Fantasy Baseball Sleepers 2012: Prospects You Don't Want to Miss

If you're going to make a commitment to winning your fantasy baseball league, you had better familiarize yourself with one key rule:

Know your prospects.

More often than not, you're going to use a pick on a prospect and get nothing in return. Some never make it to the majors or don't last when they get there. Others manage to stick around, but don't really do anything in the process.

Every once in a while, though, you get a prospect who takes the majors by storm and sets himself on a path to superstardom. These guys tend to be great fantasy options.

Concerning the 2012 season, there are five prospects who have the potential to be fantasy goldmines.

5. Addison Reed, RHP, Chicago White Sox

Addison Reed has not been tabbed to be the White Sox's closer in 2012.

Yet.

Reed has everything he needs to be a dominant closer in the majors. His stuff is absolutely filthy, as he throws a hard fastball and a wicked slider. He fits the mold of a Brad Lidge or a Jonathan Papelbon-type closer. 

Reed proved in 2011 that he has a nose for the punch-out. In just 7.1 innings with the big club, Reed struck out 12 hitters. In 78.1 innings in the minors, he punched out 111 hitters. If he keeps it up, his K/9 is going to be insane, and he's going to rack up a lot of saves.

So despite the fact Reed hasn't been named the closer yet, you're going to want to make sure you have Reed on your team. It's just a matter of time before he's piling up saves.

4. Bryce Harper, OF, Washington Nationals

The Nationals seem to be in no rush to get Bryce Harper to the majors. The team has not committed to having Harper start the season with the big club, and it seems entirely likely that he will start the season in the minors.

It's not the worst decision the Nats could make. Harper destroyed Single-A pitching in 2011, but he wasn't quite as effective against Double-A pitching. Asking him to make the leap to the majors right now is asking a lot.

However, you get the sense that Harper is going to find his way to the show in 2012 at some point. When he does, the Nats are going to be getting the best power bat in the minors. Harper can hit the ball a mile.

You should view Harper as a good draft-and-stash player. He may not break camp with the Nats, but drafting him could pay off in a big way if and when he does.

3. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

According to ESPN's Keith Law, Mike Trout is the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball. He can do it all: hit, run, field, whatever.

There's very little left for Trout to prove in the minors, as he owns a career batting average of .338 and an OPS of .930 in the minors. He's ready for the majors.

Trouble is, the Angels don't have room for him. Vernon Wells is in left, Peter Bourjos is in center and Torii Hunter is in right. For Trout to get an opportunity to start, one of them is going to have to step aside.

All Trout needs is a shot. If he gets it, he's going to hit for power and rack up stolen bases. Hard to ask for more than that.

2. Jesus Montero, C/DH, Seattle Mariners

The Mariners currently have Jesus Montero penciled in as their starting designated hitter, but since he's a catcher by trade, he'll have catcher eligibility too.

That makes Montero slightly more valuable than Harper and Trout, who play a position that is absolutely stacked. There just aren't many catchers who can hit.

Montero can most definitely hit. In 61 at-bats with the New York Yankees in 2011, Montero hit .328 with a .996 OPS. He started raking the second he was called up.

Montero won't stay that hot for an entire season. He's not going to be well-protected in Seattle's lineup, and playing in Safeco Field will hurt his power numbers.

But will he hit? No doubt about it.

1. Matt Moore, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

Matt Moore made two starts in 2011, one at the end of the regular season and one in the playoffs. Both of them were very encouraging.

Against the New York Yankees in late September, Moore allowed no runs in five innings and struck out 11. Against the Texas Rangers in the Division Series, he allowed no runs and two hits in seven innings, striking out six.

What's amazing about Moore is how easy he makes it look. He needs very little effort to throw the ball in the upper 90s, and he's able to do it consistently. He also has an outstanding slider, making him not unlike his Rays teammate, David Price.

Moore is penciled in to be Tampa Bay's No. 5 starter this season. By the end of the season, Moore could very well be their No. 1 starter.