Sleeper of the Week

If you’re planning picking up a bargain second baseman at the end of your draft while letting other owners pay high prices for the likes of Jeff Kent and Luis Castillo, Joe Thurston might be just the player you’re looking for. A hit machine in the minors,Thurston now takes his act to Los Angeles, where he is expected to be the Dodgers’ everyday second baseman.

While Thurston’s most noteworthy traits are the good bat speed and an excellent command of the strike zone that led to a minor-league high 196 hits, he also displayed above-average speed at AAA Las Vegas last season. And while he’ll never be known as a power hitter, Thurston dod show occasional pop, hitting twelve home runs in 2002.

In a brief late-season call-up, Thurston impressed with four hits in his first game. Could this be a sign of things to come? While we don’t expect immediate stardom, we see good things down the road for Thurston, whose command of the game’s fundamentals puts him ahead of many of this year’s rookies. These skills, as well as a willingness to do whatever it takes to win ballgames, should make him a favorite of any manager he plays for and ensure plenty of playing time.

For this season, consider Thurston a nice bargain at the end of the draft. In keeper leagues, he’s well worth including in your long-term plans.