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In a situation I’ve been watching develop this week, it looks like Ryan Spilborghs is going to get the bulk of playing time in center field over Willy Tavares now that Matt Holliday has returned to the Colorado lineup. This will affect fantasy owners in two ways, as Tavares and his 23 steals take a huge hit, and Spilborghs becomes that elusive impact player on the waiver wire.

At 28 years old, Spilborghs is a late-bloomer who only logged 435 AB in the majors prior to this season. A .294/.381/.447 hitter in six minor league seasons, he’s also the rare player who seems to be better in the majors than he was in the minors. He’s a capable but unspectacular center fielder, and should be significantly more valuable in the lineup, and on fantasy teams, than Tavares.

After hitting .287/.337/.431 in ‘06, his rookie year, and .299/.363/.485 last season, the former fourth outfielder is batting .312/.425/.496 with a stellar 25:16 BB:K ratio in ‘08. He’s got the power and speed to be a 20/15 player in a full season, and could easily top that HR total if he can elevate the ball. In fact, the longest homerun this year (according to HitTracker) was hit at Coors by no other than Spilborghs: a 472-foot bomb to dead center field. Assuming he bats in a favorable spot in the order (and remember, he batted third with Holliday out), I wouldn’t be surprised to see a prorated .310/105/25/85/15 out of Ryan the rest of the year.  And it’s not all that unlikely he’ll do it.

If you’re in a deep league, Spilborghs is probably on someone’s roster already (if not, why are you still reading this?). However, I expect him to be an asset in nearly any league, as his terrific plate discipline, strong contact skills, and favorable lineup and home park should ensure that he consistently puts up solid numbers in Colorado. He’s even got a .951 OPS away from home this year, and a wicked playoff beard. What’s not to like? If the Rockies commit to sticking Willy Tavares in the defensive replacement/pinch runner role he was born to occupy, there could be free Bobby-Abreu-upside available to smart fantasy owners. You should be one of them.