Fantasy Baseball: Stash these NL youngsters in 2018

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals have loads of young talent, so they get their segment. These very youngsters have enough promise to put your Fantasy Baseball roster over the top in 2018.

Luke Weaver

Luke Weaver, the hard-throwing right-hander was a vital part of the Memphis Redbirds — AAA affiliate  — who won the Pacific Coast League championship, with a record-setting 91-50 record.

What’s impressive about the Memphis squad is they were able to win the postseason title, with a good portion of their roster — DeJong, Voit joining the big-league Redbirds in St. Louis for their respective playoff run.

With Adam Wainwright, the ace and heart of their staff going on the Disabled List in August, Weaver was called back up to the Majors, where he now has a permanent residence.

What the 24-year-old rookie accomplished in his first month as a full-time starter was incredible. With the big-league Cardinals is just flat-out impressive — a 6-1 record. 1.89 ERA. Weaver came down to earth a little, with two bad starts, raising his ERA to 3.88 in the process.

All is not lost, where the youngster finished 7-2, owning a strikeout to walk ratio of 72/17.

Alex Reyes

Most likely due back around the All-Star break next season, Reyes will be a pivotal piece to keep locked away on your IR. In 2016, Reyes got the call to the big leagues, where he served as a spot starter and was a workhorse out of the bullpen.

• Record: 4-1
• ERA: 1.57
• Innings Pitched: 46.0
• Strikeouts: 52
• BB:23
• WHIP: 1.22

Once the fantasy baseball playoffs roll around, you will be glad you kept this stud on your roster. He may grace his role as a starter and resume long relief out of the bullpen.

Paul DeJong

After an All-Star campaign in 2016, Aledmys Diaz looked to be the future for the Cardinals at Shortstop. It’s amazing how things can change in just one season, with Diaz spending most of the season with the Cardinals Triple-A affiliate down in Memphis.

Paul DeJong rose from ranks, earning a call-up on June 15th, where the right-handed slugger never looked back. In just 108 MLB games, DeJong had a very productive season, to say the least:

• Batting Average: .285
• Home runs: 25
• RBI: 65
• Runs: 55
• SLG: .532
• OPS: .857

Imagine what the young SS for the Cardinals could do with a full 162 slate? You’re about to find out in 2018, where hopefully he carries your team to a Fantasy Baseball championship.

The National League Central

The NL Central is due to a massive 2018 campaign, with a plethora of young talent. The Cardinals aren’t the only NL Central team with under the radar youngsters to stash.

Chicago Cubs

With Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo well on the map, there is another who might fill an often tight spot on your fantasy roster. Willson Contreras will fill that catcher position nicely, with loads and loads of offensive upside.

• Batting Average: .276
• Home runs: 21
• RBI: 74
• Runs: 50
• SLG: .499
• OPS: .855

Contreras will be the steal of 2018, so don’t sleep on this (no longer) hidden gem. He is a first-round talent, likely to slip to the late 2nd or even as late as the fifth round in some drafts.

Milwaukee Brewers

With former MVP Ryan Braun now on the decline of the Milwaukee Brewers, Travis Shaw rose from the unknown, having an insanely productive 2017 season.

Your Fantasy Baseball team will be heavily rewarded for snagging this third baseman, just look at his impressive stat line, which speaks for itself.

• Batting Average: .273
• Home runs: 31
• RBI: 101
• Runs: 84
• SLG: .513
• OPS: .862
• Stolen Bases: 10

Shaw can do it all, including snagging a few stolen bases which is a Fantasy Baseball category that is hard to have consistent production from, that’s for sure. Expect this 2nd round caliber player to be around until the fifth or sixth round.

Pittsburgh Pirates

If you need a first baseman with pop and swagger to go with, then Josh Bell is your guy. 2016 was a significant disappointment for the Pirates, but Josh Bell was one of the bright spots, where the 24-year-old Rookie made a considerable splash:

• Batting Average: .255
• Home runs: 26
• RBI: 90
• Runs: 75
• SLG: .466
• OPS: .800

All of this production was in only 549 at-bats, so if he’s able to surpass the 600 mark, these stats could undoubtedly increase during the 2018 Fantasy Baseball season.

Cincinnati Reds

Although he’s now 27; I would still consider Scooter Gennett an under the radar Fantasy Baseball youngster.

In a game early in the 2017 season, Gennett smashed four home runs (tying an MLB record) as well as driving in 10 runs. No, this was no doubleheader, folks.

2017 wasn’t just all about one game, where the second baseman would have been an All-Star had he been part of a better overall team.

• Batting Average: .295
• Home runs: 27
• RBI: 97
• Runs: 80
• SLG: .531
• OPS: .874
• Stolen Bases: 10

The second baseman with power is often hard to find Fantasy Baseball, so here’s one that you may be able to draft in the later rounds.

The NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks

In just a small sample size, Arizona Diamondbacks hurler Jimmie Sherfy was flat out filthy. In only ten innings pitched out of the bullpen, including one save in the process, he did not allow a single run. He also struck out ten batters to go with only two bases on balls.

It’s unknown if Sherfy will continue his work out of the pen or get a starting nod, but he’s one pitcher you can draft in the later rounds. A low risk, high reward late round pick.

Colorado Rockies

It’s odd to find an under the radar pitcher for your Fantasy Baseball team in Colorado, but here we are. German Marquez had an excellent season, pitching half of his games in the harsh elements of Coors field.

• Record: 11-7
• ERA: 4.39
• Innings Pitched: 162.0
• Strikeouts: 147
• BB: 49
• WHIP: 1.38

Look for him to improve on that mark, where the 22-year-old is still figuring things out. You could even have a 15-20 game winner, with much help from a productive Colorado Rockies offense to go with these solid pitching marks.

Los Angeles Dodgers

It was difficult finding an under the radar young-gun for the Dodgers since the team nearly won the World Series and all. However, you’re in luck with a hidden gem that was hiding out on the 60-day DL. Andrew Toles.

In limited playing time in 2016 and 2017, mainly due to injury, the outfielder managed a collective .294 batting average, eight home runs, and 31 RBI.

If the 24-year-old can stay healthy in 2018, he will earn a starting spot not only with the Dodgers but on your fantasy baseball team.

San Diego Padres

Unlike their in-state rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, it was a bit easier finding an unknown potential Fantasy Baseball steal.

An infielder with much promise is San Diego Padres 25-year-old second baseman, Carlos Asuaje. In limited time at second base, the youngster put together promising statistics (.270 BA/4 HR/21 RBI) that will only continue to better in 2018.

Likely, you’ll be able to snag him in late rounds, if not the initial waiver preceding the 2018 Fantasy Baseball season.

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants campaign of 2017 — and likely 2018 — was just horrendous. However, there is still hope in snagging one of their young-guns later in the MLB Fantasy baseball draft.

Austin Slater is a young man who could find his way into your Fantasy Baseball lineup before the All-Star break. In only 127 at-bats, the left fielder hit a robust .282, while showing off his power with three long balls, while driving in 21.

With the Giants likely making some primary, overhauling changes in 2018, he is probably going to reap the benefits, earning starter-like playing time.

The NL East

The Washington Nationals are the class of the NL East. However, that doesn’t mean the rest of the division is without talent. After 2018, which is an all-in season for the Nats, they are likely to be surpassed by the younger array of talent below them in the standings.

Atlanta Braves

The team in the East with the most promise is the Atlanta Braves. Although they haven’t had a winning season in four years, that will change soon.

With the likes of Freddie Freeman, Endor Inciarte, and young pitching staff, this team will go places very soon. One youthful player that will help them accomplish this goal is Dansby Swanson.

He is far from unknown, leading the Vanderbilt Commodores to two NCAA Baseball title games, winning it all in 2014. Due to that success at the collegiate level, he turned that into the number one overall pick.

So far, the Shortstop has not lived up to his potential (.246 Batting average), as well as weak power numbers (9 home runs, .348 SLG/.671 OPS).

However, that will all change in 2018, with Swanson getting over that offensive hump, morphing into a Fantasy Baseball all-star. He will be a late round, waiver wire pickup to start the 2018 slate.

Miami Marlins

Christian Yelich has been in the MLB for quite some time now, but has somehow flown under the radar and is still young. How, I don’t know, with an incredibly productive stat line that only seems to get better each season. Here are his totals during his five years with the Miami Marlins:

• Batting Average: .290
• Home runs: 59
• RBI: 293
• Runs: 369
• Stolen Bases: 72

With his yearly HR totals averaging about 20 per season, you can add that to his near 20 steals per season and .290 BA. He’s not as sexy a pick as Giancarlo Stanton, but he’s one you can snag in the mid to later rounds of the 2018 Fantasy Baseball draft.

New York Mets

The New York Mets 2017 season was disappointing, which resulted in missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014. However, you don’t have to miss the playoffs, where you can get some unsuspecting help from an unknown member of the Mets’ roster.

Wilmer Flores is a third baseman who’s often overlooked, one that is due for a big 2018 season. With just 336 at-bats in 2017, they were productive (.271 batting average/ 18 HR/ 52 RBI).

If he’s able to stay healthy next season, the sky is the limit for the 25-year-old infielder, one you will be able to pick up late in the 2018 Fantasy Baseball draft.

Philadephia Phillies

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• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

For a team that lost nearly 100 games, finding a useful youngster for your Fantasy Baseball team is difficult. Don’t fret; we are to help you find one, on a roster full of holes and doubts.

23-Year-Old Nick Williams is one that you will want to snag, an up and coming star in Philly.

In just 313 at-bats during his rookie campaign, he hit .288, smacked 12 HRs, and drove in 55 runs. Don’t sleep on Williams, like most people likely will.

Washington Nationals

Look out for A.J. Cole within a loaded Washington Nationals roster, who will likely snag the fifth spot in the rotation.

Don’t let his 3-5 2017 record fool you, where he sported a 3.81 ERA. Walks were an issue, but those are due to drop with an offseason and instructive Spring training.

Next: 25 Most Memorable MLB Postseason Moments

Fantasy Baseball will be here before you know it, so start your cheat sheets early. Keep these NL Fantasy Baseball sleepers in the meantime and stay tuned for the American League youngsters to add to that list as well.