Tulowitzki gets ready for another big year. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)
With fantasy drafts kicking into gear for the baseball season, the Examiner.com fantasy sports team will be providing local insight to propel your team to the championship.
Troy Tulowitzki--Colorado Rockies (SS) Fantasy owners will look for "Tulo" to emerge as a top-tier player this season, and many will invest heavily in the slick-fielding, power-hitting and thoroughly evervescent personality that is Troy Tulowitzki.
Tulowitzki followed a stellar rookie season with a pronounced sophomore slump in 2008, enduring injuries and prolonged slumps to post lacklaster numbers (.263, 8 HR, 46 RBI). However, after a slow start in 2009 began to invoke panic in Rockies fans far-and-wide, Jim Tracy's ascension to manager and coinciding vote of confidence propelled Tulo to the middle-of-the-order production that he appeared to be destined for all along (.297, 32 HR, 92 RBI and a surprising 20 SB).
What to expect for 2010. Tulowitzki's words and actions throughout the offseason and Spring Training point to a player determined to continue his ascension into the upper-echelon of MLB players. Tulo expects to be a star. He thrives on the high expectations. The best news for potential fantasy owners, besides the promise of a "status quo" type of year with the bat, has been Tulo's insistence that a 30/30 season is well within his reach. Expect a season with numbers in the .300/30 HR/100 RBI/100 runs range, with 20-plus stolen bases.
Where to draft Tulowitzki. After spending years as one of the brightest positions in the MLB, shorstop has quietly become a lackluster spot league-wide. Tulowitzki is clearly a step behind shortstop-premier Hanley Ramirez of the Marlins, but the argument can be made that he outpaces every other shortstop for fantasy purposes. The two closest challengers are the Yankees Derek Jeter and Jimmie Rollins of the Phillies, but Tulowitzki is a more promising power and RBI-producer than either player.
Tulo's ability to fill up the stat sheet across the board, and his place as one of the top choices at a thin position, make him a valuable fantasy pick-up. He shouldn't get out of the early part of the third round in most drafts. Look for him around picks 18-22 on draft day.
Other draft help from Examiner.com: Adrian Beltre (Red Sox), Curtis Granderson, National Fantasy Baseball Examiners
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