Fantasy Baseball: 2016 Bounce Back Sleepers Position Players

Outfield: Alex Gordon

ADP: 52nd Outfielder, 187th overall (19th Round)

If Alex Gordon is going to bounce back, he needs to bounce way back. He’ll need to return to 2011-2012 form to become one of the top fantasy outfielders in 2016.

Age isn’t on his side, but he’s finally fully healthy this Spring. 2014 had Alex Gordon dealing with a nagging wrist injury. It caused him to miss some time in Spring Training during the 2015 season, but he finally started showing some of his old form near mid-season.

That’s when a groin injury caused him to miss two months of action and completely derailed his shot at a good fantasy year.

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In 2011, Gordon hit 23 home runs and carried a .303 batting average with him. His on-base percentage was .376 and his slugging percentage was .502. He was hitting doubles in bunches.

Before the Groin injury last season, Gordon seemed to have figured things out. In June and July, he batted .288 with a .420 on-base percentage. He also hit five home runs in 104 at-bats. That’s a better home run rate than his 2011 season that saw him hit a home run every 26 at-bats.

If Gordon, who’s now had a full off-season of healthy preparation, can replicate numbers like that over 150 games, he could hit around 25 home runs and 30 doubles. He’s in a lineup that should seem him offered some protection. The Royals ‘keep the line moving’ mentality should offer up plenty of pitches over the plate.

He’s out to a good start this spring batting .400 with two home runs. This could be a big year for Alex Gordon.

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