Here’s a look at my draft day cheat sheet for 2025 fantasy baseball drafts. You can see which players I’m targeting in every draft as well as a round-by-round target breakdown to help gauge average draft position (ADP) values. Be sure to use this to build your own fantasy baseball cheat sheet using our cheat sheet creator tool.
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Scott Bogman’s Fantasy Baseball Draft Day Cheat Sheet
My Favorite Targets By Position
Catcher: Willson Contreras, Shea Langeliers, Francisco Alvarez, Keibert Ruiz, Austin Wells, Ivan Herrera
First Base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Christian Walker, Triston Casas, Vinnie Pasquantino, Paul Goldschmidt, Michael Toglia, Alec Burleson, Nolan Schanuel, Ryan Mountcastle, Pavin Smith
Second Base: Ketel Marte, Luis Garcia, Brandon Lowe, Jackson Holliday, Jonathan India, Zack Gelof, Willi Castro, Thairo Estrada
Third Base: Jose Ramirez, Junior Caminero, Matt Chapman, Eugenio Suarez, Isaac Paredes, Matt Shaw, Connor Norby
Shortstop: Bobby Witt, CJ Abrams, Bo Bichette, Xavier Edwards, Masyn Winn, Jeremy Pena, Bryson Stott, Carlos Correa, Trevor Story
Outfield: Corbin Carroll, James Wood, Brent Rooker, Cody Bellinger, Steven Kwan, Dylan Crews, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Tyler O’Neill, Taylor Ward, Lourdes Gurriel, Jorge Soler, Victor Robles, Jung Hoo Lee, Garrett Mitchell, Jesus Sanchez, Joc Pederson, Jacob Young, Kristian Campbell, Jesse Winker
Starting Pitcher: Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal, Chris Sale, Garrett Crochet, Blake Snell, Jacob deGrom, Pablo Lopez, Luis Castillo, Hunter Brown, Bailey Ober, Spencer Schwellenbach, Zac Gallen, Hunter Greene, Joe Ryan, Reynaldo Lopez, Yusei Kikuchi, Tanner Houck, Jackson Jobe, Matthew Boyd, Jon Gray, Noah Schultz
Relief Pitcher: Emmanuel Clase, Mason Miller, Raisel Iglesias, Tanner Scott, Trevor Megill, Jordan Romano, Justin Martinez, Jason Foley, Ben Joyce, Kyle Finnegan, Aroldis Chapman, Edwin Uceta, Jason Adam
Targets By Round (12-Team League)
1st: Shohei Ohtani, Jose Ramirez, Corbin Carroll, Paul Skenes
2nd: Julio Rodriguez, Jackson Chourio, Ketel Marte
3rd: Trea Turner, Garrett Crochet, Chris Sale
4th: Blake Snell, Jose Altuve, Emmanuel Clase
5th: Michael Harris, Brent Rooker, Jacob deGrom
6th: Teoscar Hernandez, Pablo Lopez, CJ Abrams, James Wood
7th: Ryan Helsley, Christian Walker, Lawrence Butler
8th: Bailey Ober, Jordan Westburg, Hunter Greene
9th: Junior Caminero, Freddy Peralta, Triston Casas
10th: Zac Gallen, Hunter Brown, Joe Ryan
11th-15th: Matt Chapman, Luis Garcia, Dylan Crews, Steven Kwan, Xavier Edwards, Eugenio Suarez, Seth Lugo, Reynaldo Lopez, Paul Goldschmidt, Tanner Scott, Yusei Kikuchi, Tyler O’Neill
16th-20th: Taylor Ward, Isaac Paredes, Trevor Megill, Jackson Holliday, Brandon Lowe, Tanner Houck, Alec Burleson, Victor Robles, Lourdes Gurriel, Jorge Soler, Jonathan India, Jordan Romano
21st-25th: Willi Castro, Justin Martinez, Matt Shaw, Jackson Jobe, Jung Hoo Lee, Garrett Mitchell, Connor Norby, Trevor Story, Roman Anthony, Ryan Pressly
Post-300 ADP: Thairo Estrada, Andrew Vaughn, Matthew Boyd, Nolan Schanuel, Joc Pederson, Jacob Young, Kyle Manzardo, Jesus Sanchez
Players to Avoid Near ADP
- Ronald Acuna (OF – ATL) | ADP: 26
- William Contreras (C, DH – MIL) | ADP: 34
- Bryce Miller (SP – SEA) | ADP: 78
- Mike Trout (OF – LAA) | ADP: 99
- Will Smith (C – LAD) | ADP: 105
- Robert Suarez (RP – SD) | ADP: 123
- Carlos Rodon (SP – NYY) | ADP: 134
- Nico Hoerner (2B, SS – CHC) | ADP: 156
- Lucas Erceg (RP – KC) | ADP: 180
Strategy/Advice
I will wait on catcher if it’s a one-catcher league, but my strategy will flip entirely if I have to start two. I am waiting until the last few rounds to draft my catcher in one-catcher leagues because the pool is pretty much the same after the top six are gone. I have been able to draft Shea Langeliers, Tyler Stephenson or Austin Wells late, and I am OK with any of those options as my starting catcher. I want to take a catcher high in two-catcher leagues, and I don’t mind doubling up an early catcher to keep the advantage.
If ignored, first base can get away from drafters quickly, but there are options for first base, center infield and the utility spot within the position. I would like to have my starting first baseman from my top-eight ranked list, but if I miss out, Vinnie Pasquantino, Jake Burger and Paul Goldschmidt are solid options. Alec Burleson, Andrew Vaughn and Ryan Mountcastle offer high floor value late. Nolan Schanuel, Pavin Smith and Kyle Manzardo are all heavy-side platoon players with upside.
Ketel Marte isn’t on everyone’s wish list because he’s going at the end of the second round and is the highest-drafted second baseman. Marte is a priority pick if I have a top-three draft pick because the depth of second base is a big thing this season. The first six second basemen are all strong options. After that, I have questions about a lot of the depth and tend to get picky. I’m coming around on Matt McLain‘s nice spring and Andres Gimenez possibly getting the leadoff spot in Toronto. Other than that, I’m looking for upside beyond the first 10 second basemen selected.
Third Base isn’t thin exactly, but the bottom drops out rather quickly, so staying on top of this position is critical to roster construction. Jose Ramirez has solidified the fourth overall spot in most drafts, but consider him a steal if he falls beyond that, as he offers one of the highest lifts positionally. Junior Caminero‘s helium might eventually take me out of the market, but for now, I am still buying the upside. Matt Chapman and Eugenio Suarez are two of the few deals at third base. Isaac Paredes, Matt Shaw and Connor Norby are all nice upside plays and I don’t want to go digging much deeper than that in standard leagues.
Shortstop is deep as usual and there are holes to poke in players the deeper we go within the position. The depth of the top 20 shortstops pushes risks down the board, making them value picks. CJ Abrams has an enormous rank range in expert consensus ranking (ECR) — between picks 18-95 — and I will be on the side of buying if he slips past pick 50. Bo Bichette returning to high-level production maybe shouldn’t be expected but I’ll buy the risk. I tend to avoid injury risk but Carlos Correa and Trevor Story are such values it’s hard to pass them up, especially as middle infield options.
Staying vigilant and on top of draft trends is the name of the game at outfield. Unlike shortstop, outfield holds depth for the top for the first three picks for everyone but the last few spots at outfield and utility are a bit tougher to fill out. Stolen bases can be found in the form of guys like Victor Robles, Jung Hoo Lee and Jacob Young. Jorge Soler and Joc Pederson (utility only) provide some home run power. Lourdes Gurriel, Garrett Mitchell and Jesus Sanchez are high-floor options. The outfield can’t be put off but there are options to fill out any categories drafters need, even with some late picks.
There are many different strategies for drafting starting pitchers, like waiting late to attack the position. Tier drafting is probably mostly used for starting pitchers and some like to take ‘Pocket Aces’ and try to pair Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal early. The draft position is what makes the most difference in my drafting of starting pitchers. if I’m on the end, I’ll take them early. If I’m closer to the middle, I will pay attention to runs and draft accordingly. In general, I prefer not to take players with injuries going into the season, and that applies more to starting pitchers than any other spot. Healthy players coming off an injury, players competing for playing time and even long injury histories are all preferable to a starting pitcher beginning the season on the injured list (IL).
Relief pitchers are expensive because the top tier is shorter than it has been previously, but it also leaves potential closers late and on the waiver wire. The relief pitchers beyond the top 11 in ECR all have holes to poke as far as confidence goes in them sustaining the closing role all season. Committees make for some deals at the end, so while I will invest early, I don’t enjoy the middle and try to only take one of those guys, with Trevor Megill being my preference. The end of the draft has all kinds of deals. Ben Joyce is now behind Kenley Jansen and has plummeted in value but still has ‘closer stuff.’ If your league has relief pitcher roster spots instead of only pitcher spots these guys can help with ratios and have upside to get the closer job at some point down the road.
Thanks for stopping by to read my cheat sheet. I wish you all a happy draft season and the most success in all of your leagues in 2025!
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