Cincinnati Reds outfielder Drew Stubbs got a vote of confidence from Reds’ management last week when starting center fielder Willy Taveras was traded in a four-player deal to the Oakland A’s. Stubbs, 24, quickly moved from the odd man out in the Reds’ outfield to the team’s starting center fielder and a legitimate fantasy sleeper.

Stubbs was a highly touted high school prospect who was billed as a five-tool player entering his career at the University of Texas. The results from his three seasons at Texas never quite matched the hype, but the Reds still saw enough in Stubbs to make him the No. 8 pick in the 2006 amateur draft.

Since his debut as a pro, Stubbs has drifted further away from a do-it-all offensive standout to a player who keeps the ball down, attacks the gaps and makes use of his plus-speed. He struggles to make consistent contact and has a .269 batting average in four minor league seasons, but the rest of his skill set more than makes up for the deficiency.

Stubbs’ baserunning skills have been a revelation. Between Triple-A Louisville and Cincinnati last season, Stubbs efficiently stole 56 bases in 68 attempts. Ten of those steals came in his 42-game stint with the Reds, during which Stubbs spent most of his time as the team’s leadoff hitter and added a surprising 8 home runs in 180 at-bats.

Stubbs’ track record has been enough for Bill James to project 11 homers and steal 51 bases from him in 2010, according to Ray Guilfoyle at Fake Teams.

Even if 51 steals are on the high side, Stubbs offers a power/speed combination not entirely unlike elite speed threats Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury.

Stubbs will quickly rise up draft boards in fantasy, but represents outstanding value as a 15th or 16th round choice in standard mixed leagues. The secret may be out on Stubbs, but he’s still a rarity as a young speed threat with untapped potential and tools to make contributions elsewhere.