The key to winning fantasy baseball is drafting solid players in the late rounds. Here are some hitters to target as sleepers in 2009.
2009 Fantasy Baseball First Base Rankings
Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
Votto hit nearly .300 while showing considerable run producing skills in his 2008 rookie year. In September, he batted .309 with 9 home runs. Baseball analyst Harold Reynolds thinks Votto could breakout and hit as many as 40 home runs in 2008, which epitomizes his significant upside.
Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox
Konerko will hit at least 30 home runs in Chicago’s hitter-friendly park. He will also get many RBI and runs in a talented White Sox lineup. Furthermore, Konerko will not hurt the batting average stat like other home run producing first baseman that have higher fantasy baseball rankings such as Carlos Pena and Adam Dunn.
2009 Fantasy Baseball Second Base Rankings
Mike Aviles
The Royals improved their offense for 2009 by adding a legitimate leadoff hitter and all-around speedster in Coco Crisp. The addition of Crisp will create more RBI opportunities for Mike Aviles who put up breakout fantasy numbers as a rookie in 2008, including a .325 batting average. Aviles could rack up stats similar to Howie Kendrick who is an injury risk and rated higher in 2009 second base fantasy baseball rankings. Aviles’ multiple position eligibility (SS) is another plus.
2009 Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Rankings
Rafael Furcal, Los Angeles Dodgers
Furcal put up crazy numbers in April of 2008 before going down with back problems. Many fantasy baseball players will pass on Furcal because of his 2008 injury, but he could put up incredible numbers in an extremely gifted Dodger offense that includes RBI machine Manny Ramirez. Furcal will likely slip in drafts, and he could be a huge sleeper pick whose name should be kept in mind when creating personalized fantasy baseball rankings.
Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies
Tulowitzki disappointed fantasy owners in 2008 with a slow start and injuries in the first half of the season, but he hit .327 in his final 62 games that year. Tulow could put up huge power numbers relative to most of his peers at shortstop, and he will be a sleeper in 2009 fantasy baseball drafts because of his 2008 injury-plagued season. By 2010, Tulow will be a top five fantasy shortstop—draft him at a bargain in 2009 and reap the benefits of his comeback year.
Max Neibaur - I like baseball and Abbott & Costello movies. I'm a media scholar, a sports buff/historian and my favorite color is orange. Op/Ed is ...
