By Kevin Kleps, Fantasy Correspondent

The top 10 fantasy baseball designated hitters for the 2009 season, with 2008 statistics in parentheses):

1. David Ortiz, Red Sox (74 runs, 23 HR, 89 RBI, 1 SB, .264 AVG)
2. Jim Thome, White Sox (93 runs, 34 HR, 90 SBI, 1 SB, .245 AVG)
3. Travis Hafner, Indians (21 runs, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 1 SB, .197 AVG)
4. Pat Burrell, Rays (74 runs, 33 HR, 86 RBI, 0 SB, .250 AVG)
5. Hideki Matsui, Yankees (43 runs, 9 HR, 45 RBI, 0 SB, .294 AVG)

1. Gary Sheffield, Tigers (52 runs, 19 HR, 57 RBI, 9 SB, .225 AVG)
2. Jason Kubel, Twins (74 runs, 20 HR, 78 RBI, 0 SB, .272 AVG)
3. Jack Cust, Athletics (77 runs, 33 HR, 77 RBI, 0 SB, .231 AVG)
4. Ken Griffey Jr., Mariners (67 runs, 18 HR, 71 RBI, 0 SB, .249 AVG)
5. Billy Butler, Royals (44 runs, 11 HR, 55 RBI, 0 SB, .275 AVG)

Short hops

Ortiz had a combined 178 homers and 541 RBI from 2004-07. His injury concerns should cause him to fall into the fifth or sixth round. ... Hafner’s iffy shoulder made him a shell of himself last season. He averaged 32 homers and 109 RBI the previous four seasons, but there’s no telling if he will come close to that again. He’s a mid-round pick at best. ... This list contains quite a few fading former fantasy studs, as Sheffield hasn’t had a big year since 2005, Matsui lost his power last season and Griffey was a fantasy backup. ... Oakland’s Cust has huge power (59 homers the last two seasons), but is a strikeout waiting to happen (a combined 361 the last two years). ...

The second-best player on this list could end up being Burrell, who has had at least 29 homers and 86 RBI each of the last four seasons and moves into the middle of the Rays’ dangerous lineup.