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: Aaron Hicks

Team: New York Yankees

Age: 26

Position: OF

2015 Statistics: .256 AVG / .323 OBP / .721 OPS / 11 HR / 33 RBI / 13 SB in 352 Abs

Current ADP: 391 (Fantasy Pros)

Background

“Ugh, oh boy. This is what we’re talking about right here.” Those were the words which Yankees skipper Joe Girardi muttered before strolling over to the batter’s box to check on star outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury. Pinstripe Nation held their collective breath after Ellsbury was plunked on the wrist by a 90 MPH fastball which rode inside from Atlanta Braves starter Julio Teheran. Expected to play a major role in the team’s effort to make the playoffs for the first time since 2012 (not counting the play-in game which they lost to the Houston Astros last year).

So why the long introduction about Ellsbury getting injured if the spotlight in this article is on Hicks, you might wonder? Simple. Hicks’ value is directly tied to the health status of the three outfielders in front of him, and an injury would allow him to receive a substantial number of at-bats. The three players in question being Ellsbury (who missed 90 games in 2012 with a subluxation of his right shoulder and another 50 last season due to a right knee sprain), Brett Gardner (missed nearly all of 2012 with a sore right elbow) and Carlos Beltran (missed 30 games in 2014 with a concussion, hyperextended elbow, and 16 games last season with a strained left oblique).

A few short years ago, Hicks was considered one of the top outfield prospects in all of baseball, and was the 14th overall pick in the 2008 draft. By all accounts, the Yankees “bought high” on Hicks, as his 2015 campaign with the Minnesota Twins was the best in his career in several categories, such as AVG (.269), HR (13) and OPS (.754). Hicks still possesses the raw talent to go 20/20 if given an ample amount of playing time – which is something likely to occur in New York.

Positives

1.) Incremental yet steady improvements - Hicks broke into the major leagues back in 2013, and struggled mightily. While there were some glimpses of hope (he nearly hit 10 home runs and stole 10 bases in just 313 plate appearances), his .192 AVG and .259 OBP were dreadful. The Twins thought he needed more seasoning, but instead of sending him down to Triple-A to begin 2014, he was demoted all the way to Double-A instead. He eventually returned to the majors with 70 games left in the season, and provided similar results – a .215 AVG and a handful of stolen bases.  Entering 2015 many wondered if he would receive the dreaded “Quad-A” tag from experts – denoting that he could succeed in the minors but struggle in the majors. Things took a major turn for the better, and the proverbial “light turned on,” much to the Twins' delight. He dropped his K% by more than 8 percent, and posted a career best AVG of .256. All of this was despite a BABIP of just .285. His steady progress is a sign of adjustments and patience.

2.) Surrounding talent - The Yankees lineup remains largely unchanged since last season, and that is a very good thing from an offensive standpoint. The team finished second in runs scored, fourth in home runs, second in RBI and fifth in OPS. While the Yankees aren’t known for being speed demons on the basepaths, Hicks would complement Brett Gardner or Jacoby Ellsbury in that regard. Or better yet for his value, supplant them if needed.

3.) Multiple category contributor - Hicks is a rare player that possesses not only the power to hit 20 home runs, but the wheels to steal 20 bases if given the opportunity. Given his current ADP, owners would be well-served taking a flier on the upside of either category, let alone both.

Negatives

1.) Strikeout totals - As mentioned earlier, Hicks has progressed steadily with each call up over the course of his three-year career. That aside, he still strikes out too often, despite recent improvements. His AVG is capped by his ability to not whiff, and one has to wonder what sort of additional adjustments can be made to reduce his rates at this point.

2.) Role - Currently Hicks is relegated to a backup role in the Yankees lineup, and his value for the 2016 season hinges on the health of players around him, something completely out of his control. For all of the strides which he has made since 2012, the bottom line remains – he is going to need some help to see additional playing time.