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Opening Day will be here any minute, and fantasy baseball managers are scrambling to prepare for their league drafts. That means it's time to get excited for the 2024 MLB season.
Who are some infielders in the National League you should target on draft day? Are there certain guys that may help lead you to a fantasy baseball championship?
Yes. I've selected four infielders you should strongly consider drafting this season. Let's discuss who they are and how they can help you win a fantasy title.
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2024 Fantasy Baseball Hitters to Target
Ozzie Albies, 2B - Atlanta Braves
When constructing the ideal fantasy roster, one must choose players in the best positions to succeed. A prime example would be any member of the Atlanta Braves offense. Outside of the Dodgers, the Braves have arguably the most dangerous offensive attack in baseball. There aren't any holes in their lineup, and at the top, is one of their young star hitters, second baseman Ozzie Albies.
The young slugger from Curacao has been with the Atlanta organization since 2013 and made his MLB debut in 2017. Tiny in stature, standing at just 5' 8", one could never tell that he crushes baseballs.
If healthy, and he has had injury problems throughout his career, Albies puts up numbers. Last season, the 27-year-old had his best overall campaign, putting smiles on the faces of his fantasy owners. He had 33 HR, 109 RBI, 96 runs, 30 doubles, .280 AVG, .849 OPS, 4.7 WAR, and 13 SB in 596 ABs. It was a monster season.
Ozzie Albies 2024 FanGraphs Projections:
HR: 29
RBI: 94
OPS: .822
wRC+: 118
WAR: 3.9He’s a walking 30 100 guy every single year
Ozzie is one of the best second baseman in baseball and I expect him to have another great year in 2024 pic.twitter.com/pYBi6oO3o4
— Peyton (@PeytonTowry) March 19, 2024
Perhaps most astonishing, is that Albies is far from the best hitter on the team. Surrounded by superstars like Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson, and Austin Riley, he is in the perfect position to produce. He will continue to see pitches to hit in 2024, there is no way around it. If he can stay away from injury, it is almost guaranteed Albies will score almost 100 runs and hit 25-30 long balls. How can that not excite you?
Oneil Cruz, SS - Pittsburgh Pirates
The second name on my list is Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop, Oneil Cruz. Do you want to know why the future of baseball is bright? Watch this kid hit.
Eyeballs across baseball have been watching this promising young superstar in the making. The left-handed slugger just had a memorable spring training. Before entering his fourth major league season, the Dominican Republic native dominated opposing pitchers this March. With seven HR and 14 RBI, he was among the league leaders in spring training production. Each one of his dingers was smashed with jaw-dropping power. In a game earlier this spring against the Phillies, Cruz went 3-for-4 with two HR and six RBI in five innings.
It's not all puppy dogs and rainbows for the phenom. Cruz must find a way to stay on the field in 2024. Last season, he was limited to only nine games after fracturing his fibula in an early April contest after sliding awkwardly into home plate. This was incredibly frustrating for fantasy managers after his breakout season in 2022 when he had 17 HR and 54 RBI in only 87 games.
Teammate Rowdy Tellez summed up the overall excitement surrounding Cruz perfectly. " I don't have the vocabulary to describe him. It's impressive. He's going to be a generational player. He's an elite talent. "We have a lot to look forward to," Tellez said. Draft Oneil early, and reap the rewards of one of the best young hitters the game has seen in recent years.
CJ Abrams, SS - Washington Nationals
If you're looking for players on the rise in 2024, look no further than Washington Nationals shortstop, CJ Abrams. The sixth overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft by the San Diego Padres, is now making a name for himself in Washington. After only registering 44 at-bats in his rookie season, Abrams's playing time skyrocketed last year, collecting almost 600 plate appearances and making the most of his increased playing time.
The 23-year-old had 18 HR, 64 RBI, 28 doubles, 6 triples, scored 84 runs, and stole an eye-popping 47 bases. The Nationals are rebuilding, and there is no better piece than Abrams to build your infield around. He makes sense in the middle to late rounds of fantasy drafts, because his production should only increase moving forward.
Although Abrams needs to show more consistency at the plate, mustering only a .245 average in 2023, he has the talents and is young enough to continue to improve. He needs to get on base at a higher clip this season, and there are signs he will. He gained 78 points of slugging percentage over his 2022 line, maintaining a better approach and showing more patience at the plate. He also worked heavily on his strength and conditioning this offseason, to ensure he makes harder contact on the baseball. He tripled his barrel rate to 5% and will look to continue making strides offensively starting this week.
CJ Abrams breakout season loading🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/YGpBeymsAo
— BoMuse (@Bo23Muse) March 26, 2024
Don't be mistaken, Abrams is not the perfect fantasy baseball player. However, he is one of the youngest in the league and is only beginning to showcase his skills. His speed alone would make any fantasy manager consider drafting him, although his ability to score runs and hit 20 HR help make him an attractive fit on any fantasy roster. Feel great about selecting Abrams at a thin position on draft day, and with a little luck, you should get him at an incredible value.
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