Sleeper Watch

Quick: which player has scored the most runs over the last month? No, not Albert Pujols or Todd Helton, who both have 26. Not even red-hot Eric Byrnes, who has 25. Give up? The answer is Blue Jays right fielder Reed Johnson, who crossed the plate a whopping 28 times over that span.

Johnson hasn’t received much fantasy recognition so far, but that’s bound to change. Hitting in front of Vernon Wells and Carlos Delgado in Toronto’s powerful lineup, his run-scoring pace is anything but a fluke. Hitting a solid .314 in the majors after posting a .327 average at AAA Syracuse (along with a .446 slugging percentage), the unheralded rookie will continue to have plenty of opportunities to score, although he still needs to significantly improve his patience at the plate.

While he won’t immediately give you the rbi numbers you’d like to see from an OF, Johnson’s six home runs in 33 games are decent. Don’t expect speed, though: Johnson hasn’t successfully swiped a bag yet (in three attempts), although he did steal three bases in the minors.

Reed Johnson, Toronto’s 17th-round pick four years ago, may not have received the hype of numerous other rookies, but he’s turning into a valuable asset for both the Blue Jays and fantasy owners. With waiver wires looking pretty empty in many leagues, Johnson is a nice find.