Why Angels' Jared Walsh is a top 2021 sleeper

With Albert Pujols' playing time set to decrease, NBC Sports EDGE's Drew Silva explains why Los Angeles Angels 1B Jared Walsh could be one of 2021's top fantasy sleeper picks.

Video Transcript

DREW SILVA: With this likely being the final year in the Hall of Fame career of Albert Pujols, look for the Angels' first base baton to be passed to Jared Walsh. The 27-year-old late bloomer put up a .293 batting average and .971 OPS over 108 plate appearances last season, finally translating some of his great offensive numbers from the upper minor leagues into tangible production at the Major League level. In 2019 at triple A, Walsh had a .325 average, 1.109 OPS, 36 home runs, and 86 RBIs in only 98 games. He's a left-handed hitter, but he is matched against both righties and lefties at all levels. So this is not a situation where he's going to have to be platoon. Pujols figures to work in at DH on the days in and around Shohei Ohtani's scheduled pitching appearances, with Walsh almost certainly emerging as the everyday guy at first base. With an average draft position above 220 on Yahoo, Walsh profiles as one of the better overall fantasy sleepers on the board.