I can not recall a fantasy season where so many rookie players have made a substantial impact on fantasy rosters. The difference between leading and placing in the middle of the pack can be aligned with the late round drafting or the low dollar auction drafting of a Fransico Liriano, Justin Verlander or Jonathon Papelbon. While these young arms, along with others such as the Philadelphia Phillies Cole Hamels are in the bulls eye of most fantasy players radar, Jeremy Sowers of the Cleveland Indians is a rookie that fantasy owners need down the stretch.
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Jeremy Sowers played his collegiate ball at Vanderbilt University and was selected 6th overall by the Cleveland Indians in the 2004 draft. He was allowed to complete his junior year in college and he did not make his professional debut until 2005. Splitting time between A and AA, Sowers compiled a 13 – 4 record, with an overall ERA of 2.40. Sowers started the 2006 campaign in AAA Buffalo. He simply dominated the league, posting a 9-1 record and a miniscule 1.39 ERA.
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He was subsequently called up to the Indians in the middle of June. Sowers, a finesse pitcher had yet to find his rhythm, was roughed up to the tune of 18 ER in his first four starts, over a total of 22.7 IP. Since these rocky outings, Sowers has a 5 – 0 record in his last seven starts, producing a 1.69 ERA & 0.98 Whip during this stretch. Primarily a pitcher that relies on his intelligence, control and movement, Sowers only negative over this seven game stretch has been his lack of strikeout power, racking up only 21 K’s in 48 IP. If you can overlook the strikeouts, Sowers can help your team in the other three main categories down the stretch and is a solid fantasy play for next season.
