X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Sneaky Fantasy Baseball Breakout Hitters - Middle Infielders On the Rise

bryson stott fantasy baseball rankings draft sleepers waiver wire pickups MLB injury news

Hey, RotoBallers! Hope you're taking advantage of the warm weather! I happen to be writing up this piece at the perfect time. Summer is just around the corner, and the improving weather means playing outside until my legs are numb. On a more relevant note, Aaron Judge loves hitting in Toronto and Joey Gallo is pimping bombs that still haven't landed.

Today I will be taking a look at a handful of unsung heroes who play middle infield slots that are making notable contributions to their respective teams. With inevitable injuries piling on, which creates more at-bats for bench-ridden players, several of them have made a considerable impact. Most notably, there are a handful of middle infielders that deserve more credit for their efforts.

While the succeeding players are rostered in the vast majority of leagues, there are still a bunch of leagues that haven't picked them up. It's time to take a look at a bunch of middle infielders on the rise and attempt to pinpoint the roots of their success. Let's get into it!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball draft tools and resources:

 

Middle Infielders On the Rise

Taylor Walls, TB, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 66%, ESPN: 46%)

The Rays' offense is on pace to compile historical numbers if they keep on this trajectory. There are nine position players on the Rays roster that own a .800 OPS or higher. Despite Tuesday's mishap against the Blue Jays who put up a 20 spot, the Rays offense is scorching hot. One player in specific, Taylor Walls, a former top prospect in the Tampa Bay system, has had a huge turnaround at the plate, despite a sluggish start to his hitting career.

Walls is slashing .250/.356/.509 with a .865 OPS through 116 ABs this season. His fantasy value is inherently more enticing since he plays three infield positions, and is an asset everywhere he plays. At the plate, he's been hitting at a completely different tempo than last year and his bat has really come to fruition. Walls is producing louder contact which materialized into seven homers and a 37% hard-hit rate. The 26-year-old outperformed all of the preseason numbers, most notably his .389 xSLG (.509 SLG) and .235 xBA (.250 AVG). Although he's hit a recent slump at the plate, Walls is on pace for a career year if he maintains his excellence at the plate.

Ezequiel Duran, TEX, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 70%, ESPN: 22%)

We saw a glimpse of Duran's aptitude in his 58-game stint as a rookie in 2022. Although, ever since Duran has seen increased reps at the plate, he's been hitting on a different level. He's played a big role in a roaring Rangers offense spearheaded by Adolis Garcia. He's played 40 games for Texas this season and is hitting to the tune of a .301/.340/.515 slash line along with a 140 wRC+.

Most of his success at the plate can be attributed to the quality of contact that Duran is producing, along with a more disciplined approach. He owns a 22.7% strikeout rate and his swinging choices are certainly an improvement from last year's 24.5% mark. In terms of the quality of his contact, Duran displays a 10.9% barrel rate and a 48.5% hard-hit rate. He's finding the barrel more consistently, which allows him to drive the ball at a more frequent rate. If he's still a free agent in your fantasy league, picking up Duran has to be on your bucket list.

Orlando Arcia, ATL, 2B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 56%, ESPN: 28%)

When Dansby Swanson walked away from Atlanta over the offseason, there was a large debate over who would step in as the starting shortstop. Through 28 starts at shortstop, Orlando Arcia has stepped up tremendously to fill Swanson's former role. His bat perked up as well, which could earn him more reps at shortstop if he continues to hit for a high clip. Arcia is hitting .313/.371/.510 with four homers and a 136 OPS+.

With Vaughn Grissom optioned to Triple-A a couple of weeks ago, it created more opportunities for Arcia to prove that he's a mainstay in the lineup. He cut down on his swinging habits (18.1% K rate) and is connecting with the ball more profoundly as demonstrated by his 10.4% barrel rate. From a fantasy perspective, a little less than half of all leagues have not picked up Arcia, which is honestly one of those "coulda shoulda woulda" moments. Submit a waiver request before your rival beats you to it!

Bryson Stott, PHI, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 57%, ESPN: 28%)

Stott wasn't much of a threat at the plate in 127 games as a rookie in 2022. He compiled a .653 OPS with an 83 wRC+ while hitting just 10 homers. Well, something clicked in his swing this season, that has molded him into a completely different hitter. Entering play on Thursday, Stott owns a .291 clip with half of the homers that he hit a year prior (5). He's making more consistent contact (.325 OBP) but his power numbers are mostly parallel to his production last season.

Stott is hitting line drives more frequently and even cut down on his fly ball rate (29.6%), which was one of the causes of his struggles at the plate last season. If he continues to hit at this pace, it could prompt the Phillies to offer Stott an extension. It's a big ask for Stott to maintain a .291 clip, but if you are a fantasy manager that is roaming the waiver wire, now would be the time to invest in some Bryson Stott Kool-Aid.

Miguel Vargas, LAD, 1B/2B (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 25%) 

Out of the plethora of young faces that are making an impact for the Dodgers, versatile infielder, Miguel Vargas has turned some heads early in the season. His plate discipline- 18% strikeout rate, and ability to put the ball in play (.341 OBP) have caught the eyes of the Dodgers front office. Despite hitting at a .237 clip, Vargas is scorching hot at the plate over the past seven games. In that span, the 23-year-old is slashing .296/.367/.407 with just four strikeouts. On the season, Vargas is slashing .237/.341/.423 with a 112 wRC+.

As an amateur prospect, Vargas was always highly touted for his abilities at the plate. He hit a bunch of homers throughout his stint in the minors and it's already translating in the big leagues. While he's hit just four homers this season, Vargas has a 40.3% fly ball rate, and it wouldn't surprise me if more of his balls clear the fence. At least for now, the Cuban native continues to impress the Dodgers as he embarks on his first full big league season. For fantasy managers, it's Vargas time!

That's a wrap, folks! Make sure to keep up with RotoBaller's year-long content!



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Fantasy Baseball Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Carlos Rodón23 mins ago

Carlos Rodon Named Opening Day Starter
Luka Dončić33 mins ago

Luka Doncic Sidelined On Friday Versus Denver
Jorge Mateo40 mins ago

Could Make Spring Debut Soon, Still Doubtful For Opening Day
Tee Higgins59 mins ago

Bengals Making Headway On Contracts For Tee Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase
Ben Skowronek1 hour ago

Back With Steelers
Zach Eflin1 hour ago

Named Opening Day Starter
Andrew Painter1 hour ago

Throws First Live Batting Practice Session
Minnesota Vikings1 hour ago

Eric Wilson Returns To Minnesota
Bryce Harper2 hours ago

Open To A Move Back To The Outfield
Pharaoh Brown2 hours ago

Heading To Miami
José Ramírez2 hours ago

Guardians Could Move Jose Ramirez To Two-Hole
Yoán Moncada2 hours ago

Yoan Moncada Scratched On Friday With Thumb Soreness
Minnesota Vikings2 hours ago

Justin Skule Signs With Vikings
Clay Holmes2 hours ago

Mets Name Clay Holmes The Opening Day Starter
Austin Riley2 hours ago

Hit By Pitch On Friday, X-Rays Come Back Negative
Keyonte George2 hours ago

Ruled Out On Friday Against Raptors
Brett de Geus2 hours ago

Marlins Option Valente Bellozo, Brett de Geus
John Collins2 hours ago

Out For At Least Two Weeks
Mackenzie Blackwood3 hours ago

Battling Illness, Not Starting On Friday
Jakob Poeltl3 hours ago

Getting Rest Day On Friday
Jaren Jackson Jr.3 hours ago

Could Return On Friday
Rasmus Ristolainen3 hours ago

Day-To-Day With Upper-Body Injury
Trae Young3 hours ago

Likely To Play Against Clippers On Friday
Lian Bichsel3 hours ago

Not Playing On Friday
Clint Capela3 hours ago

Won't Suit Up Against Clippers
Josh Norris3 hours ago

Undergoing Evaluation
JJ Peterka3 hours ago

Not Playing On Saturday
Ben Simmons3 hours ago

Tagged As Questionable On Friday
Neal Pionk3 hours ago

Viewed As Week-To-Week
Kareem Hunt3 hours ago

Chiefs Bring Back Kareem Hunt On One-Year Deal
Philadelphia Eagles4 hours ago

Eagles Open To Trading Bryce Huff
Norman Powell4 hours ago

Set To Miss Another Game Friday
Cooper Kupp4 hours ago

Asking For $15 Million Per Year
Christian Kirk4 hours ago

Texans Restructure Christian Kirk's Contract
Rondale Moore4 hours ago

Visiting With Vikings
Devin Booker4 hours ago

Suns Not Looking To Trade Devin Booker This Offseason
Bailey Zappe4 hours ago

Chiefs Re-Sign Bailey Zappe
Tim Patrick4 hours ago

Lions Re-Sign Tim Patrick
Tyrese Maxey4 hours ago

Remains Sidelined On Friday
Miami Marlins4 hours ago

PJ Morlando Undergoes Ulnar Nerve Transposition
Edward Cabrera4 hours ago

Could Miss His Next Start
Paul George5 hours ago

Ruled Out For Friday
Tyler Stephenson5 hours ago

To Open Year On Injured List With Low-Grade Oblique Strain
Andrés Chaparro5 hours ago

Andres Chaparro Injured Taking Batting Practice
Jacob Amaya5 hours ago

Back In White Sox's Lineup
Luis Rengifo5 hours ago

Returns To The Lineup On Friday
Andre Drummond5 hours ago

Questionable To Play Against Indiana
Nelson Velázquez5 hours ago

Nelson Velazquez Back In Spring Lineup On Friday
Bobby Witt Jr.5 hours ago

Feeling Better After Being Hit By Pitch
Derrick White5 hours ago

Uncertain For Friday
Kristaps Porzingis5 hours ago

Iffy Friday
Al Horford6 hours ago

Probable For Friday Night
Kyle Teel7 hours ago

Showcasing Power In Spring Training
Jasson Domínguez7 hours ago

Jasson Dominguez Launches Second Spring Home Run
Chase Dollander7 hours ago

Tosses Four Shutout Frames On Thursday
Roman Dolidze8 hours ago

Set For A Rematch
Marvin Vettori8 hours ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Cooper Kupp8 hours ago

Cowboys Not Considered Favorites For Cooper Kupp
Chidi Njokuani8 hours ago

Looks For His Third Win In A Row
Laviska Shenault Jr.8 hours ago

Signing With Bills
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos8 hours ago

Looks For His 12th UFC Win
Chicago Bears8 hours ago

Jonah Jackson Signs Extension With Bears
Aaron Rodgers9 hours ago

Vikings Seriously Considering Adding Aaron Rodgers
Kurt Holobaugh9 hours ago

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 104
Cooper Kupp9 hours ago

Cowboys Making Push For Cooper Kupp
Alexander Hernandez9 hours ago

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Cody Gibson9 hours ago

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Da'Mon Blackshear10 hours ago

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 104
Quinton Byfield10 hours ago

Scores In Fifth Straight Game
Jesper Bratt10 hours ago

Posts Second Straight Three-Point Performance
Brendson Ribeiro10 hours ago

Searching For Second UFC Win On Saturday
Tristan Jarry10 hours ago

Picks Up Third Straight Victory
Diyar Nurgozhay10 hours ago

Set To Make His UFC Debut
Adin Hill10 hours ago

Shuts The Door On Blue Jackets On Thursday
MMA10 hours ago

Seung Woo Choi In Dire Need Of Victory
Sam Bennett10 hours ago

Strikes Twice In Victory
Brady Tkachuk10 hours ago

Suffers Minor Injury On Thursday
Kevin Vallejos10 hours ago

Makes Debut At UFC Vegas 104
Miles Sanders17 hours ago

Returning To NFC East With Cowboys
Jayson Tatum18 hours ago

In Danger Of Missing Friday's Game
Jaylen Brown18 hours ago

Questionable For Friday Night
Garrett Wilson19 hours ago

Will Be Unquestioned WR1 In 2025
Cooper Kupp19 hours ago

Jaguars Not Interested In Cooper Kupp, Whose Price Is "Insane"
Spencer Shrader19 hours ago

Reunites With Colts
Scottie Barnes20 hours ago

Could Miss Another Game
P.J. Washington20 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Friday
De'Andre Hunter20 hours ago

Tagged As Probable For Friday
Charlie Lindgren22 hours ago

Gets The Nod Against Kings Thursday
Filip Gustavsson22 hours ago

Starts Against Rangers Thursday
Connor Zary22 hours ago

Suspended For Two Games
Dougie Hamilton22 hours ago

To Miss Rest Of Regular Season
Rasmus Ristolainen22 hours ago

Unavailable Thursday
Nikita Kucherov22 hours ago

Out Against Flyers
Yegor Chinakhov23 hours ago

Sits Out Thursday's Game
Ivan Barbashev1 day ago

Returning On Thursday
Igor Shesterkin1 day ago

Starting On Thursday
Jacob Bridgeman2 days ago

Use Caution For Jacob Bridgeman At TPC Sawgrass
Nicolai Hojgaard2 days ago

Looks To Stay Consistent Heading Into PLAYERS Championship
Karl Vilips2 days ago

Makes PLAYERS Championship Debut After First PGA Tour Win
Taylor Pendrith2 days ago

A Sneaky Play At TPC Sawgrass
Sahith Theegala2 days ago

Out Of Form Ahead Of The PLAYERS Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick2 days ago

A Shaky Play Heading Into PLAYERS
Scottie Scheffler2 days ago

Eyeing Three-Peat At TPC Sawgrass
Aldrich Potgieter2 days ago

A Risky Play At TPC Sawgrass
Si Woo Kim2 days ago

Looks To Keep Building Momentum At The PLAYERS
Denny McCarthy2 days ago

Looks To Continue Solid Play At TPC Sawgrass
Collin Morikawa3 days ago

Poised For Another Strong Performance At TPC Sawgrass
Robert MacIntyre3 days ago

A Risky Play With Upside At The PLAYERS Championship
Jordan Spieth3 days ago

Looking To Change Fortunes At TPC Sawgrass
Cameron Young3 days ago

Avoid Cameron Young At The PLAYERS Championship
Michael Kim3 days ago

Continues Incredible Form Ahead Of The PLAYERS Championship
Justin Thomas3 days ago

Looking For More Magic At TPC Sawgrass
Xander Schauffele3 days ago

Continues Competitive Return At The Players Championship
Rory McIlroy3 days ago

Looks To Reverse Recent History At TPC Sawgrass
PGA3 days ago

Victor Hovland Looking To Find Form At The PLAYERS Championship
Brian Harman3 days ago

A Sleeper Pick At The PLAYERS Championship
Min Woo Lee3 days ago

A Hard Name To Trust At The Players Championship
Tyler Reddick4 days ago

Power-Steering Failure Foils Tyler Reddick's Bid For Potential Victory
William Byron4 days ago

Recovers From Being Trapped A Lap Down To Finish Sixth
Josh Berry4 days ago

Gives Wood Brothers Team Best Run Since 2021
Alex Pereira4 days ago

Drops Decision At UFC 313
Magomed Ankalaev4 days ago

Becomes The New UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion
Justin Gaethje4 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Rafael Fiziev4 days ago

Loses Third Fight In A Row
Ignacio Bahamondes4 days ago

Gets Submission Win At UFC 313
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Scores His Third Consecutive Victory Of The Season At Phoenix
Kyle Larson4 days ago

Strong Phoenix Performance Falls Short Of Victory
Chris Buescher4 days ago

Quietly Earns A Top-Five Finish At Phoenix
Alex Bowman4 days ago

Leaves Phoenix With His Best Finish At The Site Since 2016
Zane Smith4 days ago

Quietly Nabs His First Phoenix Top-10 Finish
Jalin Turner4 days ago

Retires After UFC 313 Loss
Iasmin Lucindo4 days ago

Gets Dominated At UFC 313
Amanda Lemos4 days ago

Dominates At UFC 313
King Green4 days ago

Gets Knocked Out At UFC 313
Chase Elliott5 days ago

Is Chase Elliott Worth Rostering At Phoenix This Week For DFS?
Joey Logano5 days ago

Will Be A Top Contender To Win At Phoenix
Denny Hamlin5 days ago

Is Difficult to Recommend As A DFS Option
Carson Hocevar5 days ago

Is Not An Ideal Driver To Add To Phoenix DFS Lineups
Brad Keselowski5 days ago

Is A Solid DFS Choice For Phoenix Lineups
Austin Cindric5 days ago

Could Be Worth Using In Phoenix Tournament Lineups
Kyle Busch5 days ago

Should Fantasy Players Roster Kyle Busch At Phoenix?
Michael McDowell5 days ago

Is Michael McDowell Worth Rostering For Phoenix DFS Lineups?
Ty Gibbs5 days ago

Is A DFS Recommendation Despite Inconsistent Track History At Phoenix
Austin Dillon5 days ago

Is Austin Dillon Worth Rostering In DFS For Phoenix This Week?
Cole Custer5 days ago

Is An Underrated DFS Value Pick For Phoenix Lineups
Tyler Reddick5 days ago

DFS Value Likely Hinges On How Much He Leads
Chase Briscoe5 days ago

Despite Strong Phoenix Record, Chase Briscoe Qualifies Inexplicably Poorly
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Michael Florio's Football Show - Podcast RotoBaller Network

Free Agency Fantasy Fallout!

Michael F. Florio is back going over the any signings and trades that free agency week brought us! He discusses his winners and losers of players that changed teams - then does the same for players who were not moved but still had their value impacted! Be sure to also tune into RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM […]


Davante Adams - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

NFL Free Agency Tracker - Updates On Every Free Agent Signing (2025)

The NFL offseason is starting to heat up, and the league's legal tampering period is set to begin on March 10 at noon Eastern. Free agents cannot officially sign until the new league year begins on March 12 at 4 p.m. Eastern, but deals will be agreed to, and news will be coming in quickly […]


Drake Maye - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Players To Target In Deep Leagues

Fantasy football sleepers are what make the game fun. There is nothing like landing an absolute stud in the double-digit rounds of your fantasy draft. The more teams in your league, the more important sleepers become. As the player pool shrinks, it is an absolute must to hit on at least one or two sleepers. […]


DK Metcalf - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Fantasy Football Avoids, Busts: 2025 NFL Free Agent Signings

The 2025 NFL free-agency period is well underway, and many wide receivers, tight ends, quarterbacks, and running backs have already found their new homes. While some of them are in better landing spots, or at least should continue having solid production relative to their ADP (anticipated draft position) in fantasy football, some of them should […]


Jaydon Blue - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Picks, NFL Draft

2025 Fantasy Football Rookie Sleepers: Late-Round Prospects With Immediate Upside

Players who are thought of as less likely to succeed in the NFL are typically selected later in drafts. When a player falls through the rounds, it's generally because teams have doubts about their ability to produce. It takes a specific family of skill sets to succeed in the big leagues. But sometimes, players fall […]


Cole Kmet - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL injury News

2025 Fantasy Football Tight End Sleepers For Best Ball Drafts

Tight end is one of the most important positions in fantasy football, and heading into 2025, the position seems even deeper than it has been in past seasons. Sure, there’s the new cream rising to the top with Brock Bowers and Trey McBride, but a lot of veterans are seen much lower in best ball […]


Tyreek Hill - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Picks

Fantasy Football Bust Candidates: Second Round Avoids For 2025 Drafts

It's a little bit easier to identify potential busts in the second round of fantasy football drafts than in the first round. Of course, the further the drafts wear on, the fewer highly-talented players everyone knows are available. In the second round, there are usually more players with question marks than there are in the […]


Davante Adams - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Free Agency Fantasy Football Analysis: Risers On New Teams (2025)

Sometimes the grass really is greener on the other side, and sometimes NFL players are able to go to said other side where said grass is greener and sign with a team that puts them in a better situation for fantasy football success. Such is the case for several players this season. Sometimes wide receivers […]


Dallas Goedert - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Dallas Goedert Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Trade Outlook

The Philadelphia Eagles are apparently attempting to trade their top tight end, Dallas Goedert, for at least a fourth-round pick in compensation. Whether or not they get their wish remains to be seen, but Goedert was still a reasonably productive TE in his final year with the Eagles with injuries aside. Part of the reason […]


Kareem Hunt - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Kareem Hunt Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt had a decent season filling in for the injured Isiah Pacheco and later serving in a committee with him when he returned from his broken fibula. He was technically signed "off the street" as he wasn't even in the NFL when the Chiefs reached out to him for […]


Joe Flacco - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Joe Flacco Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco has hit the open market, and the Colts have decided to go in another direction for their backup QB job. They signed former New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones to back up Anthony Richardson, though many are rightfully convinced that Jones will end up as the starter, […]


Brandin Cooks - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Brandin Cooks Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

Wide receiver Brandin Cooks is a free agent for the first time in his career after his contract with the Dallas Cowboys expired this offseason. He is now free to sign with any team he chooses. Cooks did not have his best season in 2024. He only posted a 26-259-3 line in 10 games and […]


Gus Edwards - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL DFS Picks

Gus Edwards Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

The Los Angeles Chargers recently cut Gus Edwards after one season with the team. He had just signed a two-year deal with Los Angeles last offseason, but apparently, the team wanted to go in a different direction. It’s understandable as Edwards averaged a career-worst 3.6 yards per carry in 2024. His advanced metrics weren’t great […]