2013. While he's probably not your every day SS, obtaining Escobar as a stolen base specialist is undoubtedly worth your while. Expect him to at least finish with 30 steals.

14. OF - Charlie Blackmon - Colorado Rockies

San Diego Padres v Colorado Rockies
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14. OF - Charlie Blackmon - Colorado Rockies

San Diego Padres v Colorado Rockies
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As the saying goes, "better late than never." Charlie Blackmon might have waited to have his breakout MLB season until 28 years old, but what a campaign it was. The Colorado Rockies OF hit .288 and racked up 28 steals, earning his first All-Star appearance. Clearly, Blackmon is a jack of all trades, but the novice fantasy baseball player is unfamiliar with him since he plays for the Rockies. Don't be afraid to draft him earlier than his ADP.

13. OF - Lorenzo Cain - Kansas City Royals

2014 World Series Game 7: San Francisco Giants v. Kansas City Royals
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13. OF - Lorenzo Cain - Kansas City Royals

2014 World Series Game 7: San Francisco Giants v. Kansas City Royals
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Lorenzo Cain is plain and simply underrated, but take advantage of it. In 2014, over 133 games he hit .301 with a .339 OBP on his way to 28 stolen bases. The Kansas City Royals love manufacturing runs by being aggressive on the base paths, so as long as Cain is seeing adequate playing time he's going to be valuable to your roster, particularly in category leagues.

12. OF - Jordan Schafer - Minnesota Twins

Cleveland Indians v Minnesota Twins
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12. OF - Jordan Schafer - Minnesota Twins

Cleveland Indians v Minnesota Twins
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It's hard to know how much playing time Jordan Schafer will see for the Minnesota Twins in 2015, but one thing is for sure, he will be swiping bags whenever he is on the field. In just 147 plate appearances during 2014, he stole 15 bases -- essentially one for every ten times at the plate. Pro-rate that to a full season, and he is stealing 60 a year, which is stellar. Keep an eye on him on the waiver wire this season.

11. OF - Starling Marte - Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates v Atlanta Braves
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11. OF - Starling Marte - Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates v Atlanta Braves
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Starling Marte can be frustrating due to his oftentimes maddeningly inconsistent play, but he's still young, so that could change this season. His 2014 campaign finished much better than most give him credit for as he hit .291 with 30 stolen bases. Yes, that was 11 less than the season prior, but don't expect the trend to continue. With Gregory Polanco yet to breakout, Marte has time to prove he's every bit the same caliber of talent.

10. OF - Leonys Martin - Texas Rangers

Oakland Athletics v Texas Rangers
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10. OF - Leonys Martin - Texas Rangers

Oakland Athletics v Texas Rangers
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The Texas Rangers' Leonys Martin is like baseball's version of a Nissan Sentra: reliable, great to have, yet never gets much credit. In 2014, Martin hit .274 with 31 stolen bases. He'll never overwhelm statistically, but Martin will provide essentially what you need him to for fantasy purposes.

9. OF - Denard Span - Washington Nationals

Philadelphia Phillies v Washington Nationals
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9. OF - Denard Span - Washington Nationals

Philadelphia Phillies v Washington Nationals
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Denard Span started off incredibly slow last season and then went on a run scoring, base stealing rampage to the delight of fantasy baseball owners worldwide. He changed my season from a speed-category standpoint, and did so from the waiver wire. Something similar could happen again this year if he gets off to a slow start, so monitor his status if you choose not to draft.

8. OF - Jarrod Dyson - Kansas City Royals

World Series - Kansas City Royals v San Francisco Giants - Game Four
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8. OF - Jarrod Dyson - Kansas City Royals

World Series - Kansas City Royals v San Francisco Giants - Game Four
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Another hidden gem on the Kansas City Royals is OF Jarrod Dyson. Dyson stole a whopping 36 bases in a part time role of only 290 plate appearances. While his limited playing time does decrease his value, he's still an incredibly worthwhile piece to have on your bench and is one Royals' injury away from a full time role.

7. OF - Carlos Gomez - Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers v San Francisco Giants
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7. OF - Carlos Gomez - Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers v San Francisco Giants
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Not much explaining needs to be done when it comes to Carlos Gomez. He's going to steal around 30 bases while hitting 25 homers and driving in 80 runs. If you have to reach a bit in a categories league to secure his presence on your roster, do not balk at the opportunity.

6. OF - Jacoby Ellsbury - New York Yankees

Kansas City Royals v New York Yankees
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6. OF - Jacoby Ellsbury - New York Yankees

Kansas City Royals v New York Yankees
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For the New York Yankees, Jacoby Ellsbury can be relied on for 40 to 50 stolen bases. Long gone are the days where he's swinging for the fences as he did for the Boston Red Sox in 2011 when he hit 32 HRs. Ellsbury fits the role the Yankees need him to play perfectly as currently constructed, so expect a repeat performance of 2014 in 2015.

5. OF - Rajai Davis - Detroit Tigers

Minnesota Twins v Detroit Tigers
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5. OF - Rajai Davis - Detroit Tigers

Minnesota Twins v Detroit Tigers
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Rajai Davis is not overly popular, but he can provide you tremendous value, as he's accumulated between 36-50 stolen bases each season over the last six years. Now in Detroit with the Tigers, who need a speed guy at the top of the order now that Austin Jackson was sent packing at the trade deadline last year, you can expect more of the same from Davis despite being 34 years old.

4. OF - Ben Revere - Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies v San Diego Padres
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4. OF - Ben Revere - Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies v San Diego Padres
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Ben Revere had a stellar season on a terrible Philadelphia Phillies club in 2014. Very quietly, he tied for the NL lead in hits with 184, hit .303 and racked up a career high 49 stolen bases. Revere will fly under many fantasy drafters' radar and provide you some excellent value as a third of fourth outfielder.

3. 2B - Jose Altuve - Houston Rockets

Houston Astros v New York Mets
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3. 2B - Jose Altuve - Houston Rockets

Houston Astros v New York Mets
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If there were still people who didn't know who Jose Altuve was going into the 2014 campaign, he did everything he could to ensure that it's impossible this season. Altuve won the AL batting crown with a .341 average and stole a AL leading 56 bases to go along with his AL leading 225 hits. These statistics are otherworldly, so I highly recommend you target the Houston Astros middle-infielder in as many drafts as possible.

2. OF - Billy Hamilton - Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds v Chicago Cubs
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2. OF - Billy Hamilton - Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds v Chicago Cubs
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If you do a Google search that includes just the keywords stolen base and specialist, I'm fairly certain Billy Hamilton is what pops up. And, if it doesn't currently, it will soon. The Cincinnati Reds OF is the epitome of a one dimensional stolen base option, but at 24, his rookie season wasn't bad considering he racked up a 56 steals. If Hamilton can get his average up to around .275 it will drastically increase his fantasy value.

1. SS - Dee Gordon - Miami Marlins

poses for a photograph at Spring Training photo day at Roger Dean Stadium on February 25, 2015 in Jupiter, Florida.
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1. SS - Dee Gordon - Miami Marlins

poses for a photograph at Spring Training photo day at Roger Dean Stadium on February 25, 2015 in Jupiter, Florida.
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Dee Gordon finally played up to the potential that was dormant for the first three seasons of his career in 2014 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and finished with a NL leading 64 steals. Perhaps in a "sell high" mindset, the Dodgers opted to trade Gordon to the Miami Marlins. Miami has a young and speedy team growing, and I expect the club to use Gordon aggressively. Thus, 70-plus steals is not out of the question.

Timothy Downs is a Staff Writer for www.RantSports.com. You can ‘like him’ on Facebook add him on Google or follow him on Twitter @Tidow1212.

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