24 Late-Round Draft Picks Experts Love: Hitters (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
104	Jordan Walker	STL	RF	65	166	106.7	11.9	121	17
120	Vinnie Pasquantino	KC	1B	83	237	126.8	16.8	146	26
121	Zack Gelof	OAK	2B	76	170	127	16.9	142	21
125	Riley Greene	DET	CF	55	183	130.6	21.4	167	42
128	Jackson Chourio	MIL	CF	72	239	135.1	35.8	153	25
129	Ian Happ	CHC	LF	49	206	137.5	19	145	16
130	Jorge Soler	SF	RF,DH	122	179	137.9	9.7	158	28
139	TJ Friedl	CIN	LF,CF	96	239	146.8	24.3	156	17
151	Chas McCormick	HOU	LF,CF,RF	101	193	154.8	18.3	172	21
154	Rhys Hoskins	MIL	1B	104	209	156.8	19.9	182	28
157	James Outman	LAD	CF	73	217	160	24.9	180	23
164	Wyatt Langford	TEX	LF	79	284	166.1	36.2	181	17
169	Nathaniel Lowe	TEX	1B	128	227	169.5	19.1	188	19
171	Willy Adames	MIL	SS	131	209	170.4	16.1	191	20
175	Noelvi Marte	CIN	3B	88	238	176	30.1	190	15
179	Edouard Julien	MIN	2B,DH	130	301	178.8	27	221	42
180	Jarren Duran	BOS	LF,CF	146	287	181.1	25.8	198	18
181	Lars Nootbaar	STL	LF,CF,RF	138	240	182.2	22.3	207	26
187	Trevor Story	BOS	SS	127	270	188.4	32.3	214	27
188	Kerry Carpenter	DET	RF,DH	121	230	188.8	19.4	210	22
189	Ezequiel Tovar	COL	SS	150	293	189.3	18.8	203	14
193	J.D. Martinez		DH	120	253	196.4	21.5	224	31
194	Jeimer Candelario	CIN	1B,3B	143	241	199.8	20.7	212	18
199	Jarred Kelenic	ATL	LF,RF	171	232	202.8	14.5	228	29

Fantasy Baseball Draft Outlook

Vinnie Pasquantino (KC – 1B)

Vinnie Pasquantino’s 2023 shoulder injury cut his season short at 61 games. It was apparent he was dealing with something, as his usual stellar AVG and OBP dropped to .247 and .324. Assuming the shoulder is good to go, Pasquantino should be a significant boost to batting average and counting stats, batting close to Bobby Witt Jr.

Riley Greene (DET – OF)

In 2023, Riley Greene showcased significant improvement, increasing his batting performance to .288/.349/.447 in just a few more games than the previous season. Statcast highlights his prowess with numerous red indicators. Expected to hit around 17 home runs this year, Greene is poised to become the key figure in the Tigers’ youthful lineup. A reduction in strikeouts could further enhance his batting average and on-base percentage, potentially elevating him from a reliable OF3 to a promising OF2 in fantasy rankings.

Lars Nootbaar (STL – OF)

Lars Nootbaar’s 2023 season was hindered by injuries, including issues with his thumb, back, and a painful foul ball incident to his groin. Despite these setbacks, his potential remains high for 2024. With his proven on-base prowess and solid contact skills, Nootbaar is a promising pick for fantasy teams. If he stays injury-free, expect around 20 homers and a chance for 10 steals. His role as the leadoff hitter against right-handers in the Cardinals’ uncertain lineup secures his playing time. Nootbaar is a valuable late-round draft choice for fantasy managers, especially if he maintains good health.

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.