Finally let us discuss the AL West's premier sleepers. This division could certainly competitive up top, especially with Houston having lost Carlos Correa and Seattle and Texas having beefed up their rosters in a big way. Let's see who might be difference makers in this division.
Los Angeles Angels - Brendon Davis
Sure, Angels fans may know Davis, but very few other fans do. Davis, a former Dodgers and Rangers prospect, was cast off by Texas following a poor 2019 AA season where he barely cracked the Mendoza Line and his power and speed had dried up. By the time Davis had gotten back into action for A+ Tri-City in 2021, he was nearly 24 and a prospect non-entity. That changed in a hurry, however, as he stormed through the top three levels of the Minors en route to a breakout campaign. He was at his best late in the season as a member of AAA Salt Lake City, hitting .333/.409/.641 for the club. Sure it could all be a mirage, a fact of Davis having repeated A+ and AA and joining a AAA club in the hitter-friendly AAA West, but with an unsettled middle infield, Davis will have a shot to show the Angels he is for real.
Houston Astros - Marty Costes
Another name that flies under the radar thanks to limited pre-2021 professional action and having signed late, Costes is a well-rounded outfielder that could fill in in Houston if 2021 breakout Jose Siri or 2021 rookies Jake Meyers or Chas McCormick falter. Costes flashed power and speed in 2021 between the top two levels of the Minors en route to a .306/.419/.427 slash line. Strong numbers as a sophomore at Maryland, in 2019, and in offseason ball following 2021 back up these numbers.
Oakland Athletics - Jered Koenig
Best known for his independent ball success and his strong run with the Auckland Tuatara in 2019-20, Koenig was a sleeper for the ages in 2021 and delivered. Making his affiliated debut at 27 for AA Midland, Koenig posted a 3.26 ERA over 121.1 innings while working mostly as a starter. Assigned to AAA to start 2022, Koenig could vault to the Majors swiftly thanks to Oakland's unsettled starting pitcher mix. In fact, I daresay it's got a good chance of happening.
Seattle Mariners - Devin Sweet, Isaiah Campbell, Patrick Weigel, Rob Kaminsky
Yeah I couldn't pick, so let's detail all of these players. Sweet, a former UDFA, hit a roadblock in AA last season after previous success in the Minors. He allowed just a single earned run in 14.1 innings after moving to the bullpen full-time last season, showing he can thrive in that role. Isaiah Campbell could also be ticketed for such a role after injuries have plagued the former starter. He could move quickly with his stuff if he stays in the bullpen. Weigel and Kaminsky, meanwhile, are projects after years of injuries, but have substantial Minors success and have both cracked the Majors already.
Texas Rangers - Sam Huff and Josh H. Smith
Here is a tale of two players. Huff made his prospect name in 2019, then came up late in 2020 and showed quite well. However, injuries held him back in 2021 after he dropped back to AA. Prospect fatigue is a real thing, and it's not worth writing Huff off yet - he just turned 24, and still managed 16 homers in 61 Minors contests in 2021. With Mitch Garver's known injury history, Jose Trevino being dealt, and Jonah Hiem's lack of establishment in the Majors, a strong start to 2022 and good health could earn Huff another shot in the Majors. Meanwhile, Smith, who may be overlooked by having such a common name, mashed in 2021 even more than he did in his 2019 professional debut, hitting .309/.429/.535 between four clubs. Though nearly 25, he has only 111 Minors game under his belt, helping his credibility as a prospect. While the Rangers added a lot of infield help in the offseason, Smith could (and probably will) force his way into the mix, perhaps at third or maybe even DH if he has to.
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