Fantasy Baseball Sleepers 2012: Opening Day Studs to Pick Up

The 2012 Major League Baseball season is under way.

If you haven't gotten around to doing your fantasy baseball draft yet, that means you've gotten a sneak preview of what things might be like this season. You know which teams look good and which teams look bad, and you know which players look good and which ones look bad.

Naturally, you're going to want to key in on the good ones. Opening Day standouts like Justin Verlander, Roy Halladay and Jose Bautista are a little too obvious, but there are some Opening Day surprises that you should consider taking in your draft.

Let's count 'em down.

5. Carlos Ruiz, C, Philadelphia Phillies

Carlos Ruiz had a modest afternoon for the Phillies, going 3-3 with a sac fly that ended up being the game's only run. It was enough for Halladay and Jonathan Papelbon, who combined their efforts to give the Phillies a two-hit shutout of the Pirates.

As a fantasy option, Ruiz is nothing special. All owners seek a catcher who can hit for power, and somewhere out there is the mythical catcher who can both hit for power and steal bases.

Ruiz is neither of these things. At best, he is a solid hitter.

And that's not such a bad thing. Ruiz hit .302 in 2010 and .283 last year. So far this year, he's batting 1.000. This is after he batted nearly .500 during the spring.

So don't be surprised if Ruiz hits well over .300 this year. He's not going to give you much power, but neither will a guy like Joe Mauer. He and Ruiz could end up with very similar stat lines this year, making Ruiz a potential late-round steal.

4. Ian Desmond, SS, Washington Nationals

Ian Desmond is not your typical leadoff hitter. He's not going to take his walks, and that's going to lead to a low on-base percentage. In order to get on base, Desmond is going to have to get his hits.

So far, so good. Desmond was 3-5 against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, with a run scored and an RBI. He's batting .600 with a .600 OBP.

Huzzah!

Despite his hot start, Desmond is a guy who can appear very late in your draft. His ceiling is pretty high, though, as he projects to hit 15 home runs and steal at least 25 bases if he stays consistent in the batter's box. Desmond has been in the league a couple years now, so now is as good a time as any for a breakout season.

As a bonus, the middle of Washington's lineup is going to be pretty powerful once Michael Morse gets healthy and the Nats decide to call up Bryce Harper. Desmond won't be left stranded too often this season.

3. Zack Cozart, SS, Cincinnati Reds

The Reds are hoping Zack Cozart can be their everyday shortstop. Luckily for them, Cozart looked pretty good on Thursday against the Miami Marlins.

Cozart was 2-4 at the dish with a run scored. One of his hits was a double. By my reckoning, he's on pace for 162 runs scored and a .750 slugging percentage.

Realistically, the best-case scenario for Cozart involves him staying in the No. 2 spot in Cincinnati's lineup in between Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto. He's not going to generate a ton of RBI, but he's a guy who could give you plenty of steals and plenty of runs. Typical middle infielder stuff.

Because Cozart should hit for a higher average than Desmond, try to get Cozart first. The good news is that he's going to be a late-round find, as a lot of casual fantasy players have no idea who he is.

And yes, I assume you play with n00bs. Don't we all?

2. Erik Bedard, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Fantasy owners know Erik Bedard, so I'm definitely toeing the line by referring to him as a "sleeper."

But fantasy owners also know all about Bedard's injury issues. He was an elite fantasy option once upon a time, but the dude just hasn't been able to stay healthy.

Bedard looked plenty healthy in his first start of the season, and looked like his old self to boot. He lasted seven innings against the Phillies, giving up six hits and one walk while striking out four.

Granted, this was against a mediocre Phillies lineup, so you have to take it for what it's worth. Despite that, you have to admire Bedard's efficiency, which is something he's going to need if he wants to stay healthy. He can't go out there and try to strike out the world.

If Bedard stays healthy and maintains the efficiency of his first start, he's going to put up some solid numbers. He'd be a good pick for a fourth starting pitcher.

1. Aroldis Chapman, RP, Cincinnati Reds

Everyone knows Aroldis Chapman, but he's been stuck in a fantasy no man's land ever since he first cracked the majors. The Reds aren't using him as a starter or a closer, so he really doesn't bring much to the table as a fantasy player.

But you should draft Chapman anyway. I got a chance to see the inning he pitched on Thursday, and it was the best I've ever seen him. It took him 10 pitches to get three outs, two of which were strikeouts. 

You have to look at Chapman as an investment for later. If his Opening Day appearance is a sign of things to come, I'm not going to be surprised if he ends up serving as the Reds' closer. I also won't be surprised if he ends up starting somewhere down the line, as surely injuries are going to open a few doors.

Whether as a starter or a closer, Chapman's upside is through the roof.