20 Hitters the Experts Draft (2024 Fantasy Baseball)

When preparing for your fantasy baseball drafts, knowing which players to target and others to avoid is important. The amount of information available can be overwhelming, so a great way to condense the data and determine players to draft and others to leave for your leaguemates is to use our expert consensus fantasy baseball rankings compared to average draft position (ADP). In this way, you can identify players the experts are willing to reach for at ADP and others they are not drafting until much later than average. Let’s dive into a few notable players below.

2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Advice

Rank	Player	Team	Positions	Best	Worst	Avg	Std Dev	ADP	vs. ADP
4	Corbin Carroll	ARI	LF,CF,RF	2	8	4.5	0.8	9	5
21	Bryce Harper	PHI	1B,DH	16	28	19.7	1.8	27	6
40	Elly De La Cruz	CIN	3B,SS	20	83	40.1	9.5	59	19
45	Nolan Jones	COL	1B,LF,RF	42	62	48.3	4.6	74	29
47	Cody Bellinger		1B,CF	25	70	49.9	11	60	13
55	Matt McLain	CIN	2B,SS	43	106	57.2	6.7	79	24
59	Jazz Chisholm Jr.	MIA	CF	27	71	57.8	4.9	83	24
64	Josh Lowe	TB	CF,RF,DH	40	94	66.5	7.9	99	35
84	Triston Casas	BOS	1B	63	112	88.2	9.6	106	22
88	Ha-Seong Kim	SD	2B,3B,SS	48	168	90.7	27.2	100	12
91	Josh Jung	TEX	3B	74	152	91.6	12.5	121	30
98	Spencer Torkelson	DET	1B	50	124	98.8	13.4	141	43
102	Lane Thomas	WSH	CF,RF	65	193	104.2	15.9	131	29
110	Bryson Stott	PHI	2B	44	198	109.5	19.3	123	13
114	Josh Naylor	CLE	1B,DH	84	176	116.5	13.1	140	26
122	Zack Gelof	OAK	2B	75	145	125.2	11.8	151	29
128	Ian Happ	CHC	LF	88	192	129.2	16.7	150	22
133	TJ Friedl	CIN	LF,CF	95	179	136.6	19.1	165	32
137	Jorge Soler		RF,DH	108	202	140.2	18.6	167	30
148	Riley Greene	DET	CF,RF	100	196	152.2	24.2	175	27

Fantasy Baseball Outlook

Corbin Carroll (OF – ARI)

Corbin Carroll arrived on the scene in 2023 and immediately showcased his power and speed, launching 25 homers and swiping 54 bases. He crossed the plate 116 times and notched 76 RBIs. With a solid .362 on-base percentage, Carroll stands out, especially given his top-tier speed, ranked in the 99th percentile. There is concern that his OBP was slightly inflated, which could slightly dampen his numbers, but he is still a solid first-round pick. Carroll’s contact skills hint at sustained high-level performance into 2024 and beyond.

Nolan Jones (1B/OF – COL)

Nolan Jones made a significant impact in the 2023 season, showcasing his power and speed as a 20/20 player in Colorado. With an impressive .297/.389/.542 slash line and a strong Barrel% of 15.7, Jones is a reliable source of power and on-base ability (xwOBACON .475). However, his high .401 BABIP suggests his batting average might decline. Despite a high strikeout rate around 30%, Jones’s combination of power, walks, and 15-20 stolen bases, especially in Coors Field, makes him a valuable fantasy asset, albeit with a potential downside in batting average.

Josh Jung (3B – TEX)

Josh Jung played 121 games for the World Series champs in 2023, and he arrived in fashion. The 25-year-old hit 23 home runs, scored 75 runs, knocked in 70, and slashed .266/.316/.467. Jung is in the 98th percentile in Sweet-Spot% at 41.9, but he struggled in typical rookie fashion with strikeouts (29.3 K%) and plate discipline (5.8 BB%). If he can get to that 150-game mark, he will land in the ballpark of 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. Not too shabby for a third baseman currently going ninth round of drafts.

What is Fantasy Baseball?

Fantasy baseball is an online game where participants act as managers of virtual baseball teams based on real-life Major League Baseball (MLB) players. The performance of these players in actual games determines the results in the fantasy league. It’s a blend of skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck, akin to the real-world decisions team managers must make.

Basic Strategy for Fantasy Baseball Success

1. Understand Your League’s Format and Scoring

Before drafting your team, it’s essential to understand the scoring system and rules of your specific league, as this will influence your drafting and management strategy. Knowing whether you’re in a points-based, category-based, or head-to-head league will guide you in selecting players whose strengths align with the scoring system.

2. Drafting Your Team Wisely

A solid draft is the foundation of a successful season. Here are a few tips for the drafting phase:

Balanced Team: Ensure you have a balanced team with a mix of power hitters, average hitters, speedsters, starting pitchers, and relievers.
Position Scarcity: Be aware of the depth of talent at each position. Some positions, like shortstop, may have fewer high-quality players, making it beneficial to draft a top player at that position early.
High-Floor Players: Early in the draft, focus on players with a proven track record of consistency.
Upside Picks: In the later rounds, look for “upside” players. These are athletes who have the potential to outperform their draft position.

3. In-Season Management

Stay Active: Constantly look for ways to improve your team through waivers, trades, and free-agent pickups.
Mind the Matchups: Pay attention to player matchups, platoon splits, and ballparks. Starting a pitcher in a hitter-friendly park, for example, can be risky.
Injury Management: Stay on top of player injuries and have backups ready for your key players.