Fantasy Baseball Draft Strategy: Adding Middle Infielders Early Is Smart Move

Having a great fantasy baseball team starts with having great middle infielders. Of course you will have success if other parts of your team are loaded, but a great key to consistent success is adding quality production in the middle infield.

These are your positions, especially shortstop, known for defensive purposes. Adding a guy who can rake the ball at those positions would be ideal for a fantasy draft.

Who could you grab early in fantasy drafts?

Second Basemen

Robinson Cano—Batted .302, hit 28 home runs and knocked in 118 RBI. This is a guy known for being consistent with his stroke. Batting .302 is more of a down year for Cano. That's just how good he has become.

Dustin Pedroia—Batted .307, hit 21 home runs and knocked in 91 RBI. Before drafting Pedroia, you know he's going to give it his all every time he touches the field. Under a new head coach, expect Pedroia's RBI numbers to go up because the Red Sox are going to be extremely aggressive on the bases. He'll have more opportunities with runners in scoring position.

Ian Kinsler—Batted .255, hit 32 home runs and knocked in 77 RBI. Kinsler hasn't hit above .300 since 2008 but his power numbers will be there.

Brandon Phillips—Batted .300, hit 18 home runs and knocked in 82 RBI. Phillips is a solid candidate in the second, third or fourth round.

Dan Uggla—Batted .233, hit 36 home runs and knocked in 82 RBI. Uggla is a guy who struggles with average but makes up for it with his power.

Other than Cano and Pedroia, I wouldn't take the other guys in the first round.

Shortstop

Troy Tulowitzki—Batted .302, hit 30 home runs and knocked in 105 RBI. Tulowitzki has been one of the most consistent players in the MLB. He'll continues to hit around 30 homers and drive in around 100 RBI.

Jose Reyes—Batted .337, hit seven home runs and knocked in 44 RBI. He also stole 39 bases. Expect a great year from Reyes with a new team if he can stay healthy. That has always been the issue for the shortstop.

Starlin Castro—Batted .307, hit 10 home runs and knocked in 66 RBI. He stole 22 bases last season.

The only guy I would take in the first round is Tulowitzki. Reyes would be a fringe first-rounder and a definite second-round guy because of his health history.

If you can get a Tulowitzki in the first round and get a Pedroia in the second round, you will be on your way to championship glory.

The other six positions have much more depth and you are more likely to find gems there than at the middle infield positions.

Adding middle infielders early will give you a great shot of competing in your fantasy baseball league because you'll have two producing players in positions where other league members don't.

It's a strategy that has treated me well over the years.