The Middle Infield Scramble: Why You Need to Unearth These Hidden Gems Before Everyone Else!
Hey there, fantasy baseball enthusiasts! We've been diving deep into the crystal ball for the 2026 season, uncovering some fantastic pitching and corner infield talent. But this week, we're shifting our focus to the middle infield, a position that might just be the most crucial in your draft. Why? Because the pickings get slim, and fast, at the top! While it might seem like there are plenty of options early on, a significant gap emerges after the initial wave of players, leaving you in a tough spot if you wait too long.
Our team of expert selectors, including Eno Sarris, Derek VanRiper, Andy Behrens, Owen Poindexter, Michael Salfino, John Laghezza, Chris Welsh, Al Melchior, and Dalton Del Don, have scoured the landscape to bring you the 2B and SS sleepers you absolutely need to know about. And make sure to tune in next week for our final positional breakdown: outfielders!
All average draft position (ADP) data you'll see comes courtesy of FantasyPros.
Middle Infield Sleepers to Target:
Ozzie Albies, ATL
* Hitter: 86; Overall: 135
Here's where it gets interesting: While it seems like there's a good depth of middle infielders initially, with about 22 players going off the board within the top 140 picks, don't get too comfortable! The real challenge arises when that initial group thins out, leaving a void of over 30 picks before the next middle infielder is typically drafted around pick 200. This is precisely when playing time concerns can start to creep in. That's why snagging your middle infielders before the panic truly sets in is a smart move.
Enter Ozzie Albies of the Atlanta Braves. After a bit of a down year for the Braves' offense overall (aside from Ronald Acuña), their players' ADPs have dipped. But Ozzie is just two seasons removed from a fantastic top-15 fantasy finish! He's an everyday player in one of the top-3 projected offenses for runs scored, and his projections are remarkably similar to Mookie Betts, who's being drafted a staggering 100 picks earlier. Albies offers stolen bases, a fantastic approach at the plate, and compensates for what might seem like average raw power with an elite pull profile. Get ready for a 20/20 season from him! — John Laghezza
Ezequiel Tovar, COL
* Hitter: 141; Overall: 232
Tovar had a bit of a rough fantasy season last year, plagued by hip and oblique injuries, which led to a significant dip in his performance. However, let's not forget that just one season prior, he was the 11th-most valuable middle infielder in fantasy at only 22 years old! Even in his down year in 2025, Tovar actually set personal bests in strikeout percentage (K%) at 25.1% and walk percentage (BB%) at 5.4%. Plus, his .209 BABIP on the road is almost certainly due for a positive regression. His stellar defense solidifies his spot in the Colorado lineup, where he's expected to hit second to start the season. Tovar certainly has his flaws, but Coors Field remains a significant advantage that will continue to boost his stats. ATC's projections place Tovar as the No. 15 shortstop in fantasy for 2026, and he'd be the No. 4 second baseman. This really highlights both the sheer depth at shortstop and Tovar's incredibly low ADP, which somehow falls outside the top 225 picks. — Dalton Del Don
Luis Garcia, WSH
* Hitter: 156; Overall: 252
Now, Luis Garcia might not be the flashiest real-life player, but our goal here is fantasy success, not fixing the Nationals! He's just one year removed from an impressive 18 home run, 22 stolen base season with a solid .282 batting average. Those numbers are absolutely valuable in any standard fantasy league. Last season, Garcia again delivered respectable power and speed numbers (16 HR, 14 SB), even though he didn't get a lot of luck on balls in play (a .270 BABIP and .285 xBA). He's slated to hit in the heart of the order for Washington, and at only 25 years old, he's far from his career's twilight. He's currently available well outside the top 200 picks, yet he's more than capable of a 20/15 campaign with a batting average above .280. While he's not a target in OBP leagues, he can be a real asset everywhere else. — Andy Behrens
JJ Wetherholt, STL
* Hitter: 159; Overall: 256
This rookie middle infielder for the Cardinals is currently being drafted outside the top 250 in NFBC Draft Champions leagues and ranks as the 24th SS according to FantasyPros ECR. Wetherholt spent the 2025 season in Double and Triple-A, where he absolutely crushed it, hitting a combined .309 with 17 home runs, 23 stolen bases, and a .931 OPS. According to Prospect Savant, among Triple-A hitters, Wetherholt boasted an 87th percentile barrel percentage of 12.4% and an 86th percentile hard-hit percentage of 48.4%, along with incredibly strong walk and low chase rates. Wetherholt possesses a mature approach to hitting, with a swing that reminds me of a "Corbin Carroll lite" – he can generate serious bat speed across his body and lift the ball for significant power. The Cardinals' recent moves, like trading Nolan Arenado and Brendan Donovan, have opened up a prime opportunity for him to break camp with the big club. His current draft range is likely to look absolutely ridiculous if we see him play a full season as the top prospect he is. I'm ignoring his current draft position and making him a must-draft as a leading Rookie of the Year candidate. — Chris Welsh
Colson Montgomery, CHW
* Hitter: 108; Overall: 179
Montgomery showcased impressive power in his first half-season in MLB, blasting 21 homers. He backed this up with elite bat speed (77 MPH), a 14.5% barrel rate, and a 27.2% pull air rate. At just 23 years old, it's easy to envision improvements in his game, whether it's refining his chase rate or his ability to handle off-speed pitches. His monstrous power potential means even small gains in his approach could lead to significant production increases. If he gets 600+ plate appearances, a 35-homer season is well within his reach. While he might be a batting average liability, we're essentially talking about a player with the upside of a Taylor Ward or Jo Adell season, but going 60 picks later! — Owen Poindexter
Jorge Polanco, NYM
* Hitter: 124; Overall: 209
I ran a filter on all qualified hitters across five key Statcast categories, and only 17 players made the cut. Polanco was one of them! Even more impressively, two hitters batting ahead of him in the Mets lineup (he's hitting cleanup) also met this criterion: Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor. Last year is being written off as an anomaly, but it's hardly a fluke to reduce your strikeout percentage by the largest margin ever recorded. And looking back to 2019, Polanco's OPS+ has consistently been 17% above average. His switch-hitting ability is a major asset, with a 25.2% pulled fly-ball rate (the average is 16.7%). At a 115 OPS+, he's driving in 100 runs, and at a 130 OPS+, he'll be knocking in 120! — Michael Salfino
Andres Gimenez, TOR
* Hitter: 184; Overall: 304
It's a case of "everything old is new again" with Andres Gimenez! His price has plummeted so dramatically that you'd expect him to be 33 years old and coming off a clear decline. Instead, Gimenez is just 27 and was primarily sidelined by injuries last year. Perhaps the Blue Jays won't be a huge base-stealing team, or maybe healthy quads will allow him to return to his near 30-steal form. Honestly, it might not even matter that much. His current projections are modest – averaging around 10 homers, a .251 batting average, and 20 steals – but his cost is so low that Gimenez presents a fantastic bargain for filling your middle infield slot in deep leagues. If he hits a peak season at his prime age, socking 15 dingers and stealing 30 bases, it wouldn't surprise aging curves; it would just surprise the market! — Eno Sarris
Willi Castro, COL
* Hitter: 187; Overall: 310
When you hear people talk about a Statcast page having "lots of red," it means a player excels across a wide range of skills. Castro's page, however, is remarkably free of red, which might explain why he's being drafted outside the top 300 on most platforms. Outside of his 33-steal season in 2023 with the Twins, Castro has never truly wowed fantasy managers with eye-popping stats or a standout skill profile. Yet, he performed well enough across the board in both '23 and '24 to provide positive value in standard 12-team Roto leagues. He was on track for a third consecutive season of Roto relevance until the Twins traded him to the Cubs just before last year's deadline, which unfortunately led to a drop in his production and playing time. Castro has now signed with the Rockies this offseason and is expected to be a significant part of their lineup. His line-drive approach should serve him very well at Coors Field. His new home park gives him a strong chance to push his batting average back above .250 while potentially achieving his first 15-15 season. — Al Melchior
And this is the part most people miss: The middle infield is where you can find serious value if you're willing to look beyond the obvious names. But here's where it gets controversial: Are we too quick to dismiss players coming off down years, especially when they have a history of strong performance and are in a position to rebound? For example, is Ezequiel Tovar's ADP unfairly low given his potential at Coors Field, or are the injury concerns and performance dips a sign of things to come? And with Ozzie Albies, is his ADP a true reflection of his current value, or are we overlooking his proven track record and elite offensive environment?
What are your thoughts on these middle infield sleepers? Do you agree with our picks, or do you have some hidden gems of your own? Let us know in the comments below!
