Kris Medlen

Medlen was a trendy post-hype sleeper entering 2014 spring training, having failed to meet the impossibly high expectations set the year before, but he suffered a torn UCL in a March 9 Grapefruit League outing and was forced undergo his second career Tommy John surgery. In retrospect, the Braves' decision to increase Medlen's workload by nearly 60 innings from 2012 (138) to 2013 (197) was ill conceived and should have been a red flag, but at that point, Medlen was more than three years removed from his first procedure and hadn't really experienced any elbow troubles since. After being non-tendered by the Braves in December, Medlen signed a two-year deal with the Royals that includes a mutual option for 2017. Although Medlen has been adamant that he will pitch at some point in 2015, the uncertainty surrounding the situation will take him off the radar in most re-draft leagues to start the year.

Expectations were incredibly high for Medlen entering 2013, as he was coming off a dominant second half to the 2012 season (0.95 ERA, 9.0 K/9) and was locked in as a full-time starter for the first time in his career. He had his ups and downs to begin the year, but Medlen again came on strong after the All-Star break, with a 2.38 ERA and a 4.73 K/BB after the intermission, and a .197 BAA in September. His strikeout rate remained intact for the most part, dropping from 7.8 to 7.2 K/9, despite a 59-inning spike, and he led the team in wins with 15, despite the third-lowest run support average (3.29) in the National League. Medlen's HR/FB rate jumped significantly (from 5.7 to 9.9%), but a regression toward the mean was inevitable in that department. Looking back, the bar was set unrealistically high for Medlen, but his overall numbers were still impressive, and following the departures of Tim Hudson and Brian McCann in the offseason, he's now the Braves' longest-tenured player and likely Opening Day starter.

Medlen was placed in a relief role at the beginning of 2012 due to the depth of Atlanta's starting pitching. After injury and ineffectiveness took their toll on the rotation, Medlen was moved to the starting rotation in late July. After proving to be an excellent reliever, most expected him to be a good fill-in starter. Nobody quite expected what he did though as Medlen delivered a 0.94 ERA and 84 strikeouts over 12 starts. That performance earned him a full-time place in the rotation for 2013, where he has a good shot at being the best of the starting pitching bunch. He may have been a bit lucky on his home runs allowed (5.7 FB/HR rate) which had his FIP (2.42) almost a full run higher than his ERA. But Medlen has strong strikeout rates (9.0 K/9 as a starter) with good control (83:10 K:BB ratio as a starter), that should help prove last season was no fluke.

Medlen missed most of the season after recovering from Tommy John surgery, but did return to make two impressive outings with the Braves. Despite pitching in just instructional league games during his recovery, Medlen was activated from the DL and was actually on the mound in the ninth inning in Atlanta's final game with a playoff spot on the line, throwing 1.1 scoreless innings. It bodes well for his 2012 fantasy value that he was impressive in his 2.1 innings of work after his return. The sample size may have been small, but it shows the coaching staff had a lot of faith in his stuff. While he's pitched well out of the bullpen, he looked like a future star once he joined the rotation in 2010 with a 3.86 ERA and 62:16 K:BB ratio in 84 innings over 14 starts. Medlen had strong strikeout rates with good control before his injury and could be an impact fantasy player as a starter next season. However, it's not clear if he'll get the opportunity given Atlanta's deep staff. His most upside may be if he's traded elsewhere. Still, he could put up strong strikeout totals even in a relief role.

Medlen finally got his shot at the Atlanta rotation after working out of the bullpen late in 2009 and initially last season. He looked like a future star with a 3.86 ERA and 62:16 K:BB ratio in 84 innings over 14 starts. However, he hurt his elbow in August and will likely miss all of 2011 after Tommy John surgery.

Medlen may be the hidden gem in Atlanta's pitching staff. Last season he dominated in his first trip to Triple-A and then improved after his first trial in the majors.. Medlen is a late bloomer as he turned 24 in October and only converted to pitching after college. He started last season at Triple-A and posted a 1.19 ERA and 44:10 K:BB ratio in 37.2 innings. He then struggled initially when called up to the majors, but posted a 2.80 ERA and 39:10 K:BB ratio in 35.1 innings after the All-Star break. It's not clear what role he'll have in 2010 as it's unlikely that there will be an opening in the starting rotation, but he could be a nice sleeper given his great strikeout rate and strong control.

Medlen is a late bloomer as he turned 23 in October and only converted to pitching after college, but he showed his 2007 breakout season wasn't a fluke. He put up outstanding strikeout and control numbers at Double-A (120:27 K:BB ratio in 120.1 innings), while moving from the bullpen to the rotation. It's not clear if his future is as a starter or in the bullpen. He'll likely start the season at Triple-A, but it's not hard to see him winning a job in spring training or early in the season. He's a keeper to grab as a result.

Medlen jumped from Low-A to Double-A last season while posting outstanding strikeout and control rates along the way (a combined 63:12 K:BB ratio in 47 innings). He's a bit old for a top prospect at 23 next season, but converted to pitching late after playing shortstop in college. He'll start at Double-A next season, but if he duplicates his control and strikeout numbers he could make the Atlanta bullpen at some point during the season. He may be a minor leaguer to grab in deeper keeper leagues as a result.