It feels like just yesterday the Texas Rangers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series. We are just about one month away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training and before we know it, it’ll be Opening Day.
I conducted my first mock draft of the offseason using the FantasyPros Draft Wizard mock draft simulator.
I used most of the default settings to conduct a 12-team, 20-round snake draft with the standard five-by-five rotisserie categories in mind where I had the No. 2 pick in the draft.
12-Team Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft Results
Here is a pick-by-pick look at how my first mock draft of the offseason went. The results can be viewed here.
1.02: Julio Rodriguez (OF – SEA)
This is one of those scenarios where you can’t go wrong. After Ronald Acuna went No. 1 overall, I was looking at Rodriguez, Bobby Witt Jr. or Corbin Carroll here. After getting off to a rough start in 2023, Rodriguez took the league by storm in July and August. He still struggled with strikeouts at times this past season but holds as much upside as anyone from a fantasy perspective.
2.11: Marcus Semien (2B/SS – TEX)
Semien posted one of the best seasons of his career this past season, hitting .276 with 28 home runs, 100 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He was a big part of what wound up being one of the best offenses in the entire MLB and he is someone who should continue to contribute in a number of categories across the board.
3.02: Luis Castillo (SP – SEA)
The biggest problem for Castillo this past season was the home run ball after he allowed 28 home runs, which tied a career-high. He still struck out 219 hitters across 197 innings, while posting a 3.38 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. His xERA was a bit higher though at 3.82 to go along with a 3.81 xFIP which does draw some concerns for his overall profile. If he can cut down on the home runs, he’ll be a strong top-end starter once again this season from a fantasy perspective.
4.11: Adley Rutschman (C – BAL)
I am usually someone who punts the catcher position in fantasy drafts, but I felt this was value I couldn’t pass up here with Rutschman at the end of round four. He exploded in his second season, hitting .277 with 20 home runs and 80 RBIs. He should be the first catcher selected in fantasy drafts, though I wouldn’t blame anyone either for waiting on the position.
5.02: Adolis Garcia (OF – TEX)
I don’t usually stack multiple hitters in the same lineup this early, but I couldn’t pass on the power upside of Garcia here. After crushing 39 home runs and driving in 107 runs last season, he along with Semien, was a huge part of the lineup for the eventual World Series champions. He wasn’t as active on the base paths, going from 25 stolen bases to nine stolen bases, but more than made up for it in other areas and should continue to do the same this year.
6.11: Logan Webb (SP – SF)
I added to my starting pitcher room here with a workhorse in Webb. I have the strikeouts with Castillo and focused more on the innings pitched and ERA here with another ace in Webb. I generally prefer to anchor my starting pitchers with one or two aces and then find value the rest of the way.
7.02: Oneil Cruz (SS – PIT)
Despite only playing nine games this past season, Cruz displayed the flashes of his speed and power last season that led him to becoming one of the top prospects in all of baseball. He is expected to be fully healthy this season and is a player we could see going much earlier in 2025 drafts if he can stay healthy. I felt the value here was worth the risk he may possess.
8.11: Kyle Bradish (SP – BAL)
9.02: Jesus Luzardo (SP – MIA)
I mentioned earlier that I like to find value with my starting pitchers after grabbing one or two aces, and that’s what I did here grabbing Bradish and Luzardo at the turn.
Bradish broke out in a big way last season, posting a 2.83 ERA and 1.04 WHIP across 168 2/3 innings. His analytical profile was a bit concerning, but that’s also why he fell this far in the draft. He can be a value here if he can even come close to repeating the season he had last year.
After showing flashes in 2022, Luzardo put it all together in 2023 where he posted a 3.89 ERA across 31 starts. He struck out 198 hitters across 171 1/3 innings, adding to the strikeout upside that my starting pitchers possess.
- 10.11: Lane Thomas (OF – WSH)
- 11.02: Justin Steele (SP – CHC)
- 12.11: Josh Naylor (1B/OF – CLE)
- 13.02: Anthony Santander (1B/OF – BAL)
- 14.11: Alex Lange (RP – DET)
- 15.02: Alec Bohm (1B/3B – PHI)
- 16.11: Carlos Estevez (RP – LAA)
- 17.02: Eduardo Rodriguez (SP – ARI)
- 18.11: Triston McKenzie (SP – CLE)
- 19.02: Christopher Morel (2B, 3B, SS, OF – CHC)
- 20.11: Jarred Kelenic (OF – ATL)
One strategy I generally consistently carry every year is waiting on the closer position. It is arguably the most volatile position in fantasy baseball and we see relievers take over different closer roles who are on the waiver wire every year. I may have waited a tad bit too long here, but I wound up landing Lange and Estevez who aren’t in the most ideal situations but should at least be serviceable to open the season as the closers in their respective bullpens.
FINAL GRADE: 81 OF 100 (B-)
The Draft Wizard projects me to finish in the top half of the league in runs, home runs, RBI, wins, strikeouts and ERA. My biggest weakness is saves, which comes with the territory of punting the position.
This is a mock draft we can learn from as we do some more as the offseason progresses and before we know it, we’ll be crushing these mocks by March heading into draft season. I would expect my strategies to slightly change in the upcoming mock drafts on here as I get a better feel of where players are being drafted and what positions you can afford to wait on.
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