Top-20

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer

If a fantasy baseball draft were held today, these would be my top-20 picks:

1. Jose Reyes – Maybe most encouraging of all is Reyes’ improved plate discipline (18/18 KBB ratio). He’s not just a stud in fantasy baseball, but he’s also a true star in real life. I kick myself every day for taking Pujols over him in two different leagues.

2. Alex Rodriguez – A-Rod is striking out a ton, so I wouldn’t expect an average better than .290-.300, but even if Pujols outhits him from here on out, the differences in the Yankee and Cardinal lineups give Rodriguez the advantage.

3. Albert Pujols – I’m worried he’s hiding an injury.

4. Johan Santana – Remember, April and May are easily his two worst months throughout his career.

5. Jake Peavy – Yeah, there’s some risk here, but he also may have even a higher upside than Santana with the ridiculous K rate and Petco Park behind him. He’s on pace for 259 strikeouts.

6. Jimmy Rollins – 30/30 from a middle infielder is pretty special.

7. Carl Crawford – Not off to a torrid start, but I still think it’s important to draft steals early.

8. Miguel Cabrera – Get ready for a string of .330-40-140 seasons.

9. Vladamir Guerrero – He’s back. Vladdy is an injury concern, and it’d be nice if his teammates could knock him in every now and then, but Guerrero looks like a serious MVP candidate this year.

10. Hanley Ramirez – The lack of RBI hurts, but Ramirez just keeps getting better and better. He’s walking 4X as much as last year, should contend for the league-lead in runs scored and approach 60 stolen bases.

11. Alfonso Soriano – The 27/4 K/BB ratio is staggering, but Soriano has already put his early season struggles in the rearview mirror.

12. Chase Utley – Nothing wrong with Utley’s production far.

13. Carlos Beltran – His average is due to decline, but if Beltran continues to run more, his fantasy value increases.

14. David Ortiz – I wouldn’t fault you for picking Big Papi even earlier, he just gets punished ever so slightly for lack of speed.

15. Travis Hafner – So-so start still produces a .931 OPS.

16. Grady Sizemore – If he keeps running like he has, this ranking is too low.

17. Ryan Howard – He’ll be fine.

18. Manny Ramirez – He’ll be fine.

19. Derrek Lee – Has still reached base safely in every game played this season.

20. Matt Holliday – A category often overlooked yet might be as scarce as steals is average, which Holliday helps immensely in.