We are continuing to get closer and closer to the Cubs and Dodgers opening the 2025 MLB season in Japan. I conducted a mock draft the other day with an early pick. It is important to practice as many fantasy baseball mock drafts as you can until you know specifically where you are drafting. This mock draft will be for a late-pick strategy in 12-team leagues.

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In this mock draft, I will be drafting from the No. 10 pick in a 12-team league. The roster for this mock will be: 1-C, 1-1B, 1-2B, 1-SS, 1-3B, 3-OF, 1-UTIL, 5-P and three bench spots. You can find the full results here.

Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft

1.10: Yordan Alvarez (OF, DH – HOU)

2.03: Paul Skenes (SP – PIT)

I was considering Paul Skenes as early as 1.10, but I elected to go with Yordan Alvarez for his power upside. His transition to more of a full-time designated hitter should only help him stay more durable consistently, which will lead to more success at the plate.

Skenes happened to fall in my lap in round two, which I felt was a no-brainer given I considered him at the end of round one.

3.10: Corey Seager (SS – TEX)

Despite injury issues the past couple of seasons, Corey Seager has still managed to hit at least 30 home runs in three straight seasons since joining the Rangers.

While durability can be a real concern with him, his upside can be a near first-round caliber player if he can stay healthy. That risk is baked into his falling to the late round three/early round four range in average draft position (ADP).

4.03: Pete Alonso (1B – NYM)

I happened to draft a few of the same players in this mock as I did the other one with Pete Alonso being one of those players. He remains one of my favorite first base targets in this range with huge RBI upside hitting in what was already a solid lineup that added Juan Soto.

5.10: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (SP – LAD)

I was deciding between Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Logan Webb here. I elected to go with upside over safety. Despite getting rocked in his MLB debut last season, Yamamoto settled in nicely the rest of the year and now has a full season of playing in the MLB under his belt. I expect him to build off what he learned last year.

6.03: Lawrence Butler (OF – ATH)

7.10: Junior Caminero (3B – TB)

Lawrence Butler and Junior Caminero were two other players I landed in my first mock draft. Butler exploded onto the scene last year and remains my favorite outfield target in this range as a second or third option for your fantasy baseball team.

Caminero is my top mid-round target at third base with the power upside he offers heading into his first full season in the Majors. It also helps he’ll be hitting in a small ballpark for half of the season when he’s at home.

8.03: Luis Castillo (SP – SEA)

There are some clear concerns for Luis Castillo as he gets older, especially with the long ball, as he has allowed 53 home runs combined across his past two seasons.

However, Castillo still managed to post a steady 3.64 ERA last season and gets to pitch at least half of his starts at home in Seattle where the ballpark heavily favors pitching. There is an argument to be made that his ceiling is limited, but he is still a fairly safe option at this value.

9.10: Matt McLain (2B, SS – CIN)

It was an injury-riddled season last year for Matt McClain that began before the season and continued throughout the whole year. After showing flashes of strong production as a rookie two years ago, he’ll look to repeat that as he now enters spring training healthy.

10.03: Mike Trout (OF – LAA)

Mike Trout is another player I drafted in my last mock, and that was one round earlier as well. I will continue to take a flier on Trout in this range in all leagues. The injury risk he carries is fully baked into him falling this far in drafts.

11.10: Bryan Woo (SP – SEA)

12.03: Sandy Alcantara (SP – MIA)

I went for all upside with these back-to-back selections of Bryan Woo and Sandy Alcantara. There is some injury risk with Woo, but that risk is mitigated when he is being drafted this late.

The same can be argued with Alcantara coming off Tommy John surgery, but if they can both stay healthy, they hold similar upside to pitchers being drafted many rounds earlier. The latest report suggests Alcantara is not expected to be on an innings count this season as had been previously rumored.

13.10: Nick Castellanos (OF – PHI)

14.03: Tanner Scott (RP – LAD)

15.10: Heliot Ramos (OF – SF)

16.03: Ryan Jeffers (C – MIN)

17.10: Kenley Jansen (RP – LAA)

I will continue to always punt the catcher position and I usually wait on closers more often than not as well. I grabbed Gabriel Moreno late in my last mock draft and snagged Ryan Jeffers here in the second-to-last round.

Draft Wizard Insights

The Draft Wizard gave this draft a B grade with an 86/100 score. I’m projected to finish fourth in the league.

I received a 91/100 in my last mock. I agree that it was a little better than this one. I probably shouldn’t have waited as long as I did in this mock to secure one stable closer. There are always closers who pop up on the waiver wire throughout the season, so it is not a position I usually prioritize.

I do like the upside of my starting pitchers to help make up for it, especially if I can hit on Bryan Woo and Sandy Alcantara. I also like the mix of hitters I grabbed with some being upside picks and others being more floor picks. I like the mix of youth and veteran hitters I landed as well.

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