This season’s First 12 months Participant Draft feels a bit totally different than these of years previous – there isn’t actually a clear-cut number-one decide (although it appears Travis Bazzana has grow to be the consensus first decide). As an alternative, now we have a handful of gamers within the the highest of this draft that would theoretically go first general. It additionally feels, that regardless that this primary spherical is a group of gamers that must be very impactful for fantasy baseball functions, the ceiling for the gamers on this draft shouldn’t be fairly as excessive as what we noticed a 12 months in the past.
That being stated, we had been undoubtedly spoiled final 12 months – the highest half of most FYPDs featured two of the very best faculty bat prospects that now we have come throughout in recent times, together with the very best pitching prospect in additional than a decade, and the most important worldwide signing within the historical past of the game. Nonetheless, this 12 months is possibly stronger than what we anticipated on the time of the 2024 draft itself.
This mock draft is totally fictional and performed by only one writer. As all the time together with your FYPD, crucial rule is to all the time get your man. Don’t be loyal to a set of rankings or a mock draft like this one simply because it’s increased or decrease on the gamers you’re researching. In lots of of those circumstances, the distinction in worth between gamers right here is pretty marginal, and it’s seemingly going to be a number of years earlier than most of them even make the most important leagues. So get the man you need.
This mock assumes that it’s a commonplace 12-team league. It additionally assumes that Roki Sasaki shouldn’t be signing with an MLB workforce and isn’t eligible to be drafted, regardless of current stories that he could also be doing simply that this winter. If he was eligible, he’d be the clear number-one decide, and everybody else would get pushed down.
1.01 Travis Bazzana, 2B, CLE
The Cleveland Guardians chosen Bazzana with the primary general decide in July, and it’s seemingly Bazzana will go first general in your FYPD, too. He goes first right here on this mock. As talked about above, he’s roughly grow to be the consensus first-overall decide in these drafts, however that would change within the subsequent few months. Popping out of the draft, he was seen extra because the 1B choice in FYPDs to Charlie Condon’s 1A, however the latter’s struggles towards professional pitching (extra on that later), have triggered him to slip down rankings.
Bazzana didn’t precisely gentle up skilled arms himself, however he held his personal, triple-slashing .238/.369/.396 with three house runs and 5 steals in 27 Excessive-A video games. He walked 13.9% of the time whereas hanging out at a 25.4% price.
The second baseman had an unreal remaining season at Oregon State – breaking the varsity file with 28 house runs in 60 video games whereas batting .407. Clearly, he’s not going to be a .400 hitter who can also be the most effective energy hitters within the sport on the MLB stage, however Bazzana tasks as a strong bat with good energy at a center infield place.
1.02 JJ Wetherholt, 2B/SS, STL
A 12 months in the past, Wetherholt was the seemingly candidate to go first general within the MLB draft. However the mixture of Wetherholt coping with an injury-plagued season and different collegiate bats acting at extremely excessive ranges led to the shortstop sliding to the Cardinals at seventh general.
In contrast to a few of the hitting prospects, Wetherholt carried out effectively as soon as he confronted skilled arms. Sure, it was towards Low-A arms whereas others went to Excessive-A, however he hit .295 and walked greater than he struck out. Wetherholt has the look of a do-it-all contributor from a fantasy perspective, and whereas there are a lot increased ceilings to chase all through this primary spherical, Wetherholt most likely has the bottom bust price amongst the bats on this draft. If we glance again to his 2023 sophomore season at West Virginia, Wetherholt hit .449 with 16 house runs and 26 steals, so there could also be extra potential right here than we notice.
1.o3 Jac Caglianone, 1B/SP, KCR
And if you wish to draft for ceiling, Caglianone is your man. As a batter, Caglianone is a power-hitting behemoth who hit .419 with 35 house runs in his junior 12 months at Florida. His 1.419 OPS appears like a typo, nevertheless it isn’t. He has the kind of energy that would result in Caglianone blossoming into one of many premier energy hitters within the sport.
Caglianone put up comparable numbers to Bazzana at Excessive-A, hitting two house runs and batting .241 in 29 video games. So he held his personal however might want to show he can hit skilled arms persistently.
Caglianone was additionally a flamethrower on the mound at Florida. So he’s technically a two-way prospect, however on condition that he had a WHIP over 1.500, it should most likely profit him if he totally transitions to hitting, which seems to be the course issues are heading.
Total this profile reads just like that of Bryce Eldridge from a 12 months in the past. And fantasy managers who invested in Eldridge are certainly proud of what they’ve seen up to now.
1.04 Chase Burns, SP, CIN
Burnes turned essentially the most well-known pitching prospect in faculty baseball this previous season, placing up a number of double-digit strikeout performances. He was a human spotlight reel on social media, en path to a sub-3.00 ERA and 191 strikeouts in 100 innings.
Getting drafted by the Reds shouldn’t be superb on condition that they play in one of the hitter-friendly parks in baseball, however we’ve seen in recent times that the highest faculty arms in drafts can transfer rapidly, particularly for groups that need to contend for a playoff spot. If you happen to’re on the lookout for the quickest short-term worth, Burnes is the decide.
1.05 Charlie Condon, 3B, COL
Popping out of the draft, Condon seemed to be the clear option to go 1.01. He was coming off a completely monster season at Georgia the place he hit .433 with 37 house runs in 60 video games, after which he received drafted by the workforce with the very best hitter’s park within the sport. It was straightforward to examine an annual 40-homer bat.
However Condon struggled mightily in his skilled debut. In 25 sport Excessive-A video games he hit simply .180, strolling lower than 4 p.c of the time whereas hanging out north of 30%. There’s not a lot from this pattern to really feel optimistic about, and by taking Condon you might be writing off these 25 video games and hoping he bounces again in 2025. We’ve seen gamers battle of their first style {of professional} ball earlier than
1.06 Hagen Smith, P, CHW
There isn’t an enormous expertise distinction between Smith and Burns, and I’d count on Smith to be the one that would probably fall to the again finish of the primary spherical on condition that he was drafted by a corporation that appeared to do completely every thing incorrect in 2024.
Smith is a lefty who dominated in his junior season at Arkansas, hanging out 161 batters in 84 frames whereas posting a 2.04 ERA. He has simply as a lot upside as Burns and doubtless has the next flooring given his longer monitor file of success. If there may be one factor that the White Sox have performed effectively not too long ago it’s growing their lefty arms, so Smith appears to be subsequent in line.
1.07 Christian Moore, 2B, LAA
The Angels have been tremendous aggressive with their prime prospects in recent times, selling them rapidly by the minor league ranks. It seems Moore is the newest instance of that path.
After spending simply two video games at Low-A, the Angels fast-tracked Moore to Double-A. All he did there was hit, triple slashing .322/.378/.533 with 5 house runs in 23 video games. Sadly, he suffered a meniscus harm in late August which reduce brief his season. It wouldn’t have been all that stunning for the Angels to present him a cup of espresso had he not.
Moore did strike out near 30% of the time at Double-A, so there may be some threat right here, however of all of the draftees, Moore did essentially the most to enhance his inventory after draft day.
1.08 Nick Kurtz, 1B, OAK
Kurtz had a little bit of a disappointing junior marketing campaign at Wake Forest, hitting simply .308 with 22 house runs. So yeah, he nonetheless produced, nevertheless it was a noticeable step again from freshman and sophomore seasons.
Nonetheless, Oakland chosen the large lefty with the fourth general decide. He solely appeared in 14 minor league video games, however dominated in these contests, placing up a 1.283 OPS. He then went on to place up comparable numbers within the Arizona Fall League.
Kurtz is a primary base-only profile, so he’ll really want to hit to be able to be a fantasy contributor. He ought to have the bat to do exactly that.
1.09 Cam Smith, 3B, CHC
Smith is the opposite contender for greatest post-draft performer. The third baseman performed throughout three ranges, triple-slashing .313/.396/.609 with seven house runs in 32 video games. Now all however a type of house runs got here at Low-A, nevertheless it was actually encouraging to see.
Smith has massive energy general and given his skilled efficiency in comparison with Condon’s, don’t be shocked if the previous goes forward of the latter in your draft.
1.10 Braden Montgomery, OF, BOS
The switch-hitting outfielder Montgomery put collectively a stellar junior season for Texas A&M, triple slashing .322/454/.733 with 27 house runs in 61 video games. This was after Montgomery had two good seasons at Stanford, focusing extra on hitting after initially being a two-way participant, and the Crimson Sox chosen him twelfth general.
Montgomery struck out at the next clip on the collegiate stage (20% in 2024) than a lot of the different prime bats on this draft, however the Crimson Sox have been one of many higher organizations at growing hitters in recent times.
1.11 Seaver King, INF/OF, WSN
From a pure fantasy perspective, King would possibly provide essentially the most upside of all the bats on this spherical. Why? Effectively he’s going to play everywhere in the diamond, providing defensive versatility in your lineup, and he’s one of many few place gamers that really steals bases.
King transferred to Wake Forest for his junior season and held his personal, hitting .308 with 16 house runs and 11 steals in 60 video games. He may very well be a 20/20 bat, however comes with extra threat than most different prospects as previous to Wake Forest he performed ball at DII Wingate.
1.12 Konnor Griffin, OF, PIT
Hey, look! A highschool draftee. Our first of the mock.
Griffin’s upside might be even increased than King’s given his nice mix of energy and velocity. He has a protracted solution to go to get to the bigs however has large upside – it could simply instill extra confidence had he gone to a workforce that has had a greater monitor file at growing hitters.
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