FantasyPros MLB continues charging into the 2026 draft season with a live 12-team mock draft using the Draft Wizard, breaking down early-round decisions and roster construction in a standard categories league. Joe Pisapia, Scott Bogman, Kelly Kirby, and Joe Orrico go head-to-head in our latest fantasy baseball mock draft.
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Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft
Let’s dive into our latest fantasy baseball mock draft. You can view the full episode below.
Early-Round Draft Strategy: Elite Bats Still Rule
The draft opened without surprises at the very top. Shohei Ohtani went first overall, reaffirming his unmatched fantasy profile across power, average, and counting stats.
From there, the conversation quickly shifted to optimal draft slots, with strong support for picks 1.05–1.06. Those spots consistently deliver access to elite, bankable hitters without forcing risk.
Key early-round anchors included:
- Jose Ramirez as a premium five-category third baseman
- Corbin Carroll, valued for elite speed and all-category contributions
- Fernando Tatis Jr., whose floor (even in “down” seasons) remains league-winning
The consensus: lock in elite hitters early, especially at thin positions like third base and second base, and let the room chase pitching.
Middle Rounds: Pitching Philosophies Collide
Pitching strategy quickly became the biggest dividing line in the room.
Some drafters built rotations around stability and workload, targeting arms like:
- Logan Gilbert
- Joe Ryan
- Chris Sale
Others leaned heavily into upside and youth, betting on breakouts and health rebounds later in the season.
The podcast repeatedly emphasized that there is no single correct pitching blueprint, but managers must commit to a plan early. Mixing cautious arms with volatility without intent is where teams fall apart.
Late Rounds: Chasing Upside, Not Safety
Once the core of each roster was in place, the late rounds of the mock followed a familiar pattern among experienced fantasy players. Upside took priority over stability, and very few picks were made with the expectation of “set-and-forget” production.
Rather than filling benches with low-ceiling veterans, drafters targeted players who could materially change a season if things broke right. That included young hitters with uncertain roles, post-hype bats who have shown flashes at the major league level, and pitchers with swing-and-miss stuff who could force their way into meaningful innings.
On the hitting side, the focus was on:
- Power-speed blends that only need playing time to pop
- Prospects close enough to contribute in the first half
- Platoon or role-risk bats who could gain everyday at-bats quickly
In the pitching pool, late picks skewed toward:
- High-strikeout arms with rotation or bullpen ambiguity
- Starters returning from injury who could outperform cost
- Relievers who might fall into saves or high-leverage roles
The underlying strategy was clear. Late rounds are not for roster protection. They’re for creating outsized value that can be flipped, promoted, or streamed aggressively once the season begins.
Several managers also used the final rounds to stay flexible. Rather than locking into rigid roster constructions, they drafted players who could be cut quickly without regret if roles didn’t materialize. That flexibility matters just as much as raw upside in competitive formats.
The takeaway from the late rounds was consistent with sharp-draft principles. If a player doesn’t have a realistic path to outperforming replacement level by a wide margin, they probably weren’t worth the pick.
Key Fantasy Takeaways from the Mock
- Elite hitters remain the safest early-round foundation
- Third base and second base thin out faster than expected
- Drafting closers early is defensible in mandatory RP formats
- Pitching depth allows for multiple viable roster builds
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