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Jake Fox is going to be an All-Star someday.

I don't care what kind of prospect he was before the season, I've seen enough of him to truly believe that. Where will he play? I dunno, probably the outfield (and not necessarily for the Cubs). When will this happen? I'd say sooner than later. When will the Cubs realize this? I think they already have. Will he lead the Cubs to the World Ser- … oh, sorry.

In the first 142 at-bats of his career, Fox already looks to me like one of those rare players who can hit .300 and also hit 30-plus homers. Those guys don't grow on trees. He can hit near any pitch in any spot, can crush mistakes and even is adept at battling with two strikes. And some of his splits reveal his solid focus and makeup. For instance, he has hit much better on the road than at home. The righty swinger has hit both righties and lefties well, but righties slightly better. And he's hitting .328 with runners on base.

Is he great defensively? No, wherever he plays. Does he have obviously elite talent? No. Will he steal bases? No. Does he have the type of baseball body that can pose for underwear ads? No, probably more like wings-and-beer ads. But the guy can hit; he just needs the chance to do it more often.

As long as everyone is healthy, the Cubs don't have a starting spot for Fox. But that all might change if Aramis Ramirez can't bounce back quickly from his shoulder injury. And it's almost certain to change, at least in some capacity, for next season.

Whether it's next week or next year, Fox's value is about to explode -- you just don't know it yet. A lack of playing time has forced him to ride below the radar. He's one of a handful of players I see as I peruse rosters who could move from mixed-league afterthought to mixed-league stud simply by having his name put in the lineup more. Simply put, he's one of those "help immediately" players.

Fox is owned in just 2.3 percent of ESPN standard leagues, but he has the goods to help a mixed team if he becomes an everyday player (maybe next week?). But who else is "Jake Foxed," in that he's a mixed-league-capable hitter who just hasn't gotten the opportunity? The players below will someday help owners, and if the stars align this season, you need to pounce:

Catcher

Robinzon Diaz, Pirates: Admittedly, I didn't have much to choose from here, but Diaz is hitting .295 this season, and it's telling the Pirates are working the 25-year-old at several infield positions in the minors to get him more versatility so he can help them as a utility player. As long as he qualifies at catcher …

Alex Avila, Tigers: He's unlikely to get a ton of work this season, but the lefty swinger with tremendous plate discipline can make his mark in two-catcher leagues even if he doesn't.

First base

Gaby Sanchez, Marlins: The Marlins called him up, used him sparingly, then sent him back down. But this kid has .290-average, 20-plus-homer, 15-steal skills, if he can just get the chance to show them.

Daric Barton, A's: His numbers aren't impressive, but the kid still has a sweet swing, and he's only 23. I think he's ready to show us something, and with Jason Giambi gone from Oakland, he might get that chance once he returns from his hamstring injury.

Justin Smoak, Rangers: Not exactly under the radar as a top prospect, but I could see Smoak "Garrett Jones-ing" the league once he's called up.

Second base

Drew Sutton, Reds: This great all-around player hasn't been as impressive this season, but he hit .317-20-69 in Double-A in 2008, with 39 doubles and 20 steals. With Jerry Hairston Jr. gone, Sutton is the team's top utility player. If he can garner a starting job, look out.

Eugenio Velez, Giants: He already is playing regularly and tearing up opposing pitchers, but since he's owned in only 6.2 percent of ESPN standard leagues, I bring him up again. It's not his offense that makes me salivate; it's his speed, as in 60-steal speed. I'm not exaggerating there. Sixty-steal speed + regular playing time = Yahtzee!

Eric Young Jr., Rockies: The same skills apply, but he's younger and still in the minors -- for now.

Third base

Chris Davis, Rangers: Yup, remember him? Yeah, he's the guy who stopped swinging for the fences every at-bat in the minors. He's currently hitting .325 in Triple-A, although the Rangers told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram earlier this week they have no immediate plans to bring him up.

Mat Gamel, Brewers: Unlike Davis, this slugger has fallen apart since being sent down. But he still has elite power skills.

Troy Glaus, Cardinals: He's reportedly close to being game-ready, but now he has no place to play. But if something were to happen to Mark DeRosa, the powerful Glaus would suddenly have decent value.

Shortstop

Brandon Wood, Angels: The poor guy just keeps hitting in the minors but getting irregular starts in the majors. After 150 major league at-bats last season, he has only 26 this season. But the team might showcase him a bit in September like it did last year.

Nomar Garciaparra, A's: Yeah, Nomar. Like him or not, Nomar can still hit in stretches, at least as well as your typical mixed-league middle infielder. Of course, the over/under for him staying healthy while playing every day is set at about nine days.

Outfield

Marcus Thames, OF, Tigers: Well, duh. Consider this: Thames ranks seventh among all active major leaguers with at least 1,000 plate appearances in fewest at-bats per home run. His 14.74 at-bats per homer is lower than Prince Fielder, Carlos Pena, Ryan Braun, Mark Teixeira.

Nate Schierholtz, Giants: Was hitting well before his hip injury, and should get the chance to pick up where he left off. He's owned in just 0.8 percent of leagues.

Aaron Cunningham, A's: I really like this kid as a prospect, and the A's have been bouncing him back and forth. If he can stick, I think he'll hit.

Juan Pierre, Dodgers: But of course. I missed his speed so much in one league, I watched the Dodgers every day for about a week once Manny Ramirez returned just to make sure all three outfielders made it through the games OK.

Travis Snider, Blue Jays: Has a 1.063 OPS in Triple-A. Once the Jays give up on this season …

Matt Joyce, Rays: A minor leaguer with big league experience and tremendous power, but Gabe Gross and Pat Burrell, among others, are in front of him.

Josh Anderson, Royals: Only here because of his speed … and because his trade to the Royals might get him more playing time.

Fortunes Rising

Vladimir Guerrero, OF, Angels: As much as I have trashed the guy this season, I ought to give him some love when he's actually hitting the way he's capable of. Guerrero is hitting .375 with four homers in August and showing his vintage power to the opposite field. And there's reason to think he'll continue to do this because the Angels seem to have given up on him playing the outfield. Was it any wonder that Guerrero went on the DL after playing two of three games in right field, his first two games there of the season? His legs are now fresh, the team learned that lesson and he's back to raking. Of course, there's always the matter of him qualifying only at DH next season, but you can cross that bridge when you get to it.

Magglio Ordonez, OF, Tigers: Another guy I've knocked all season but who has picked it up of late, but in this case, I'm not buying a turnaround. Ordonez just doesn't have the same extension (on his swing) that he once had. The vintage Mags could swing late during a pitch and tap or even drive the ball down the right field line, but I'm just not seeing that. According to STATS, Mags hit .306 against righty sliders and better than .350 against changeups from both lefties and righties in 2008. On many of those, he was either out in front of or had to reach outside, but extended to them. In 2009, he has hit .140 against righty sliders and .250 against changeups. Of late, he has been hitting the fastballs, and even driving them, but the extension on the off-speed pitches just isn't there, and unfortunately, I think age could be a factor here.

Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies: How dare I call a 24-year-old injury-prone. Is there really such a thing? Tulowitzki finally is fully healthy again this season, and he's found the groove we expected him to find last season. And I'm not just talking his power numbers … how 'bout those 15 steals! Where did that come from? He didn't even show that in the minors. Well, not that he was Bartolo Colon-like before, but Tulowitzki looks to be in great shape this season. In fact, after watching him recently, I was shocked to see he was listed at 205 pounds. He's maybe the only player in baseball other than Roy Oswalt who might actually be below his listed weight. He has turned the corner and dedicated himself, and it has shown in his recent play.

Fortunes Falling

Vernon Wells, OF, Blue Jays: Wells went 2-for-14 in this week's series against the Yankees, dropping his average to .255, but I'm telling you, I'm not giving up on him, and neither should you. I still don't see anything noticeably wrong in his swing, at least compared with how he looked before. He still runs OK, so it's not the hamstring again. And he's still on pace for 39 doubles and 59 extra-base hits, which is more than he has had in a season since 2006. I can't explain his struggles, folks, which leads me to believe they could turn around at any time.

Pickups of the Week

Mixed: Alcides Escobar, SS, Brewers. His 0.2 percent ownership percentage is about to skyrocket.

AL-only: Randy Ruiz, DH, Blue Jays. My way of saying mixed leaguers can leave him alone. Relegate him to AL leagues.

NL-only: Jason Bourgeois, OF, Brewers. Two Triple-A numbers you need to know: .316 average, 36 steals in 105 games. And he should get a handful of at-bats in the team's current setup.

Splits Watch

When Matt Holliday was traded to the Cardinals, everyone looked at his home/road splits, but few actually looked at what he had done in St. Louis before going there. Well, I couldn't help but notice that Holliday had hit .367 with five homers in 49 at-bats in St. Louis prior to this season. A small sample size, but still well over his average at other road parks during those years.

Stats Watch

Bobby Abreu, OF, Angels: Knock Abreu all you want for his lack of power numbers this season, but he's actually having a better season than he posted in 2008 with the Yankees. Thanks in part to his amazing .422 average with runners in scoring position, Abreu is on pace to set a career high in RBIs. He already has more steals than he posted last season. He's hitting for his highest average since 2000, and his walk rate is the highest it has been since 2006. Amazing how a player can drop in a prominent category and still rank 14th on our Player Rater, higher than Prince Fielder and just behind Ryan Braun.

Position Watch

Braves 2B: Martin Prado or Kelly Johnson? Johnson or Prado? I think the Braves will stick with Prado as the regular starter, and here's why: Because he hits right-handed. Simple as that. The team is very lefty-heavy with Brian McCann, Adam LaRoche, Garret Anderson, Ryan Church and Nate McLouth, not to mention switch-hitter Chipper Jones, and Prado provides some balance in the lineup.

On the docket

Hope you enjoyed all those recent Yankee Stadium home runs, because the Yanks are on the road for 17 of their next 23 games. While the Yankees have been effective on the road, they have hit 105 of their 173 home runs at their favorable confines.

Lineup Card

B.J. Upton, No. 9, Rays: Looks funny, doesn't it? Well, Upton didn't think it was funny, lamenting to the St. Petersburg Times about the recent "demotion." But manager Joe Maddon had every reason for doing that. Upton is hitting .235 with a meager .310 OBP, and he has the speed and aggressiveness you look for in a No. 9 hitter. And here's the thing: It doesn't hurt his fantasy value. He now has a hot Jason Bartlett, Carl Crawford and the big boppers right behind him, and he still has plenty of freedom to run. After the first inning, lineup slots aren't important; the players hitting in them are all that matters.

On the farm

Chris Carter, 1B, A's: Daric Barton and Tommy Everidge will get the first shot to start at first base, but if one of them doesn't nail down the job this season, it could very well be Carter's gig next season. Carter is downright tearing up Double-A pitching to the tune of a .336 average, 21 homers, 38 doubles and 90 RBIs in 112 games in the Texas League. And you can tack 73 walks and even 12 steals on there, too, making him a fantasy player to watch. A good showing in September or next spring, and he might be helping fantasy owners early next season.

Juan Francisco, 3B, Reds: Adam Rosales will man third base with Scott Rolen out, but Francisco is the future at the position. Francisco has been hot at Double-A and now has 22 homers and 74 RBIs in 106 games. The only problem: His defense. Like recent examples Ryan Braun, Mat Gamel and Jake Fox, the Reds aren't sure he can stick at third base, although they've left him there for now. I wouldn't be surprised if they call him up in September and see how he does.

Final thoughts

As I look at each day's matchups, I can't help but notice all the bad, or at least inexperienced, starting pitchers taking the ball for teams these days. For various reasons, there's a very clear distinction between the top of many teams' rotations and their fourth or fifth starters. In June, the major league average in runs per game was 8.7. In July, that number climbed to 9.1. Going into play Wednesday, it was at 10.1 in August. Quite a jump. That makes it even more imperative for you to leave an open spot or two in your lineup, or least have platoon options, to take advantage of the shoddy pitching. Finding those pitching staffs that have a weak bottom end of their rotation can make a big difference, especially in batting average, runs and RBIs.

Brendan Roberts is a contributing writer/editor for ESPN Fantasy.