With the baseball season fast approaching and Spring Training upon us, Fantasy owners are beginning to compile their rankings and projections for 2016. Sorting through established players and household names is one thing, but leagues are never won by big-named stars performing at their expected statistics. Instead, crowns are donned by the owners who were able to sift through the first 200 players selected and draft upside “deep sleepers” (ones who are able to greatly outperform their ADP and provide exceptional value to their owners). Which players qualify for that distinction this season? Read on and find out.

Player: Jonathan Schoop             

Team: Baltimore Orioles

Age: 24

Position: 2B/3B/OF

2015 Statistics: .279 AVG / .306 OBP / .788 OPS / 15 HR / 39 RBI / 2 SB in 305 Abs

Current ADP: 236 (Fantasy Pros)

Background

We still can’t quite figure out how a last name like Schoop is pronounced “Scope,” but one this is abundantly clear about this player – he provides fantasy owners with elite levels of power at a second base position which is completely bereft of it. His profile fits the Baltimore Orioles lineup perfectly, as they finished third in MLB in home runs (217 total), yet just 20th in average (.250) and dead last in steals with just 44 as a team last season. A notorious free swinger, Schoop has apparently taken classes at the Mark Reynolds school of thought, trying to put a charge into each swing while not caring much for average or on base percentage. Schoop will grace the pages of many a sleeper list entering the 2016 season, but before owners take a shot on him, they should be well aware of his upside and shortcomings, listed below.

Positives

1.) Elite levels of power - If you had to guess how many second basemen cracked the 20 home run plateau in 2015, what number would you throw out? No cheating! The correct answer? Two. (Brian Dozier hit 28 and Robinson Cano hit 21). Not that the position was ever associated with power, but Schoop’s elite slugging percentage numbers are totally legitimate, which makes him worthy of a late-round flier in mixed leagues. Schoop’s ability to exceed the 20 home run mark realistically only hinges upon his health, and if the team decides to platoon him due to significant RHP/LHP splits. There is 25 home run potential in this bat, and that certainly puts him in elite company.

2.) Surrounding lineup will boost counting statistics - Sure, Schoop will never contend for the batting title – his plate discipline woes are described in detail below. That being said, the Orioles will drive him home more often than not whenever he DOES manage to get himself on base. Don’t forget that this team finished in the top 10 in all major hitting categories, including runs scored, RBI, HR and .OPS. Should Schoop accumulate more than 500 at bats (which hasn’t happened yet during his short career), he will most certainly eclipse the 50 runs scored and 70 RBI mark.  

Negatives

1.) Complete lack of patience at the plate – Schoop’s tendency to go-for-broke with his swing puts a significant cap on both his batting average and on-base percentage. His career .AVG over the span of nearly 760 at bats is currently sub .240, while his .OBP hovers at a frigid .270. These numbers aren’t exactly inspiring, and have directly resulted in him batting at the bottom of the order for the Orioles. During his 2015 campaign Schoop only walked nine times in over 300 plate appearances. As his tenure has progressed in the major leagues his patience at the plate has unfortunately decreased as well, resulting in him drawing a walk for every 10 strikeouts. Barring significant progress in this area, the team will seriously have to wonder if he is a player they can pencil into the lineup on a daily basis.

2.) Significant RHP vs. LHP splits - It is well documented that the Orioles have a history of rostering right-handed batters with reverse platoon splits, such as Manny Machado and Adam Jones. Schoop joins their ranks, demonstrating significant struggles against LHP over the course of his career, batting just over the dreaded “Mendoza Line” at .216. Yeesh. Additionally -- and perhaps most telling -- of the 32 career home runs which he has hit, 28 have come against right-handed pitchers, with just four against lefties. There is an above-average chance that due to these struggles manager Buck Showalter will have to consider platooning second base this season.