Be wary of spring training stats

Spring training games will begin this week on Friday, February 25 and last through Wednesday, March 30. While spring training often gives major league clubs the answers to who will be in their starting rotations or what their batting order will look like, it comes with a warning for fantasy baseball players –

Be Careful in your assumptions from spring training box scores!

You may get excited by seeing a player hit two home runs in a game or strike out seven batters in three inning pitched. BUT remember that many of the players you will see in spring training games may not be on the opening day rosters, or may not be in the lineup on opening day.

It is great to get acquainted with the next group of prospects who will make their mark when they get to the major leagues, but drafting them for your fantasy teams in February or March may not get you any immediate contributions to your team.

Here are three highly ranked major league prospects who might win a job in spring training:

Dustin Ackley, a first baseman and outfielder at the University of North Carolina, has been converted to a second baseman by the Seattle Mariners and that could give him a chance to break into the Seattle lineup in April. Ackley projects to hit double digit home runs and steal double digit stolen bases with a very good batting average once he gets to Seattle, but he might well begin the year at AAA Tacoma.

Domonic Brown, an outfielder with the Philadelphia Phillies was presumed to be the successor to Jayson Werth in right field. BUT watch carefully as the Phillies have not committed the spot in RF to Brown and he could start the year in AAA Lehigh. Watch the club’s announcements carefully as Brown could be a 20 HR/20 SB player once he arrives.

Mike Moustakas is a very promising, young third baseman in the Kansas City Royals organization who hit 36 home runs in the minor leagues last year. Moustakas may not be in the opening day lineup for the Royals but of all their talented young players should be the quickest to arrive in Kansas City this summer.