Top 5 Center Fielders - 2009 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide

2009 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide. Similar to second basemen, the center field position has begun to evolve over the past several years in Major League Baseball to no longer emphasize speed over power. Many big league teams are filling the role with hybrid players who have some speed, but also have more power and hitting capability than in years past. For this year's 2009 fantasy baseball draft, there are a number of high quality players that should be available to choose from in the mid-rounds of the draft. The top five to consider are: Josh Hamilton, Grady Sizemore, Curtis Granderon, Torii Hunter, and Nate McLouth.

Top Five Center Fielers - Fantasy Baseball 2009.

#1 Center Fielders- Fantasy Baseball 2009: Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers

Josh Hamilton was the first overall pick in the 1999 MLB draft. In his first full season at the major league level in 2008, he ha an outstanding year batting .304 with 32 HRs and 130 RBIs. Picked to play on the 2008 AL All Star team, look for Hamilton to do more of the same in 2009. A clear cut early draft pick, Josh Hamilton should bat over .300 again with 35 HRs and 110 RBIs.

#2 Center Fielders- Fantasy Baseball 2009: Grady Sizemore, Cleveland Indians

Grady Sizemore had a great year in 2008 for the Indians hitting over 30 HRs for the first time in his MLB career! (33) He knocked in 90 RBIs as well. Although his batting average was a bit low at .268 his OBP was .374. Look for Sizemore to improve somewhat on his batting average in 2009 raising it to at least .290, but it may be at the expense of some of his power and forecast his HR numbers to taper off into the mid-20's while obtaining 85 RBIs.

#3 Center Fielders - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Curtis Granderon, Detroit Tigers

Similar to Grady Sizemore, Curtis Granderon is another center fielder who got on-base at a fair clip last season (.365 OBP), but only hit for .280 while hitting 22 HRs with 60 RBIs. Look for Sizemore to continue to work on his hitting in the 2009 season to get back to his 2007 form when he was over .300 for the season. He should hit at least .305 witth 18 Hrs, and 85 RBI's in the 2009 season and is a great pick for the 2009 fantasy baseball draft!

#4 Center Fielders - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Torrii Hunter, Los Angeles Angels

Tori Hunter is one of the best fielding players at the center field position in MLB having won the Golden Glove award for 2008. At the plate he hit .278 with an OBP of .326 to go with 21 HRs and 78 RBIs. Look for him to increase his run production next year and obtain 30 HRs with 95 RBIs and a batting average in the .280's.

#5 Center Fielders - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Nate McLouth, Pittsburgh Pirates

You may want to consider taking Nate McLouth if he's on the board afer round three of the 2009 fantasy baseball draft! Last season he hit .276 with 23 HRs and 93 RBI's for the pirates with a .356 OBP. Look for him to creep into the 30's on HRs in 2009 and to surpass 100 RBI's for the season. Batting-avereage-wise, McLouth will likely do no better than .285 for the season, but would be a great pick in the draft!