2010 MLB Sleeper Player Profile: Travis Snider, OF Blue Jays

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

• Player: Travis Snider
• Team: Toronto Blue Jays
• Bats: Left
• Position: OF

Fantasy Baseball Search Sleeper Rank: 13/30

Last year, Snider's name was tossed around like a rag doll.  Frankly, he deserved it.  He started the season as an everyday player for the Blue Jays, but got nothing done.  By the time he got sent down in late May, Snider was batting .242 with two home runs. 

While he was in Las Vegas I got in a few games and watched him excel.  Travis Snider a true hitter, what I'd call a professional hitter.  He is very hard on himself when he makes mistakes and his frustration snowballs for him and thusly creates slumps and inconsistency.  He found his grove in AAA hitting .337 with 14 homeruns before getting called up back to the Blue Jays in August. 

While his average didn't improve, his power did.  He pounded seven home runs in less then two months and showed he can stick in the majors.  In 2010 and the young age of 22, Snider will continue to improve as a player and adjust well to major league pitchers.  If you draft him, draft him as a late deep sleeper and you will get excellent value for him.  He is going relatively unnoticed by most managers and could provide your fantasy team with 20 home runs and some RBIs to boot.  Don't expect a huge improvement in batting average, while he is certainly capable of batting .300 he's not quite ready. Also consider his value to the Blue Jays as a left-handed hitter.  Besides Lyle Overbay and Adam Lind, the Blue have no other lefties on their roster.

2010 Projections: .272 BA, 23 Hrs, 80 RBI, 71 Runs, 2 SB 

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