2010 MLB Sleeper Player Profile: Brandon Wood, 3B Angels

Written By Todd Farino, http://www.fantasybaseballsearch.com/

• Player: Brandon Wood
• Team: LAA Angels
• Bats: Left
• Position: 3B

Fantasy Baseball Search Sleeper Rank: 15/30

Brandon Wood will open the 2010 season and age 25 and is ready for primetime.  Drafted out of high school by the Angels, Wood has spent 6 years maturing in the Angels farm system compiling fantastic numbers that he is now ready to turn into major league numbers.  He has had three stints with the Angels, including last year.  In just 224 at bats he's totaled seven home runs and a poultry .192 average.  Clearly that is not the sleeper I expect him to be this year. 

Wood will be the Angels third basemen with Chone Figgins departing for rival Seattle.  This will be the first season that Wood will be a full spring training in and then have consecutive at bats all season as the regular third basemen.  This should have a dramatic impact on his numbers and you will see a jump in all stats including average.  

Throughout his minor league career, Wood was known for his power, belting 31 home runs in AAA in only 395 at bats and 41 dingers in a full season at A+.  Scouts love everything about Wood.  They rave about his ability to make contact, his power, and his glove.  If Wood truly is ready for the majors, he will be a breakout in 2010.  The Angels are not known for rushing up their prospects and Wood was given plenty of time to mature.  He is entering his prime years and you can expect big numbers from him as the Angels will likely bat him in the middle of that lineup and give him ample opportunity for RBIs.  Although he's not known for his speed, expect him to steal a few bases, especially since the Angels run allot.

If you draft Brandon Wood, you can get him late.  Don't be afraid to take him in the 18th round or beyond.  If you didn't get one of the stud third basemen, forget looking until later and get Wood.  Like all rookies their is risk associated with him, but it's minimal.  I'm giving my conservative projections on average, but not home runs.

2010 Projections: .264 BA, 25 Hrs, 86 RBI, 79 Runs, 7 SB 

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