Value At Each Category...The Hitters

With the start of the 2011Major League Baseball season set to begin in a few weeks, most of us are in the midst of preparing for our fantasy baseball drafts. When rounding out your team, some of your late round picks can propel you to a championship. As you fill your utility slot and bench look to target categories that you know your team has particular weaknesses. The players below have value as an everyday position player that can boost certain categories in standard 5x5 leagues. They all have an ADP over 200 so we are looking for low risk high reward. I have given you a player in both leagues that can help you in the hitting categories. I do not consider these players sleepers but rather true value at their current ADP.

Home Runs

NL Juan Uribe ADP 279: Not only does Uribe have 3 position eligibility (SS, 2B, 3B), he has hit 20+ HR in four of his MLB seasons. You have to love the versatility and power from a pick this late.

AL Luke Scott ADP 276: He too gives you multi position ability at 1B and OF. He has hit over 23 HR each of the last 3 seasons while only playing on average 130 games. At this point he has the everyday LF gig and should hit in the middle of the lineup. If he can play 150 games he could be near 30 HR.

Runs

NL Marlon Byrd ADP 318: An All-Star last year who can hit anywhere in the line-up. He played in 152 games last year and has no competition for playing time this year. Should put up 80+ runs again.

AL Austin Jackson ADP 308: Just a great rookie campaign of over 100R scored. This year he has bulked up, lost weight and has worked with coaches to cut down his strike outs. He will bat lead-off for Motown this year.

RBI

NL James Loney ADP 222: The knock on Loney is his lack of power at a power rich position. Though true, he still has averaged 90 RBI over the last three years.  You could much worse with your 18^th pick.

AL Hidecki Matsui ADP 313: Godzilla has moved to a new team in Oakland. He may be the lowest drafted clean-up hitter in all of Fantasy Baseball. I do expect a regression in HR due to his new home field but remember this slugger has put up over 90 RBI 5 times in his 8 year career.

BA

NL Omar Infante ADP 236: Infante is a player I have drafted in all three drafts I have participated in. He has 4 position eligibility (2B, SS, 3B, and OF) which is golden in H2H daily leagues. He will be hitting lead-off for the Fish and coming off a season where he hit 321. It was his 2^nd consecutive season over 300.

AL Davis DeJesus ADP 332: DeJesus is now in Oakland and has been given the 3 hole to hit out of to start the season.  Coming off a season where he hit 318 DeJesus is a career 290 hitter. The spacious Coliseum will only contribute to his continue success.