An article series in which Ryan Epperson (@ppenayr) looks at prospects under the radar, whether up-and-coming or those whose shine may have come off due to poor play or injuries.
Fantasy baseball player since 2004 with a focus on dynasty since 2010 | Unfortunate Pirates fan | Writing about dynasty baseball since 2022 | Surgery helper-outer
We’re back with the AL edition of Under the Radar, a series where I look at players who may get lost in the shuffle. It’s easy to forget about some players in fantasy, and I’m here to remind you of them, whether good or bad. Just like in the NL edition that dropped Monday, I’ll do a quick review on the three guys I highlighted last month for the AL and give a quick thought on them.
Jonatan Clase – He’s still hitting, up to a .852 OPS with 13 steals. He saw time with the Blue Jays as the 27th man when they played a doubleheader recently and went 0-for-4.
Recommendation: Hold if you can. There’s a logjam of mediocre outfielders on the Blue Jays, and he should eventually find himself in the rotation.
Jace Jung – Got called up and has been their primary third baseman. Not doing a bunch at the plate, but the eye has been good walking 25% of the time.
Recommendation: Hold
Evan Carter—Figuring it out a bit in Triple-A, the batting average is bad but should come up. The BABIP is sitting at just .256, way below career norms.
Recommendation: Hold; he’s mainly been playing center field and could come up to replace Leody Taveras if his bat doesn’t get going.
After being called up to the Braves as a 21-year-old in ’22, where he hit .291/.353/.440 with five home runs and five stolen bases, Grissom looked like the next success story for the Braves. But he never got going the following season and was optioned back to Triple-A, where he finished the year with a solid .921 OPS.
Traded that offseason to the Red Sox straight up for Chris Sale, it was assumed that the Red Sox found their keystone. But he floundered for them and, in 114 plate appearances, accrued a 28 wRC+.
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Why it could work: It’s a tough sell, I’ll give you that. Grissom has performed well at Triple-A this year, with a .865 OPS with three home runs. He’s bumped up his 90thEV by five miles per hour from last year to 105mph and is barreling the ball at 10% compared to the 2% last year. But you can squint and see a 15/10 type of player that hits for .270 with a full season's worth of at-bats, which is valuable in fantasy, particularly in deeper leagues.
Why it could fall apart: Well, Jim, there isn’t a spot for him on the major league team, and there probably isn’t going to be one any time soon. Sure, injuries happen, and he could come up in that role, but he isn’t going to get consistent playing time. He’s not a liability at second, but he isn’t good there either, per se; he’s just…fine.
What it means fantasy-wise: The short answer is you don’t need to roster him; he’s a wait-and-see player. You’re waiting to see if the Red Sox will trade him, but they may not; instead, they prefer to keep him as an insurance policy. But, my dear friends, if he IS traded, he should be rostered. There’s a decent bat in there, and he doesn’t have a standout tool, but I think he can be a serviceable major leaguer, given the chance.
AL Central
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Brooks Lee, 24, SS/3B, Twins (MLB)
The epitome of a high-floor, low-ceiling player, these players often get overlooked in fantasy because there’s no carrying trait to hang your hat on. He’s not blessed with above-average raw power and doesn’t run like the wind like Bullseye from Toy Story. Nor does Lee swing a stick like Luis Arraez or Jacob Wilson. He plays an above-average shortstop and third base, more the latter when Carlos Correa is healthy.
Fantasy baseball player since 2004 with a focus on dynasty since 2010 | Unfortunate Pirates fan | Writing about dynasty baseball since 2022 | Surgery helper-outer
Director of Dynasty Content - Canadian born and raised, moved to Arkansas with my wife and two sons Ezra and Ari. Followed and played baseball my whole life; played dynasty for 25+ years.
As Director of Pro Scouting, I lead a talented group of evaluators as we break down future stars. You can find me at random California League games throughout the season!
As Director of Pro Scouting, I lead a talented group of evaluators as we break down future stars. You can find me at random California League games throughout the season!
Dynasty player of 10+ years. Helping you find the building blocks of your championship rosters as a co-host on the Dynasty Baseball Pickups podcast since mid-season 2023, joined Prospects Live at the start of 2024.
