The 2012 MLB off-season has brought a number of surprises -- Pujols and Wilson to the Angels, Darvish to the Rangers, Reyes to the Marlins, Pineda to the Yankees (and Montero to the Mariners), etc. But when you're approaching this year's fantasy draft, you'll likely already have them firmly in mind.

The value, as always, is finding younger players that are just breaking out that you might be able to take a safe swing at and steal them just before the schmuck in the chat room still talking about last season's debacle. Here are three young fantasy hotshots that just might just do the trick:

Justin Upton

To call Upton a breakout is an insult -- he's so far past breaking out Tommy Lee Jones is organizing a search party. At 23, Justin just had 5 WAR season. If you're familiar with wins above replacement, you know 4+ WAR means you're a great player, and five means you're elite (the best seasons in history sit around 8+). Now see that Upton did that at 23 and realize that's the kind of season required of a player early enough in his career to put him on early HoF watch lists. Yes, I'm serious.

Here's what you can expect: an average in the .280s (hits!), on base around the.360s (decent walks), and slugging north of .470 (that's a lot of power). He'll likely go in the first few rounds, so be ready.

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That's Ryan Roberts, Diamondbacks.

These charts completely ignore defense. What shouldn't be ignored are the offensive years that Ryan Roberts, Gregg Dobbs, and Wilson Freaking Betemit are having. Youkilis and A-Rod should be up there, but seeing these guys up near the top is a nice surprise.

Top 20 Best (hitting) 3Bs after the jump.

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Peralta, Cabrera, Reyes, Tulowitzki ... Lowrie?

Jose Reyes picked a great time to have a great year, no?

Jhonny Peralta, Asdrubal Cabrera, Jose Reyes, and Troy Tulowitzki: of course. Jed Lowrie? Boston fans have to be pleased. Lowrie's fielding isn't quite up to par with the others pictured, but being in the same conversation with Reyes and Tulo is a great start. The real tell is the difference between the top tier and ... everybody else. Let's see to which group Lowrie belongs, below.

Top 20 after the jump.

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