Eric Bruntlett

Bruntlett was a pleasant surprise for the Phillies in 2008, though his fantasy potential remains limited. Bruntlett finished the season with a .217 batting average, two home runs and 15 RBI in 212 at-bats while stealing nine bases in 11 attempts. He also went 2-for-6 in the postseason with a home run in Game 2 of the World Series. Bruntlett subbed for Jimmy Rollins at shortstop when Rollins missed time due to injury at the beginning of the season and was used mainly as a defensive replacement late in games for Pat Burrell. He should keep the same utility role in 2009, subbing at various positions when someone needs a rest or gets hurt, a role that gives him little to no fantasy value beyond that of a short-term stopgap in deeper leagues.

Bruntlett got the most playing time of his career in 2007, starting 35 games and logging 138 at-bats. He did nothing to show he deserved any more time in the field, and after being traded to Philadelphia along with Brad Lidge, he'll reprise his role as a utility infielder and will likely see less time in 2008 with Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley locking down the middle infield.

Bruntlett has a great glove and a ton of speed, but is more valuable in real life than in fantasy. He will return in the same role as a utility infielder, pinch runner, late inning defensive replacement and will get the occasional start.

A utilityman who smacks lefties around and runs well enough to pinch-run for half the roster, Bruntlett is incredibly valuable in real life or in a sim league, where the flexibility helps more than the lack of real-life playing time hurts. In regular fantasy, he's a marginal guy in one-league formats. Oh yeah, he did get 1460 on the SATs, and a Stanford degree in about 3.5 years, if that matters to you.

Bruntlett was called up to the big leagues late in the 2004 season to replace the injured Adam Everett on the roster. Bruntlett was used sparingly, as Jose Vizcaino received the lion's share of starts at shortstop. With Jeff Kent's departure, Bruntlett could be part of the mix at second base, but chances are his impotent bat will prevent him from winning the job.

Bruntlett's one offensive asset, his ability to get on-base, disappeared once he reached the majors. After 54 at-bats, he is still looking for his first major league walk.