Best Fantasy Hitters in the Minors

The Five Best Hitters Still at the Triple-A Level

1. Billy Ray Butler, Omaha Royals RF (Kansas City Royals AAA Affiliate)

If your league allows you to pick up minor leaguers after draft day, then run, don't walk, to pick up Billy Ray Butler. If you aren't allowed to get him until he becomes a major leaguer, then snare him the minute he gets the call. If someone else already owns his right, well, then you better have Albert Pujols and A-Rod or else you are in big trouble. Just kidding. But this kid Butler, who just turned 21, has been a terror in each of his three years in the lower minors, and he is already lighting up the International League this spring.

In just 19 games, Butler is batting .338 with 6 home runs, 21 RBI and 18 Runs. The Royals do have some promising young players in their outfield right now, but none of them are in the same class as Billy Ray Butler. Just watch.

2. Ryan Braun, Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers AAA Affiliate)

Braun is the real deal. In just 18 games, Braun is hitting .323 with 8 doubles, 7 home runs, 14 RBI, 16 runs and a .765 Slugging Percentage. His hot start is not a fluke, either. Braun hit .303 with 15 homers and 40 RBI last season in 71 AA ballgames. The Brewers are a promising young team, but they currently have Craig Counsell planted at third base, and he's waiting it out until Corey Koskie returns from post-concussive syndrome. With Coskie's questionable health and diminishing skills, Braun will make his way up to the big leagues this season.

3. Tony Abreu, Las Vegas 51s, 2B (Los Angeles Dodgers AAA Affiliate)

No, Abreu won't knock Jeff Kent out of the starting second baseman slot out there in Dodgerland. But the 40-year old Kent did miss almost 50 games with injuries last season, so it's possible that Abreu will see some MLB playing time this summer. If he does come up, grab him quick. Abreu is the consummate Number 2 hitter. He's batting .377 with an On Base Percentage over .450. He's got 5 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, and 17 runs scored. Abreu has been an all-star at every level he has played. He could be a future fantasy MLB star. At the very least, if something happens to Kent, you'll know to pick this guy up.

4. Jaime D'Antona, Tucson Sidewinders, 3B, (Arizona Diamondbacks AAA Affiliate)

D'Antona is ranked first among D-Backs prospects at third base. If he keeps playing like this, he could be in a major league uniform pretty soon. In 17 games, D'Antona is hitting a Hugh Duffy-like .474, and he's got a .573 OBP to go along with 9 doubles, one HR and 15 RBI. His April tear is nothing new. In 2006, D'Antona was a mid-season and a post-season all-star who won the Southern League Player of the Month in September. Although Arizona thought they were set at third base with Chad Tracy, he's playing pretty lousy right now, so it's conceivable that D'Antona could see some time in the MLB soon.

5. Hunter Pence, Round Rock Express, CF (Houston Astros AAA Affiliate)

Pence is a consensus top-10 prospect among minor leaguers. This year he is off to a hot start with a .319 batting average, 3 Home Runs and 16 RBI. Pence is a six-foot four-inch power hitter who had 29 homers and 85 RBI in 2006. With the Bad News Bears-like hitting that's going on in Minute Maid Park, the Astros would be wise to find a spot in the lineup for Pence sooner rather than later.

Five More To Watch

6. Ryan Doumit, Indianapolis Indians, C (Pittsburgh Pirates AAA Affiliate).

Doumit started the year in the majors, but was then dropped back to AAA on April 12th. All he has done since then is hit. The catcher has a .426 batting average to go along with his 3 home runs, 15 RBI and 15 runs scored in 14 games. Doumit has even stolen two bases. With Pirates' catcher Ronny Paulino hitting a miserable .182 with 0 HR and 4 RBI, you can bet your sweet patootie that Doumit will be catching for the Bucs by the beginning of May.

7. Jack Cust, Portand Beavers, LF (San Diego Padres AAA Affiliate).

Big Jack is batting .339 with 8 home runs and 17 RBI in 18 games this spring with Portland. With Termel Sledge stinking it up for the Padres, expect the team to bring Cust into the mix sometime in mid-May.

8. Micah Hoffpauir, Iowa Cubs, 1B (Chicago Cubs AAA Affiliate).

The AAA first baseman is hitting .353 with 4 home runs and 23 RBI in only 19 games. Sure the real Cubbies have Derek Lee at first, which makes Hoffpauir (or Lee, depending on how things go in Chicago) perfect trade bait. This guy could be up in the majors soon.

9. Craig Stansberry, Portland Beavers, 2B (AAA Affiliate of San Diego Padres).

Stansberry is batting .353 with 8 doubles, 1 homer, 19 RBI and 18 runs scored in just 18 games. The 25-year old is a great defender and a solid hitter with a knack for timely hitting. Sounds like a perfect big league second baseman, doesn't it?

10. Donny Leon, Pericos de Puebla, 3B (Mexican League).

Donny has a .426 batting average, 9 HR, 22 RBI, .513 OBP, and an .883 Slg. % in 21 games. With stats like that, he will find his way into the big show before the end of 2007 baseball season.

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Check out the Top Fantasy Minor League Pitchers.

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