Taijuan Walker (SP, SEA) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Late Rounds

ANALYSIS: Taijuan Walker was a highly-regarded prospect coming into 2014, but for some reason, there is minimal interest in Walker by fantasy owners. A former first-rounder and #11 prospect by Baseball America, he entered last spring with an injured shoulder, which limited his chances to make the Opening Day roster. In the second half, Walker was given an opportunity in the majors and posted a 2.61 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 8.1 K/9. More importantly, he finished strong in September with a 1.96 ERA.

Only 22 years old, Walker has a bright future ahead of him with an arsenal to help him succeed. His four-seam fastball reaches mid-90s, and his 90 MPH cutter helps him produce an above-average number of ground balls. Seattle produced the second fewest errors in baseball in 2014, posting a .986 fielding percentage. It is imperative that he trusts his arsenal, as his team can help to bail him out of tight spots. Considered untouchable by Seattle this offseason, Walker has great potential to succeed in 2015. If Walker performs well throughout Spring Training, be sure to use a late round selection to add him to your rotation.