Nate Springfield
Under the Radar - AL-Only (Week 13)
Saturday June 26th, 2010
Edwin's DFA opens up at-bats for Hoffpauir. (AP)

Each week Baseball Press will be providing some Under the Radar fantasy players for NL-Only Leagues, AL-Only Leagues and Mixed Leagues. These articles will be dedicated to finding those diamonds in the rough on the waiver wire that will either be a short term or long term replacement to an injury or struggling player on your fantasy team.

Last week was a good week for Under the Radar on the AL side.  Russell Branyan (4-12, 1 home run), Kevin Kouzmanoff (3-12, 1 home run) and Tommy Hunter (1 Win, 2 earned over 6 innings, 6 K's) all stepped up so far this week and would have solidly contributed to your team.  This week we have another full line-up featuring a couple guys recently traded, a couple call-ups and one potential ace.

Jake Fox - C/1B/3B/OF, Baltimore Orioles (Yahoo! 1%, CBS 5%)
Fox was briefly discussed on last week's first podcast and Dan and I both agreed that maybe a change of scenery will help this guy at the plate.  His numbers last year at the major league level weren't outstanding but definitely serviceable.  Expect the O's to give his bat a chance while they play him virtually anywhere on the diamond.  Having that catcher eligibility is what makes him real interesting though, especially in a 2 catcher AL-only league.


Conor Jackson - 1B/OF, Oakland Athletics (Yahoo! 3%, CBS 23%)

Conor was expendable in Arizona with Gerardo Parra playing as well as he did when filling while Jackson was on the DL.  It doesn't appear that Conor has his timing fully back after missing most of the season last year with Valley Fever and then suffering the injury at the beginning of this year.  A lot of people, including us, thought he would be a nice sleeper pick going into the year - and still has that potential if he can stay in the line-up and get at-bats under his belt.  Look for him to lose his first base eligibility after this year so abuse now while you can.

Jarrett Hoffpauir - 2B, Toronto Blue Jays (Yahoo! 1%, CBS 3%)

Hoffpauir's lane for playing time became wide open when the Blue Jays designated Edwin Encarnacion for assignment this week.  Hoffpauir got a nice little cup of coffee last year with the St. Louis Cardinals when their middle infield was struggling and really was brought up then for his glove and not necessarily his bat.  This year at triple-A he was hitting .336 with 9 home runs and 43 RBI.  Look for him to pick up third base eligibility soon and to do some damage if he keeps being slotted into the line-up.

Dayan Viciedo - 3B, Chicago White Sox (Yahoo! 2%, CBS 12%)
With Mark Teahen hitting the disabled list the White Sox called up former Cuban National star Viciedo for some at-bats and add some depth.  Manager Ozzie Guillen is splitting time between Viciedo and Omar Vizquel at the time because Omar is hot at the plate, but when he inevitably cools down look for Dayan to get the at-bats.  He has always swung the bat well, but had problems with his defense and work ethic - which won't hurt your fantasy team unless it keeps him out of the line-up.  At triple-A before the call-up he was hitting .290 with 14 home runs and 34 RBI.

Daniel Nava - OF, Boston Red Sox (Yahoo! 2%, CBS 7%)
If you have yet heard the feel good story that is Daniel Nava then google his name and read it.  I will tell you how one chapter of his career path ended, it was hitting a grand slam on the first pitch he ever saw at the Major League level.  With the Red Sox outfield in shambles due to injury, Nava seems to being given a pretty every day chance to get in the line-up.  After given the chance he has proven for the time being that he should stay there.  He has a .350 average through his first 40 MLB at-bats and has his OPS hovering right over the 1.000 mark.  You have to pick him up and play as long as he is getting the opportunities in Bean Town no matter how much of a non-believer you are.

Jeremy Hellickson - SP, Tampa Bay Rays (Yahoo! 2%, CBS 28%)
If you play in an AL-only, which you probably do or you wouldn't be reading, you probably have heard of Hellickson.  If you are playing in a keeper league you should pick him up now and waste a roster spot on him while he just keeps getting it done in triple-A because he will get the call soon.  If Wade Davis had thrown 1 or 2 bad games there were rumblings you would have seen him in Tampa already.  So far this year in Durham Hellickson has 90 strikeouts in 88.2 innings with only 21 walks to go with that strike out total.  He has an ERA of 2.35 and a WHIP of 1.10, thanks to those low walk numbers.  The great thing is that he has been showing numbers like those at every level of the Minors since 2006 - he is going to be good.
Nate Springfield joined the Baseball Press Crew for the 2010 season and hosts the site's Podcast. His love for the game has grown thanks to Fantasy Baseball, with a specialty in NL-only auction leagues. You can contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @Nate_BBPress.
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