Over the course of a fantasy baseball season, there are always a few players who slip through the cracks despite putting up strong numbers. Sometimes it is because they lack name recognition. Other times it is because they play a position that tends to be overlooked. Most often, however, fantasy managers simply forget about a player who missed time with an injury and focus only on the overall statistics.
That appears to be exactly what is happening right now with Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno.
Moreno has quietly been one of the more productive offensive catchers in baseball when healthy. After injuries limited him earlier this season, many fantasy managers moved on, creating an opportunity for savvy owners to scoop him up before the rest of the league notices.
The young backstop has consistently shown he can hit. He batted .285 last season and .284 the year before, proving that his success is far from a fluke. Now healthy and back in the middle of Arizona's lineup, Moreno is once again producing. He is often hitting third in a favorable hitter's park and surrounded by quality bats, giving him plenty of opportunities to drive in runs and score himself.
His batting average continues to climb, while his on-base percentage remains strong. Moreno has also displayed more power this season, already hitting five home runs in fewer than 50 games. His OPS has been approaching .900 during the month of June, and he is averaging nearly a run scored or RBI every other game. For a catcher, that type of production can provide a significant advantage.
If Moreno is available on your waiver wire, he deserves serious consideration.
Another player making a surprising impact is Kansas City Royals reliever Alex Lange.
Remember him? Lange was once Detroit's closer before injuries and inconsistency led to a trip through the minors and eventually a change of scenery. Now with Kansas City, he has found new life and appears to have seized the closer's role.
With Carlos Estévez still sidelined and Lucas Erceg struggling to lock down the ninth inning, Lange has stepped in and delivered. More importantly, he has looked comfortable doing it. Closing games requires a unique mentality, and Lange has the experience and confidence to handle the pressure.
For fantasy managers searching for saves, Lange is a worthwhile addition. Whether he keeps the job long-term or not, he is currently providing value in one of fantasy baseball's most difficult categories to find.