10 Watchlist Guys: Vol. 4

Most platforms have a feature where you can click something by the player’s name to put them on a virtual watchlist. It is smart to use this feature before the season starts because once it starts you be sorting by stats and you could miss out on someone you really want about to get a new role because you sorted by PA and he just didn’t show very high.

This is starting to feel like a weekly thing…

• Previous Watchlists

None of last week’s write ups were standout performers.

SHALLOW LEAGUES (mixed leagues – 10 or fewer teams)

Jesús Aguilar | 1B, MIA

He is the full-time 1B for the Marlins and he’s walking more (15%) than he’s striking out (10%), but his power hasn’t come through yet (0 HR). If he can keep his AVG around its current .286 when he does start to hit homers, he will be an all-formats play for sure. Keep an eye on him.

Aaron Sanchez | SP, SFG

He might be more streamer than watchlist guy for shallow leagues at this point thanks to a 1.83 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 19.7 IP so far. He is rostered in just 8% of ESPN leagues and that is after a 5-point jump following his five shutout innings on Thursday against Miami.

MEDIUM LEAGUES (mixed leagues – 12-14 teams)

Nico Hoerner | CHC, 2B

Hoerner was expected to make the team out of Spring Training but was sent to the alt site instead. He has recently been recalled and will likely be in focus for this week’s FAAB pickups in deep leagues, but I think he will remain available in many leagues with 14 or fewer teams giving us a chance to check him out before jumping to roster him. At his best, he is a strong AVG asset (.297 in the minors) with some speed upside (22 SBs per 600 PA in the minors).

Josh Fleming | TBR, SP

Fleming starts on Sunday against Toronto and if he does well, he will start to garner more attention in the deeper formats and so we need to start keeping an eye on him in medium and shallower leagues. He isn’t going to give you many strikeouts (career 18%), but he has a 2.32 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in his career 42.7 IP.

DEEP LEAGUES (mixed leagues – 15+ teams)

Mickey Moniak | PHI, OF

I can’t ever recall a #1 overall pick coming up with less fanfare than Moniak and to be fair to the fantasy community, there hasn’t been much to get excited about in his first 38 MLB plate appearances. He has had 20 of those PA this year and has generated a hot 19 wRC+. So why put him on a watchlist then? Well, he’s playing for one (he’s started 5 of the last 6 PHI games) and he did pop his first MLB homer in his last game (April 21st).

It’s minor, but enough to at least take some notice. While he has undoubtedly been a disappointment relative to #1 overall standards both in the minors and his tiny majors career, he isn’t devoid of talent and if they are going to give him time, there is a path to fantasy relevance when (if?) his skills come together. Remember that this is a watchlist, not a pickup list, so I am not rushing out to get Moniak in any league right now.

Jonathan Loaisiga | NYY, RP

I’ve raved about Loaisiga a couple times already this year and he is off to a brilliant start with a 1.50 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 28% K, and 2% BB in 12 IP with 2 sneak wins. The Yankees are using him in leveraged situations as a relief ace and he is delivering. Obviously, he won’t maintain a 94% LOB rate, but he is missing bats, keeping the ball on the ground when they do make contact, and not giving up free passes. He might already be a viable fill-in for 15-teamers if you just need an arm and don’t want to risk it with a 5th-starter type, but at the very least he should be on your radar.

AL-ONLY

Chas McCormick | OF, HOU

McCormick has been spotting in against lefties for now, but I don’t know how much longer Myles Straw will be seen as the everyday CF with a 49 wRC+. McCormick isn’t exactly tearing the cover off the ball with an 88 mark of his own, but he is a better pure hitter who walked almost as much as he struck out in the minors with a little pop and speed. If his playing time share rises, be ready to pounce not only in AL leagues, but also 15-team mixers.

Kyle Zimmer | SP, KCR

The one-time elite prospect has battled injuries throughout his pro career – similar to his brother, Bradley Zimmer – but has finally found some health and looks like a solid middle relief option for the Royals. Dating back to his 23 innings last year, he now has 33.7 innings of a 2.41 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with a 27% K rate. He seems deep in the line for saves, but he could sneak some wins and holds (if you league counts those) and just be a ratio stabilizer with some strikeouts.

NL-ONLY

Sean Doolittle | P, CIN

Doolittle has a couple of dud outings on his ledger so far this year, allowing 2 ER in each of them, but his velocity is up two ticks back to 93.2 mph, he is missing bats again (34% K, 14% SwStr), and Amir Garrett has not grabbed hold of that closer’s role in Cincinnati. Doolittle obviously has tons of closing experience and could find himself getting a shot in that role again soon.

Sheldon Neuse | 2B, LAD

The latest in a long list of “if he only had a full-time role” Dodgers that just shows off their disgusting depth. Zach McKinstry was in that situation but has found some regular time after some injuries struck. Any one of Neuse, Edwin Rios, or Luke Raley fits that role now and if any of the three were able to carve out some regular time, they would be interesting in a lot of formats. For now, keep an eye on them in NL-Only formats (actually, Rios is probably still rostered in NL-Onlys after some offseason hype).