We have two 2024 fantasy baseball mock drafts completed so far that can be found here and here, conducted using the FantasyPros Draft Wizard mock draft simulator.
This mock will be specific to a categories league. It is important to understand your scoring before you draft, as it can drastically change a player’s value. The next mock I do will be based on points scoring. This one is categories, where it becomes more important to put together a balanced team that will produce across the board.
I used most of the default settings to conduct a 12-team, 21-round snake draft with standard rotisserie categories in mind, including runs, home runs, RBI, stolen bases and batting average for hitters and wins, saves, strikeouts and ERA for pitchers. I randomized the draft order and got the No. 8 pick.
Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft: 12-Team, Categories (2024)
Results
Here is a pick-by-pick look at how this mock draft went. The full results can be viewed here.
1.08: Freddie Freeman (1B – LAD)
2.05: Yordan Alvarez (OF – HOU)
3.08: Luis Castillo (1B – SEA)
4.05: Adolis Garcia (OF – TEX)
5.08: Emmanuel Clase (RP – CLE)
6.05: Royce Lewis (3B – MIN)
7.08: Grayson Rodriguez (SP – BAL)
8.05: Spencer Steer (1B/2B/3B/OF – CIN)
9.08: Justin Steele (SP – CHC)
10.05: Lane Thomas (OF – WSH)
11.08: Clay Holmes (RP – NYY)
12.05: Josh Naylor (1B – CLE)
13.08: Sean Murphy (C – ATL)
14.05: Thairo Estrada (SS, 2B – SF)
15.08: Noelvi Marte (3B – CIN)
16.05: Trevor Story (SS – BOS)
17.08: Kyle Finnegan (RP – WSH)
18.05: Jon Gray (SP – TEX)
19.08: Andrew Abbott (SP – CIN)
20.05: Kerry Carpenter (OF – DET)
21.08: Reese Olson (SP – DET)
Overview
I was given a mock draft grade of 83 out of 100. Based on the projections for each category, I am No. 3 in RBI and No. 4 in batting average among the hitting categories and No. 4 in saves among pitching categories. I was projected to finish in the middle of ERA and stolen bases.
I usually prioritize pitching early in category leagues, as it’s typically easier to find hitting than pitching late in drafts. This particular mock got away from me in that strategy after four of my first six selections on hitters. It is important not to enter your draft with one set strategy, as you don’t know how your draft will go ahead of time. Still, one thing I would change here is prioritizing pitchers earlier.
I usually punt the closer position. There are always closers that emerge on the waiver wire throughout the season, but in categories leagues where saves become more important, I try to grab an anchor closer or two. I did that here with Emmanuel Clase and then waited a bit for Clay Holmes and Kyle Finnegan.
I attacked power early with Yordan Alvarez and Adolis Garcia after drafting Freddie Freema, one of the more balanced hitters in the league from a fantasy perspective, in round one.
I always aim for upside in the double-digit rounds, and that’s what I see in players like Noelvi Marte, Trevor Story and Andrew Abbott.
The next mock draft will be based on points scoring, which changes players’ value, adding more value to power hitters and starting pitchers with strikeout upside.
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