As we ramp up the fantasy baseball draft season, fantasy baseball mock draft season is now. Most take part in mock drafts to determine 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 fantasy baseball mock draft simulator. I will draft from the front and back of the draft, discussing the results and other potential picks available in that part. This mock draft used a late pick. See previous results for a mock using an early pick.
In the end, remember these are just mock drafts. They should be used to help build a better player pool concept, to realize when to target pitchers, certain hitting positions, statistics and more. Let’s look at my results for picking 10th in a 12-team mock draft.
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Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft: Late Pick (2025)
The lineup for this 12-team draft is 2-C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, CI, MI, 5-OF, UTIL, 8-P and four bench spots. It was conducted using the FanasyPros fantasy baseball mock draft simulator.
1.10: Kyle Tucker (OF – CHC)
Kyle Tucker provides one of the safest floors from a first-round pick if he can stay healthy. Tucker has a 20/20 floor and a 30/30 upside with a strong batting average. I am drafting Tucker as high as sixth or seventh overall in most formats. Getting him 10th is a gift.
Others Considered: Corbin Carroll (OF – ARI)
2.3: Francisco Lindor (SS – NYM)
I debated double-tapping outfield with Julio Rodriguez and his 30/30 appeal but moved to another player in Francisco Lindor and his 30/30 profile. He just missed going 30/30 last year after doing so in 2023. I want to attack shortstop early because the elite players at the position are potential fantasy game-changers. Lindor is a late first-round talent, so I’ll happily take him with the 15th pick and pair him with Tucker.
Others Considered: Julio Rodriguez (OF – SEA)
3.10: Austin Riley (3B – ATL)
After locking up 60 home runs and 50+ steals, it was time to attack a shallow position at third base. Austin Riley had a down year but was back to his powerhouse form before an injury that ended his 2024 season. Riley has a 40-home run upside with a surprising batting average for a power-hitting corner infielder.
Others Considered: Garrett Crochet (SP – CWS)
4.3: William Contreras (C – MIL)
We stick with bats in round four and draft the best catcher in baseball. Not many catchers have a four-category upside while tossing in some steals. Drafting William Contreras early locks up your catching position and allows you to wait on your second catcher or get aggressive and ultimately dominate the catching position. The biggest downside to drafting Contreras here is missing out on a potential Ace in Dylan Cease.
Others Considered: Dylan Cease (SP – SD)
5.10: Pablo Lopez (SP – MIN)
After passing on Garrett Crochet and Dylan Cease with my previous two picks, I grabbed a front-end starter in Lopez. He has thrown at least 180 innings over the last three seasons while producing a K-BB% over 20% over the previous two seasons. Lopez is a back-end SP1 and a nice addition in the fifth round.
Others Considered: Framber Valdez (SP – HOU)
6.3: Wyatt Langford (OF – TEX)
Wyatt Langford is a top target of mine this draft season. After a slow start to his rookie season, Langford battled back and hit 11 home runs while stealing 11 bases in the second half of the season. Langford has a 20/20 floor with a major upside. This time next year, Langford should be a second-round pick. I will take the discount this year.
Others Considered: Mason Miller (RP – OAK)
7.10: Raisel Iglesias (RP – ATL)
I like to leave my draft with at least one elite closer, especially in 12-team leagues where you need more saves to be successful. Raisel Iglesias has been a juggernaut throughout his career, collecting at least 28 saves in his last six seasons, where he was the closer for the entire season. He will be on a Braves team that should allow Iglesias to rack up the saves again with elite ratios.
Others Considered: N/A
8.3: Hunter Brown (SP – HOU)
After a rough start to 2024, Hunter Brown was one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last 3-4 months of the season. He finished the season with a 3.49 ERA and 3.31 SIERA with a 25.1% strikeout rate. Brown makes for a strong SP2 if you wait on pitching in your drafts.
Others Considered: Tyler Glasnow (SP – OAK)
9.10: Seiya Suzuki (OF – CHC)
Seiya Suzuki has battled through oblique injuries in the last two seasons and ended both seasons with at least 20 home runs and a .280 batting average. Last season, Suzuki even stole 16 bases, which elevates his fantasy appeal. I am buying in on Suzuki this season and hoping for a healthy season, which could lead to a monster fantasy campaign.
Others Considered: Bailey Ober (SP – MIN)
10.3: Sonny Gray (SP – MIN)
Sonny Gray has been an innings eater the last two seasons while providing elite ratios. Last season, Gray elevated his strikeout game, which made him an even more significant fantasy asset. As my SP3, I love the ratio help Gray will bring to the rotation and I hope he continues to rack up the strikeouts. He resembles Lopez a lot, and we are getting him a few rounds later.
Others Considered: Felix Bautista (RP – BAL)
11.10: Lucas Erceg (RP – KC)
Lucas Erceg has been a solid reliever in recent years. He was primarily a set-up man before he was traded to the Royals, but once joining the Royals, Erceg became a lights-out closer, collecting 14 saves. Erceg makes for a quality RP2 on any fantasy team.
Others Considered: Dylan Crews (OF – WSH)
12.3: Jake Burger (1B,3B – TEX)
With stolen bases on lock with the early outfielders and Lindor, it was time to add more power and grab our first baseman in Jake Burger. Burger has hit 29 and 34 home runs over the previous two seasons while hitting .250 over the last three. Burger joins a Rangers team stacked from top to bottom, enhancing Burger’s fantasy potential in the run-producing categories.
Others Considered: Matt Chapman (3B – SF)
13.10: Luis Garcia (2B – WSH)
When attacking the second base position in drafts, most may wait and just punt the position, but I would like to try to draft Luis Garcia, who is coming off a breakout season. Garcia hit .282 with 18 home runs and 22 stolen bases last year. He’ll enter his age-25 season ready to build off 2024 and turn himself into one of the elite second basemen in fantasy.
Others Considered: Jared Jones (SP – PIT)
14.3: Shea Langeliers (C – OAK)
When drafting Contreras, you have an excellent batting average at catcher, allowing you to draft powerhouse Shea Langeliers. Shea Bangeliers is coming off a season where he hit 29 home runs with 80 RBI. Based on this draft, he will struggle in the batting average department, but that’s nothing to worry about. Go ahead and draft the Temu version of Cal Raleigh as your C2 and reap all the power-hitting benefits.
Others Considered: J.T. Realmuto (C – PHI)
15.10: Yusei Kikuchi (SP – LAA)
It was time to get back to drafting pitchers, so Yusei Kikuchi it is as this team’s SP4. Kikuchi is consistently undervalued but provides nice ratios with a ton of strikeouts. He joins the Angels this year, which may hurt some wins upside, but the strikeouts, innings and ratios should provide great value in round 15.
Others Considered: Masyn Winn (SS – STL)
16.3: Jeremy Pena (SS – HOU)
I am looking to draft a shortstop when drafting my middle infield positions, as the second base position is pretty bleak. Jeremy Pena brings a 15/15 floor with upside hitting for the Astros. In most drafts, the goal is to leave with Pena, Masyn Winn or Dansby Swanson at middle infield.
Others Considered: N/A
17.10: Reynaldo Lopez (SP – ATL)
Lopez is coming off a great first season in Atlanta, rejoining the starting rotation. He did spend some time on the injured list (IL), but he still threw 135 innings with a 1.99 ERA. I do not expect Lopez to be that good this season, but he brings tons of upside as my team’s SP5. It was close between Lopez and Spencer Arrighetti. You can’t go wrong with either at this price.
Others Considered: Spencer Arrighetti (SP – HOU)
18.3: Brandon Pfaadt (SP – ARI)
Brandon Pfaadt is so close to becoming a fantasy stud. He lowered the home runs this past year, and if that can continue with the improved K-BB, Pfaadt could be a gift at this average draft position (ADP). I was all in last year, and there is no reason to jump off now at a late-round ADP.
Others Considered: N/A
19.10: Taylor Ward (OF – LAA)
Taylor Ward bounced back nicely last year with 25 home runs, 144 runs and 75 RBI. He’ll be hitting near the top of an improved Angels lineup, which could bring plenty of fantasy upside. If Ward’s excellent on-base percentage (OBP) skills transfer to a better batting average, Ward could become a legit four-category stud.
Others Considered: Parker Meadows (OF – DET)
20.3: Joc Pederson (OF – TEX)
Joc Pederson has become a strong fantasy asset as a bench piece — he sits versus left-handed pitchers. This has allowed Joc Jams to hit for average with all the power he brings to the table. Pederson should get plenty of at-bats in a loaded Rangers lineup, making him an excellent bench piece you can stream throughout the season.
Others Considered: JJ Bleday (OF – ATH)
21.10: Nathaniel Lowe (1B – WSH)
Nathaniel Lowe is not elite by any means, but he’s as steady as they come and could provide a bit more fantasy upside playing for the Nationals. Lowe should hit at least 15 home runs while hitting .260. Hitting cleanup for an improved Nats offense could also lead to more RBI opportunities. Speculating on Lowe late in a draft is not bad. I’ll gladly take this depth piece.
Others Considered: Rhys Hoskins (1B – MIL)
22.3: MacKenzie Gore (SP – WSH)
MacKenzie Gore continues to improve year after year. He threw 166.2 innings last year while lowering his walks and home runs. Gore collected a 3.90 ERA, 3.98 SIERA and 24.8% strikeout rate. If Gore continues to improve, he should provide plenty of fantasy appeal as a bench depth piece.
Others Considered: Walker Buehler (SP – BOS)
23.10: Max Muncy (3B – LAD)
I am not the biggest Max Muncy fan, as his batting average has been a hindrance in recent years. Muncy has also battled injuries in recent years, so that may have factored into his struggles. Even with a low batting average, Muncy has provided tons of power while hitting in one of the best lineups in baseball. In round 23, Muncy is a low-risk, high-reward pick.
Others Considered: Jeffrey Springs (SP – ATH)
24.3: Willi Castro (2B, SS, 3B, OF – MIN)
Willi Castro is a late-round target due to his positional flexibility and constant fantasy floor. Last year, Castro hit 12 home runs with 14 steals after stealing 33 bases in 2023. Castro should play daily and is projected to hit leadoff, which could add to his run production.
Others Considered: N/A
25.10: Colt Keith (2B, 3B – DET)
Colt Keith is coming off a rookie season where he hit 13 home runs, stole seven bases and hit .260. He’ll be 23 this season, which means more production can result from Keith’s bat. He has second basemen and third basemen eligibility but will be the primary first baseman for the Tigers this season, gaining that eligibility as well.
Others Considered: Ryan McMahon (2B, 3B – COL)
26.11: Reese Olson (SP – DET)
Reese Olson was great last season before an injury derailed the end of his season. He’s reportedly healthy, and the Tigers will need Olson to throw plenty of innings. Olson could be a steal in the final round if he regains that early 2024 form.
Others Considered: Christopher Morel (2B, 3B – TB)
Summary
The late draft pick lets you get two studs out of the gate. You need to be aggressive on some positions as you’ll have to wait a while for your next picks, but that’s OK in a 12-team league. I received an A for this draft with a 94/100 score. The team was projected to finish third overall in the standings while ranking second in hitters and fourth in pitchers. I would love to play this league out with this team.
Click here for the full results and draft board.
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