Grady Sizemore

2013

Subscribe now to see our 2013 outlook.

2012

Sizemore was limited to just 71 games thanks to another knee injury and a sports hernia, but his declining performance when he has been healthy raises even further doubt on his future. Sizemore struck out in nearly 30 percent of his plate appearances (85 strikeouts in 295 plate appearances) and drew a walk in just six percent of his trips to the plate. He did bang out a respectable 21 doubles and 10 homers, but hit a paltry .224 and the injuries have robbed him of his speed. The Indians brought him back on a one-year, $5 million deal loaded with incentives but it's truly remarkable just how far he's fallen in what should have been his peak years. The Indians are hopeful he'll be able to handle playing center field, but he'll need to reverse the downward trend in his performance at the plate in addition to staying healthy if he wants to make an impact again.

2011

Sizemore once again saw his season cut short as a knee injury ended his year after just 33 games. He got off to a slow start following a pair of offseason surgeries from the previous winter and ended up hitting just .211 with 13 RBI before the knee injury. Microfracture surgery was required and it remains to be seen how much of a long-term impact it will have on him. If he can get back to full health he could rejoin the fantasy elite as the team's everyday center fielder. Early rehab reports were encouraging, but we'll have a better idea on his progress as spring training draws nearer.

2010

An elbow injury landed Sizemore on the DL in June and ended his season in September, a fitting chapter in the Indians' lost season. He also had surgery to repair an unstable abdominal wall, but is expected to be back at full strength for spring training. He set career lows in average (.248), runs (73), RBI (64), steals (13) and homers (18) if you toss out his rookie campaign, but we still expect a major rebound in 2010. He'll be back among the fantasy elite as the team's everyday center fielder, while his RBI chances should increase with a potential move to the middle of the order..

2009

Sizemore set career highs in homers (33), RBI (90) and stolen bases (38), earned himself a top-10 finish in the AL MVP race and is just now entering his prime. That's enough to make fantasy owners drool. He's put up at least 20 homers, 75 RBI, 20 steals and 100 runs in each of his first full four seasons in the majors. He was an absolute beast in the first half (.273, 23 HR, 54 RBI and 22 steals) before cooling off a bit in the second half but you can expect another excellent season out of one of fantasy baseball's elite in 2009.

2008

Sizemore saw his batting average, runs scored and homers all drop from the previous season. He did top the 30-steal mark for the first time in his career. It was a bit of a mixed bag for Sizemore but it still adds up to another fantastic season. He's a lock to post a 20-20 season and he's now entering his prime having just turned 25 in August. He's made steady progress against southpaws the last three seasons and if he can revert to his righty-mashing ways of the previous two seasons in 2008, he'll make a run at the AL MVP.

2007

You can make the argument that Sizemore is the best all-round player in the game. The gaudy numbers bear that out, but if you get to see what he does on a nightly basis, you understand why he is the Cleveland franchise. We are only three years into Sizemore's career and 400 total bases in a single season is not far off.

2006

Players who come up to the major leagues and best all of their minor-league seasons don't happen often, but they have a way of making everyone around them a little happier -- especially the general manager. Sizemore looked like a decent player with gap power and a decent glove in the outfield. Brought up to the majors only after Juan Gonzalez' injury opened up a spot in April 2005, Sizemore launched into a terror-filled season that sent one-time favorite Jody Gerut to Chicago and moved former center fielder Coco Crisp to left. Now, Sizemore is entrenched in center field, where he is still just an average fielder, but his bat is plenty of reason to live with him there.

2005

The Indians top prospect started the season rather slowly after battling an illness that led to considerable weight loss. After struggling against his first taste of major league pitching, he found himself playing for Triple-A Buffalo in August where he helped the Bisons win a championship. He'll hit more for average than power, though there's some reasonable expectation that the power will fill out over time.

2004

The Tribe's most advanced offensive prospect, Sizemore had an .853 OPS at Double-A, won the MVP award in the Futures Game, and then tore apart opponent's pitching in the Arizona Fall League while making Team USA's roster. He'll likely start 2004 in Triple-A Buffalo, but could force his way into the lineup for Cleveland midway through the season. Just 21, he may be the best prospect of the Bartolo Colon trade, not Brandon Phillips.

2003

A key part of the return in the Bartolo Colon deal, Sizemore went .343-.451-.483 with 14 steals and more walks than whiffs in 172 post-deal at-bats as one of his level's youngest competitors. He's a premium leadoff prospect.