As we ramp up the fantasy baseball draft season, the time to mock draft is now. Most take part in mock drafts to find out the best potential plan of attack to achieve the best draft results. Of course, the results can vary based on draft spot, league competition and more.
My task in these upcoming articles is to take part in quick mock drafts using the FantasyPros Mock Draft Simulator. I will draft from the front, middle and back of the draft, discussing the results and other potential picks available in that part.
In the end, remember these are just mock drafts and should be used to help build a better player pool concept. Hopefully, they also help readers realize when to target pitchers, certain hitting positions and more. Let’s look at my results for picking 10th in a 12-team mock draft.
- Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft Simulator
- 2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit
- Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings
- Fantasy Baseball Projections
Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft: Late Pick (2024)
Results
The lineup for this 12-team draft is two C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, CI, MI, five OF, UTIL, eight P and four BN, conducted using the FantasyPros Mock Draft Simulator.
1.10: Freddie Freeman (1B – LAD)
Freddie Freeman is coming off an MVP-caliber season, hitting .331 with 29 home runs and 23 stolen bases while driving in 131 and scoring 102 runs. It was a fantastic season for Freeman, who continues to show five-category consistency. That’s the type of consistency we love in fantasy, especially the batting average, where Freeman has hit over .300 in seven of the last eight seasons. Drafting Freeman sets your team up with a great batting average floor.
Others Considered: Juan Soto (OF – SD)
2.3: Trea Turner (SS – PHI)
Trea Turner got off to a slow start to his first season with the Phillies, but in the end, he was good enough for fantasy managers. He hit .266 with 26 home runs and 30 stolen bases and once again scored over 100 runs. He is falling in drafts since he “disappointed” so many last season and could end up being one of the better early-round deals on draft day.
Others Considered: Gerrit Cole (SP – NYY)
3.10: Michael Harris II (OF – ATL)
I’ll usually look to get a starting pitcher here, but Michael Harris II falling to the late third round is outstanding. Harris II brings a 20/20 skill set with elite batting average skills. He has hit .293 and .297 over his first two seasons. Adding that batting average skill with Freeman’s gives any fantasy team a massive edge in the category going forward.
Others Considered: Pablo Lopez (SP – MIN)
4.3: Randy Arozarena (OF – TB)
I added a fourth bat with the upper-echelon starting pitchers off the board. Randy Arozarena has been a 20/20 bat for three straight seasons, with decent counting stats and a nice batting average. Through four rounds, the team has four bats that can all go 20/20 and combine for 180+ runs and RBI. This is a great start to the draft.
Others Considered: Manny Machado (3B – SD)
5.10: Logan Webb (SP – SF)
It was time to add some pitching, so I went with a workhorse in Logan Webb. Last season, he threw 216 innings after throwing 192 innings the previous season. Webb also brings an ERA of around 3.00 and a very strong WHIP. If Webb can once again throw 190+ innings, he will be a fantasy ace.
Others Considered: Tarik Skubal (SP – DET)
6.3: Freddy Peralta (SP – MIL)
Freddy Peralta finally threw over 150 innings last year, racking up 165.2 innings. He was among the best pitchers in the second half last year with a 2.81 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 2.54 xFIP and an incredible 36.3% K-BB. If Peralta can continue his second-half success, he’s a phenomenal SP2 on any fantasy team.
Others Considered: Grayson Rodriguez (SP – BAL)
7.10: Alex Bregman (3B – HOU)
Alex Bregman is a boring fantasy player, but boring is beautiful in this situation. Bregman has now hit .252 or better for three straight seasons, with at least 23 home runs in the last two seasons and 180+ runs and RBI. With the four stud bats drafted earlier, Bregman is an excellent fifth bat to add to the mix.
Others Considered: Logan Gilbert (SP – SEA)
8.3: Gleyber Torres (2B – NYY)
Gleyber Torres has become one of the best second basemen in the fantasy game, yet he is still very affordable on draft day. He has hit at least 24 home runs in back-to-back seasons while tossing in double-digit steals. Torres brings the power and speed profile we like to keep building around on draft day and plays a position that dries up quickly as it progresses.
Others Considered: Raisel Iglesias (RP – LAA)
9.10: Seiya Suzuki (OF – CHC)
Seiya Suzuki had a lovely first season in the Majors. It started a bit rough as he battled injuries, but the second half is what we should expect from Suzuki going forward. He hit .313 in the second half with 13 home runs, a .254 ISO and 149 wRC+. Suzuki is one of the better values in drafts and is excellent in this five-outfield format.
Others Considered: Josh Naylor (1B – CLE)
10.3: Justin Steele (SP – CHC)
I will take any chance I have to make Justin Steele my SP3. Steele is coming off a great season where he threw 173.1 innings with a 3.06 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 19.6% K-BB. Steele has fantasy ace potential and pairs fantastically with Webb and Peralta. I now can’t tell that I waited four rounds for my first starter.
Others Considered: Paul Sewald (RP – ARI)
11.10: Andres Gimenez (2B – CLE)
If I don’t draft Torres, Andres Gimenez is a significant target at second base. Since I already drafted Torres, Gimenez makes for a strong MI option. Gimenez brings 15 home runs upside down, stealing 20+ bases. He stole 30 bases last year, so the 20 is a lovely floor. The power and speed are what I love to keep building around, and Gimenez will still contribute to the other three ROTO categories.
Others Considered: Dansby Swanson (SS – CHC)
12.3: Evan Phillips (RP – LAD)
Being a 12-team league, I decided to wait on closer, and I am pleased with how that turned out. Evan Phillips will be my first closer, as he has a solid 20-save floor as the primary closer for the Dodgers. If he gets all the closer runs, then 30+ saves should be in the bag for Phillips. He’s worth the shot in round 12.
Others Considered: Clay Holmes (RP – NYY)
13.10: Adbert Alzolay (RP – CHC)
Adbert Alzolay was phenomenal for the Cubs once he took over closing duties last year. He racked up 22 saves with a 2.67 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. Alzolay looks to be the primary closer for the Cubs, and another 20+ saves should be in order. Alzolay and Phillips in rounds 12 and 13 is a solid way to attack saves if you wait in the draft.
Others Considered: N/A
14.3: Jorge Soler (OF – SF)
Power is a category that is harder and harder to add as the draft goes on, so adding a 30-home run bat in Jorge Soler is a priority. Even after joining the Giants, Soler should still add plenty of power and run production without destroying your batting average.
Others Considered: Chas McCormick (OF – HOU)
15.10: Chris Sale (SP – ATL)
Chris Sale returned from injury last year, and he made 20 starts, throwing 102.2 innings. Sale started a bit shaky, which was expected when he returned. However, he finished very strong, with a 3.92 ERA and, more importantly, a 30.7% strikeout rate in the second half. If Sale continues to improve this season and returns to his ace skillset, he may be an extreme value in round 15. Roughly 150 or so innings from Sale is all we need with this pick.
Others Considered: Bailey Ober (SP – MIN)
16.3: Logan O’Hoppe (C – LAA)
I’ve stated that Logan O’Hoppe is one of my primary catching targets in drafts. I’ll be over the moon if I can wait until the mid-rounds and get O’Hoppe as my C1. He spent much time on the IL last season with an injury, but when he returned, he mashed. O’Hoppe hit .258 over the season’s final month with nine of his 14 home runs. A big season should be in store for O’Hoppe.
Others Considered: Mitch Garver (C – TEX)
17.10: Hunter Brown (SP – HOU)
Hunter Brown was running out of steam as the season went on, and his final stat line showcases that. He finished with a 5.09 ERA, but a 3.52 xFIP and 3.74 SIERA showcases Brown’s skills. Brown also had a strong 26.8% strikeout rate. A big sophomore season could be in store for Brown, and as this team’s fifth starter, I am all into taking that gamble.
Others Considered: N/A
18.3: Braxton Garrett (SP – MIA)
Speaking of taking chances on starting pitchers, Let’s take one on Braxton Garrett. Garrett had one of the more dominant runs of the season before a blister derailed it. Garrett finished the season with a nice 3.66 ERA and a 19.3% K-BB over nearly 160 innings pitched. Garrett has solid strikeout upside with excellent ratios and is ready for a full season’s workload on the mound.
Others Considered: Bryan Woo (SP – SEA)
19.10: Tyler O’Neill (OF – BOS)
We all know that Tyler O’Neill possesses a ton of power and solid speed but has an issue staying healthy. The health concerns have dropped O’Neill’s draft price, and now he’s very appealing to me. He is just a few seasons removed from hitting 34 home runs while stealing 15 bases. O’Neill heads to the Red Sox, and that change of scenery with some health could be what we need for a big fantasy season.
Others Considered: Jarred Kelenic (OF – ATL)
20.3: Luis Campusano (C – SD)
The catching well was drying up, so adding our second catcher, Luis Campusano, was the play. He provides outstanding batting average skills and some power at the catching position. Campusano is a very strong C2.
Others Considered: N/A
21.10: Josh Bell (1B – MIA)
Josh Bell split time between Cleveland and Miami last season and ended the season with 22 home runs and a .247. He turned it on with the Marlins, hitting .270 with 11 home runs over the season’s final two months. Bell will be back in Miami this season, and he makes for a nice CI or bench option, providing fantasy help in four categories but not stealing many bases.
Others Considered: Justin Turner (1B – TOR)
22.3: Byron Buxton (DH – MIN)
Here we are again, taking a shot late on Byron Buxton. His health concerns have dropped Buxton’s ADP way down from previous seasons. If Buxton can stay healthy, and that’s a big if, he can supply a lot of power with a decent batting average. Buxton is worth a shot late in drafts this season.
Others Considered: Brayan Bello (SP – BOS)
23.10: Max Kepler (OF – MIN)
Max Kepler continues to be an excellent bench option during the draft season. Kepler provides 20+ home run upside with a .240 or so batting average. He’ll hit near the top of the Twins’ batting order and supply plenty of runs scored. Kepler makes for good depth this season.
Others Considered: N/A
24.3: Carlos Estevez (RP – LAA)
We waited on closers for a while, and even though we are good with Phillips and Alzolay, adding Carlos Estevez as a third works. Estevez was a ratio roller coaster last season but still provided plenty of saves. He’s worth taking a chance on early in the draft season. If things go south for Estevez, he’s an early drop.
Others Considered: Robert Suarez (RP – SD)
25.10: Brent Rooker (OF – OAK)
Brent Rooker is coming off a career season where he hit 30 home runs with a .246 batting average. Rooker may not provide that type of production again, but he still has a ton of power upside. If he can run hot again, he’s another nice bench piece.
Others Considered: N/A
26.3: Kutter Crawford (SP – BOS)
Kutter Crawford is coming off a lovely first season where he threw 129.1 innings with a 4.04 ERA and 18.8% K-BB. Crawford is improving his pitch mix, and he could be one of the young arms that take another step forward this season. He’s a great gamble is the final rounds.
Others Considered: Edward Cabrera (SP – MIA)
Summary
The late pick was a fun draft. The late pick allowed us to take more bats early and wait on pitching. We navigated the draft well and ended with three upper-end starting pitchers to go with many five-category contributors early on. After that start, I added the pieces needed throughout the final rounds, making building a solid team relatively easy.
The draft earned an A- (92/100) grade and was my favorite of the three mock drafts covered in this series.
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