Sleeper of the Week

When a hitter in Colorado’s minor league system is doing well, savvy fantasy owners pay attention, hoping to snare the next player to benefit from the most hitter-friendly home field in the league. That being the case, it’s a bit surprising how little attention outfielder Rene Reyes has been receiving in fantasy circles.

Reyes, a switch-hitting outfielder, leads Colorado Springs (AAA) batters in average with an excellent .342 mark, and his 44 rbi are second on the team to Garrett Atkins. And while Reyes isn’t much of a power threat yet with only five home runs in 336 at bats, Coors Field might change that should he be called up to the majors.

That, of course, is the catch: with Larry Walker, Preston Wilson, and Jay Payton firmly entrenched in Colorado’s outfield, it’s questionable whether the Rockies will be needing Reyes’ services anytime soon. However, now that Gabe Kapler has been released, the outfield logjam may not be quite as severe as it was just a few weeks ago; also, Reyes is outplaying teammate Choo Freeman, who is struggling at the AAA level in spite of his talent, hitting a disappointing .256.

Rene Reyes might not be able to help your fantasy team immediately, but he’s well worth watching (and stashing away on your minor league keeper roster). Given time and opportunity, he could turn into a very valuable fantasy asset; for now, keep an eye on his progress at Colorado Springs.