Another Sunday, another Category Impact article. Jung-ho Kang is (finally) back. Leonys Martin is stealing bases. Jon Gray is striking batters out at an impressive clip. Nori Aoki is an OBP machine. Kyle Barraclough currently sports a 14.34 K/9. Aoki and Barraclough are quality performers in terms of OBP and holds, which are two categories that have been underserved in this articles in past. These guys can satisfy some niche categories for you, en route to grabbing a few wins in your season long leagues. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

As always, hit me up on Twitter (@colbyrconway) if you have any questions.

Jung-ho Kang, 3B PIT— His ownership percentage is pretty high for someone mentioned in this article, but since he is coming off injury, he is fair game. Perhaps some owner drafted Kang, but then dropped him to add a player to produce right away. Is there also some bias with the Pittsburgh third baseman getting in here? Absolutely, but it’s justified. He was a valuable fantasy asset last season, hitting .287 with 15 homers, 58 RBI and five stolen bases in 126 games last year as a Pittsburgh Pirate. He was activated from the disabled list Friday and promptly responded by leaving the yard twice against the Cardinals. Kang was one of just 16 players last season to hit at least. 287 with at least 15 home runs and five stolen bases. The former Korean Baseball League star also boasts shortstop and third base eligibility on most sites, providing fantasy owners with some lineup flexibility. If for some reason he is on the waiver wire, go get him immediately. He will play twice in a three-day period while he continues to work his way back into midseason form.

Leonys Martin, OF SEA— Despite hitting at the bottom of the Seattle lineup, Martin has found a way to work himself into fantasy circles, especially AL-only formats. The guy is barely hitting over .200, I get that, but he is hitting .333 (5-for-15) over his last four games. During that stretch, he has homered once, scored four runs, drove in two and swiped three bags. Hello, stat stuffer. He has five homers and five steals on the season and should continue to play every day for Seattle. His BABIP is well below his numbers in recent years, so perhaps that’s why his average is barely above the Mendoza line. His hard percentage is at 35.6 percent this season, while his career mark is 25.4 percent. This addition has some risk to it, which is why I only advise it in AL-only formats for the time being. If he continues to steal bases at a successful clip, then he will work his way into mixed league consideration.

Jon Gray, SP COL— I can’t believe I’m mentioning a Rockies starter in this piece, but hey, it is what it is. Starting him at home is always going to be risk, just like it is with any Colorado starter, but when on the road, this guy can be extremely valuable. Why you ask? Strikeouts. He has 23 strikeouts in just 14.2 innings this season. He struck out 40 in 40.2 innings last season. The right-hander has a career K/9 of 9.01 in the minors. At every level, he has shown the ability to make guys miss, which is valuable from a fantasy perspective. Yes, he got shelled by the Pirates and the Dodgers, but hey, he did manage to strike out 10 Dodgers in that contest. In his lone start away from Coors this season, he was phenomenal, striking out 11 batters over six innings. So what if it was against the Padres?! If you desperately need help in the K/9 department, give Gray an add, but be careful when you run him out there in your lineup.

Nori Aoki, OF SEA— This one is a bit outside the box and when you look at his stat line, it’s unimpressive. Before you write me off here, give me a chance to explain. Yes, Aoki is hitting just .229 on the season with no homers. However, he’s never been much of a home run threat, so nothing unusual there. Why should you add this guy? Well, he’s going to turn it around. He’s hitting atop the Seattle order, exactly where he needs to be. In each of his four professional seasons, he’s hit at least .285 with 14 stolen bases and an OBP above .349. The guy knows how to get on base. Sure, he’s getting older so those steals are going to go down, but hitting in front of Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager is going to be lucrative for Aoki. His stat line is skewed, due to a horrific April. However, in May, he is hitting .318 with a .407 OBP. The guy isn’t the sexiest addition, but he gets the job done. If your league values OBP, Aoki becomes a must add for your fantasy team.

Kyle Barraclough, RP MIA— I don’t talk about setup men often, but Barraclough has worked his way into fantasy relevance. If your league values holds, listen up and listen close. Adding Barraclough is a simple move because he will rack up holds and he will vastly improve your rations. There are two big numbers to know with Barraclough. The first is his spotless 0.00 ERA. He hasn’t allowed a run in 10.2 innings on the bump and it’s hard to believe the Marlins would turn to anyone else if A.J. Ramos were to falter in the backend of the bullpen. The second number is his 14.34 K/9. Don’t worry, I promise you read that right. 14.34 K/9. He’s punched out 17 batters in just 10.2 innings of work this season, showcasing elite swing-and-miss ability. His walks are down, strikeouts are up and his numbers should only continue to get batter as his BABIP works its way down. If you need holds and strikeouts, Barraclough is for you.