It’s February. You know what that means.
Baseball is right around the corner, and while we are year-round here at FantasyPros in our coverage, we are getting you ready to dominate your draft and season with our daily content leading up to the first pitch of the season.
One of the cool features that we have here that we’ve highlighted the past few years is our mock draft simulator. It’s really easy and quick to use, so check it out.
I used the simulator to put together a 10-team NL-only mock draft for categories, using traditional 5×5 scoring.
I randomized the draft order, and I ended up with the third pick, which I was thrilled about. I knew I’d get one of Trea Turner (SS/2B – LAD), Juan Soto (RF – WSH), or Fernando Tatís Jr. (SS/OF – SD).
I do want to note that with so many key players remaining unsigned, I felt that it would be most helpful to ignore the Freddie Freeman (1B – FA), Carlos Correa (SS – FA), and Clayton Kershaw’s (SP – FA) of the world for this exercise.
You’ll see how my team ended up, and you can view a complete pick-by-pick breakdown of the entire draft here.
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1.3: Trea Turner (2B/SS – LAD)
This was a slam-dunk for me. Turner is my No. 1 overall player for 2022, so getting him third behind Juan Soto and Fernando Tatís is a steal. The projected growth in power we’ve hoped for is here, and he’s a five-category stud with league-winning speed for an NL-only draft. Having dual eligibility helps with flexibility as the draft goes on.
Other players considered: None
2.8: Austin Riley (3B/1B – ATL)
Third base is extremely thin this year, and in NL-only leagues, it’s doubly so. After Riley, the drop-off goes to Kris Bryant (3B/OF – FA) and Chris Taylor (UTL – LAD). I believe in the gains Riley made in the last two years and I’m thrilled with this start.
Other players considered: Max Fried (SP – ATL), Josh Hader (RP – MIL)
3.3: Max Fried (SP – ATL)
I was torn on which direction to go with this pick. When future odds are announced, I have two immediate bets I’m making – Luis Robert (CF – CWS) for AL MVP and Max Fried for NL Cy Young. I trust a step forward and an elite-level workload for Fried.
Other players considered: Aaron Nola (SP – PHI)
4.8: Jonathan India (2B – CIN)
That positional flexibility of Turner is helping right now, as I move him to shortstop to take India. I have slight concerns about India replicating his rookie success (see Biggio, Cavan), but everything is thinning out fast here. I’ll take the top bat on the board.
Other players considered: Jesse Winker (LF – CIN), Trevor Rogers (SP – MIA)
5.3: Trevor Rogers (SP – MIA)
The top catcher – J.T. Realmuto (C – PHI) – went in this round, but that’s fine. I thought about Will Smith (C – LAD), but I’m OK with the late-round options at the position since we only need one catcher. I’ll go with Rogers who gives me an SP2 with SP1 upside to pair with Fried. This is team fun so far.
Other players considered: Bryan Reynolds (OF – PIT), Blake Snell (SP – TB)
I was nervous that I’d miss out on a closer run, but the room didn’t push them up as I expected. Smith is the obvious pick here to build my saves foundation.
Other players considered: Giovanny Gallegos (RP – STL), Rhys Hoskins (1B – PHI)
7.3: Rhys Hoskins (1B – PHI)
While another arm here was in consideration, I decided to go with Hoskins, who at this point in his career, kind of is what he is. I needed to catch up in the category a bit, and he’s by far the best option to put me back in the thick of things.
Other players considered: Giovanny Gallegos, Ian Anderson (SP – ATL).
I have to tell you, I’m not a fan of this spot. I was torn with another starter or with taking a utility bat. I have no outfielders yet, and the crop is thinning out. I decided to go with Melancon, who the fantasy crowd is too down on. I’ll bank 20 saves here.
Other players considered: Marcus Stroman (SP – CHC), Willy Adames (SS – MIL)
9.3: Marcus Stroman (SP – CHC)
My entire 2021 draft strategy was “Marcus Stroman, no matter what.” I haven’t quite carried that over to 2022, but he’s still coming at a nice discounted price. He’ll give me the volume and high floor that I need with Rogers and Fried.
Other players considered: Hunter Renfroe (OF – MIL), Brendan Rodgers (2B/SS – COL)
10.8: Adam Duvall (OF – ATL)
I hate that Duvall is my OF1. Knowing this, I would have adjusted a pick earlier in the draft to take Jesse Winker over Jonathan India.
Other players considered: Mark Canha (OF – NYM), Anthony DeSclafani (SP – SF)
11.3: Charlie Blackmon (OF – COL)
I’m double-tapping here at outfield by grabbing Blackmon. Look, I know he’s old and is not what he once was, but he’s not dead. Plus, I desperately need OF help.
Other players considered: Keibert Ruiz (C – WSH)
12.8: Eduardo Escobar (2B/SS/3B – NYM)
I’m big on position flexibility when it comes to mono-leagues, so Escobar having three different slots I can slide him into is huge here.
Other players considered: Alec Bohm (3B – PHI), Huascar Ynoa (SP – ATL)
13.8: Carlos Carrasco (SP – NYM)
There’s an obvious risk here with Carrasco’s health, but when he’s on the mound, he’s still bringing it like the Cookie we know and love. I’ll take the upside shot here.
Other players considered: Alec Bohm, Travis d’Arnaud (C – ATL)
14.8: Travis d’Arnaud (C – ATL)
I missed out on Ruiz, which I don’t regret not getting, but he was my main catching target. I’m fine with Travis d’Arnaud here. Less upside than Ruiz, but a top-10 catcher by default.
Other players considered: Jesus Sanchez (OF – MIA), Josiah Gray (SP – WSH)
15.3: Jesús Sánchez (OF – MIA)
It’s Jesús Sánchez breakout season, folks. We’ve waited for him to put it together for a while, and in the second half of last season, we saw the upside that he has. I suddenly hate my outfield a little less (I still hate it overall).
Other players considered: Josiah Gray, Joey Wendle (INF – MIA)
16.8: Josiah Gray (SP – WAS)
Gray’s value is slightly up from this time last year, as he has a guaranteed spot in the Nationals’ rotation. On paper, the numbers weren’t outstanding, but Gray’s upside remains that of an SP3.
Other players considered: Zach Eflin (SP – PHI)
17.3: Joey Wendle (2B/SS/3B – MIA)
Wendle is as boring as they come, but boring is good for fantasy – especially in deep leagues like this. Regular playing time plus the additional eligibilities make him a nice pick this late.
Other players considered: Rowdy Tellez (1B – MIL)
18.8: Lane Thomas (OF – WSH)
Have I mentioned that I hate my outfield? Thomas is one of my favorite sleepers this year in general, so getting him here in the 18th round of an NL-only league is good value. I look at it as having four OF3s on my team.
Other players considered: Art Warren (RP – CIN), Connor Joe (1B/LF – COL)
19.3: Tylor Megill (SP – NYM)
I’m betting the under on Jacob deGrom’s (SP – NYM) innings this year, so I’m in on Megill and his filthy slider. This may be my favorite pick of my draft so far.
Other players considered: Art Warren
20.8: Nick Madrigal (2B – CHC)
I don’t like Madrigal or Madrigal-types at all, but I’ll take elite contact skills with some speed this late as a bench player.
Other players considered: Art Warren
21.3: Art Warren (RP – CIN)
I’ve teased him for a few rounds now, but it’s time to make the pick official. Warren has the makings to be an elite closer, and I’m not at all in on Lucas Sims (RP – CIN). Until he gets the role – or at least a share of it because Cincy is going to Cincy – I’ll take the elite ratios.
Other players considered: None
22.8: Tyrone Taylor (OF – MIL)
I could have gone several ways with this last pick, but I decided to go with this year’s Cedric Mullins (OF – BAL). You’re welcome.
Other players considered: Robinson Canó (2B – NYM), Edward Cabrera (SP – MIA), Roansy Contreras (SP – PIT)
In all, I’m OK with this team if I were to play it out. The draft analyzer gave me a C (76/100) which feels low to me. I think it’s because I jumped ADP on a few guys who I have higher than the consensus and because I waited too long on my outfielders. They projected me for seventh overall, which is a few spots too low. ADP matters less in AL-only and deeper leagues.
There were a few instances where I regret taking one player over the other player. Most notably, taking Jonathan India when I did caused me to miss out on any value in the outfield. I would do that pick over again and take a middle infielder later in the draft.
This team can compete, but a lot would need to break right. I have a nice foundation in steals with Turner, and I love my two young arms, but the outfield just doesn’t give me much production anywhere I need it to. I’d look to trade for an outfielder and another closer if I played this out.
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Michael Waterloo is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Michael, check out his archive and follow him @MichaelWaterloo.