Sleeper of the Week

After spending most of April down on the farm, Kevin Youkilis, the Greek God of Walks of Moneyball fame, is back in Boston. In his first three games back in the big show, the third baseman has been doing exactly what he does best: work the count, lay off bad pitches and find a way to get on base.

Since Youkilis was last featured in this column nearly a year ago, he’s gained valuable major league experience, appearing in 72 games during the 2004 season. Thanks in part to a lengthy September slump, his overall numbers weren’t earth-shattering (.367 OBP, 7 HR, 35 RBI, .780 OPS, 0.73 BB/K), but he showed considerable promise and solidified his standing as a key component of Boston’s future.

This year, Youkilis wasn’t quite able to find his groove in 12 games at AAA Pawtucket, hitting just .227 with an on base percentage of .364. Nevertheless, he was promoted to the Red Sox and has looked sharp in his first three games, collecting four hits and an equal number of walks in 14 plate appearances.

Clearly, three games do not a season make, but it’s good to see Youkilis looking comfortable at the plate. If your league counts on base percentage or walks and you could use another corner infielder, his upside makes him worth a look. If he receives regular playing time and can keep earning free passes, he could turn into a valuable addition to an OBP-league franchise.