Casey Kotchman is finally beginning to show some home run power, with four round trippers already this season.

NL Only Options

Eugenio Velez – San Francisco Giants – Infielder/Outfielder – Velez stole his way onto the Giants roster this spring by swiping 16 bases during Cactus league games.  Originally slotted as the backup to fragile second baseman Ray Durham, Velez is quickly becoming a favorite of manager Bruce Bochy, who is finding ways to get him into the lineup.  Velez started in the outfield once in addition to his usual infield games.  He has game changing speed that was on full display last season during a September call up when he stole four bases in just 11 at-bats.  In the minors last year, he stole 54 bases in Double A and Triple A combined, while maintaining a .290 average.  He does not have much power to speak of, but can drive the ball into the gaps to take advantage of his great speed.  Bochy will continue to find at-bats for Velez, which should provide plenty of opportunities for steals.  He should be a nice source in that category for NL only leaguers.

Scott Hairston – San Diego Padres – Outfielder – Hairston came up through the Diamondbacks minor league system as a second baseman, and then shifted to the outfield when they acquired Orlando Hudson.  After a promising rookie campaign in 2004, he never caught fire with the Snakes, spending most of the next few seasons back in the minors. He was traded to the Padres last season, and revived his career with 8 home runs and a .287 average over the 31 games he played there.  This season, he is the starting left fielder for the Friars who are hoping he continues to display his prodigious power. If you are looking for a hidden source of home runs in your NL only league, Hairston is very likely to be sitting on the waiver wire.  Do not let his slow start fool you, this guy can rake, it is just a matter of time and at-bats.

AL Only Options

Casey Kotchman – LA Angels of Anaheim – First Baseman – The rap on Kotchman has always been the lack of power for a corner infielder.  But, he is just 25 years old, last season his power began to emerge as evidenced by his 11 home runs, his personal one season best.  This year, the Angels anointed him as their starting first baseman right out of the gate, and he is paying off with a hot start, batting .352, with 4 home runs, 10 RBI, and an OBP of .396 in the early going.  Kotchman could very well be headed for a breakout season, and he is in a lineup of supporting players that guarantees him ample opportunities to post stud-like fantasy numbers.  Grab Kotchman now, before the rest of the world wakes up and discovers his enormous potential.

Masahide Kobayashi – Cleveland Indians – Relief Pitcher – Just two weeks into the season, and the Indians have lost their closer, Joe Borowski, to injury.  They intend to use Rafael Betancourt as the closer for now, but I would be very surprised if they did not give Masa Kobayashi a chance to take the role at some point.  One of the reasons the Indians signed him from the Japanese league is that he was a accomplished closer over there for most of his career.  His career numbers in Japan include 227 saves, an ERA of 2.79, and a strikeout rate of 7.1 per 9 innings pitched, all stellar numbers.  While it is unfair to expect those numbers to translate in MLB, they certainly point to a probability of success.  Right now, manager Eric Wedge is using him in the middle innings, and he has given up just one run in 4 1/3 innings, with 3 strikeouts.  He will probably see more work in the later innings, now that Betancourt is closing, and I expect that as Wedge gains more confidence in Kobayashi, he will consider him for the closers job.  If Betancourt fails to close out games, Kobayashi is the next likely candidate.  Stash him away on the bench if you can, as his chance will come eventually.