Thursday, February 26, 2015

Fantasy Focus: 2015 Fantasy Prospects- Steven Souza

Steven Souza, OF.  DOB:  4/24/1989.  B-R, T-R.  6'4", 225 lbs.

2012:  Low A:  .290/.346/.576, 17 HR, 7 SB, 7.5 BB%, 16.7 K%, 293 PA.
2012  High A:   .319/.421/.560, 6 HR, 7 SB, 12.1 BB%, 23.4 K%, 107 PA.
2013  AA:         .300/.396/.557, 15 HR, 20 SB, 12.7 BB%, 23.5 K%, 322 PA.
2014  AAA:      .350/.432/.590, 18 HR, 26 SB, 12.8 BB%, 18.4 K%, 407 PA.
2014 MLB:       .130/.231/.391, 2 HR, 11.5 BB%, 26.9 K%, 26 PA in 21 Games.
2015(Steamer):  .246/.313/.420, 18 HR, 19 SB, 8.3 BB%, 23.4 K%, 500 PA.

If you like to did around in baseball oriented websites looking for information on players the average fan has never heard of, then Steven Souza is your guy.  He is one of the more intriguing MLB ready prospects in all of baseball.  He was drafted in the 3'rd round out of HS in 2007 by the Nationals(were they even in Washington then?).  The bat took a long time to come around.  Finally, in 2012, his 6'th year in pro ball and his 5'th try at Low A ball, something clicked and he's been raking ever since.  He's player without any single outstanding tool or skill, but he also does not have any major weaknesses.  He has size, power and speed a combination that will get you somewhere if you can also hit for an adequate BA.  He is particularly coveted by sabermetrically oriented types.  The Rays reportedly targeted him for acquisition by trade right from the beginning of the offseason.  He was the guy they had to have in order to part with Wil Myers in the 3 way trade with San Diego and Washington.

The nice thing about Souza from a fantasy standpoint, is the Rays seem to love him enough that he is almost guaranteed a starting spot from the start of the season and probably won't have to platoon with anyone.  Projection systems peg him for close to a 20/20 season, albeit with some sacrifice of BA in the process.  Souza's ADP is 246 in Yahoo league standard drafts which puts him in round 20 in 12 team leagues.  His average cost in auction drafts is $1.1 which makes him completely replaceable.  If you end up dismayed because Jorge Soler and Kris Bryant are being bid up to dangerous levels in your draft, or come off the board way to early, think Steven Souza.  He likely won't cost much and the upside is right there.

BTW, Souza's current main claim to fame is his diving catch in left-CF to preserve Jordan Zimmermann's no-hitter last year.

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