Sleeper Watch

Remember Josh Phelps? You probably do now, but a surprising number of owners will forget all about him come draft day.

One of the primary reasons why Phelps will be missing from many a draft list is his position. With just eight games played at 1B last season, he’ll only qualify at DH in most leagues, and fantasy owners are notorious for neglecting designated hitters. (How many times in the past have you seen Edgar Martinez remain undrafted until the late rounds?)

Additionally, Phelps’ batting average took a nosedive last season, dropping from a solid .309 in 2002 to a mediocre .268 (.317 vs. left-handers, just .239 against righties), something that won’t inspire confidence among drafters.

Yet there are quite a few reasons why Josh Phelps should be kept in mind. His average may have dropped, but his OBP remained virtually unchanged (.362 in 2002, .358 in 2003) thanks to an improved batting eye that led to a reduction of his K/BB ratio from 4.3 to 2.9, a very good sign in a young hitter. Phelps’ OPS of .827 (comparable to the mark posted by Carlos Lee) was not at all shabby, either. And at age twenty-five, there’s still significant room for improvement.

The key to Phelps’s season will be his ability to handle right-handed pitching. If he can improve in that aspect of the game, he’ll earn even more playing time in Toronto’s dangerous lineup, and could be a solid fantasy contributor. Don’t forget him on draft day.