25 Late-Round Picks Experts Love: Hitters (Fantasy Baseball)

When preparing for your fantasy baseball drafts, knowing which players to target and others to avoid is important. The amount of information available can be overwhelming, so a great way to condense the data and determine players to draft and others to leave for your leaguemates is to use our expert consensus fantasy baseball rankings compared to average draft position (ADP). In this way, you can identify players the experts are willing to reach for at ADP and others they are not drafting until much later than average. Let’s dive into a few notable players below.

2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Advice

RK	PLAYER NAME	TEAM	POS	BEST	WORST	AVG.	STD.DEV	ECR VS. ADP
133	Jacob Wilson	ATH	SS15	78	196	136.6	27.3	32
139	Ceddanne Rafaela	BOS	OF32	63	192	140.9	27.3	19
150	Willson Contreras	BOS	1B14	98	210	154.7	26.5	17
154	Ivan Herrera	STL	C9	123	219	156.4	19.6	28
163	Spencer Torkelson	DET	1B15	97	206	167.9	17.4	20
165	Bryan Reynolds	PIT	OF35	120	250	170.8	26.2	16
167	Dylan Crews	WSH	OF36	127	204	173.8	18.5	27
168	Brenton Doyle	COL	OF37	99	241	173.9	32.4	49
170	Jonathan Aranda	TB	1B16	125	233	178.2	24.5	14
178	Ezequiel Tovar	COL	SS18	71	284	189.5	46	50
184	Royce Lewis	MIN	3B9	153	256	195	23.4	27
186	Matt McLain	CIN	2B11	151	257	195.6	26.4	38
187	Daylen Lile	WSH	OF39	158	231	195.9	19	26
191	Heliot Ramos	SF	OF40	114	284	196.8	28.6	29
201	Kerry Carpenter	DET	OF44	154	236	206.7	20.1	34
211	Luis Garcia	WSH	2B16	129	269	214.4	31.2	56
218	Kyle Manzardo	CLE	1B21	174	262	224.7	23.9	25
223	Otto Lopez	MIA	2B18	128	297	231.4	34.8	22
224	Xander Bogaerts	SD	SS21	114	291	222.6	36	28
227	Andrew Vaughn	MIL	1B22	170	286	239	27.9	51
230	Francisco Alvarez	NYM	C15	159	287	230.1	34.4	14
231	Masyn Winn	STL	SS22	135	319	233.7	46.7	56
233	Jordan Beck	COL	OF50	154	293	235.3	21.5	62
236	TJ Friedl	CIN	OF51	190	291	241.5	23.1	36
241	Jake Burger	TEX	1B23	165	305	251.9	28.1	25

Jacob Wilson took a major step forward in 2025, finishing second in AL Rookie of the Year voting. His elite 7.5% strikeout rate and 84.1 mph average exit velocity underscore his contact-over-power profile, but a 52.4% ground-ball rate and modest 2.5% HR rate cap the overall ceiling. The 2026 projection (.296/.350/.435, 12 HR, 5 SB in 472 PA) reflects some batting average regression from a .317 BABIP, though his bat-to-ball skills should keep him a category stabilizer. Wilson is more of a high-floor MI option than a true breakout candidate, but if fantasy managers load up on power early, that almost-.300 batting average would be a welcome addition.

Willson Contreras’ 2025 season remained solid by raw numbers, but the same power-and-average output now plays closer to replacement level at a deeper offensive position. The shift away from catcher should help with durability and volume, yet it also raises the bar for fantasy relevance compared to his peers. In 2026 drafts, Contreras is better viewed as a corner infield depth option than a lineup anchor, with real-life value exceeding his fantasy impact.

After years of steady production, Bryan Reynolds showed real signs of decline. His strikeout rate climbed to 26.5% and he posted a career-worst .245/.318/.402 slash line. As he enters his age-31 season, fantasy managers should be prepared for increased inconsistency. Reynolds is still projected for around 20 home runs, but his run and RBI totals will suffer in a weak offense, and his batting average is more likely to settle near .250 than his career .271 mark. At this stage, he profiles better as an OF3 or OF4 rather than a reliable, every-week fantasy starter.

What is Fantasy Baseball?

Fantasy baseball is an online game where participants act as managers of virtual baseball teams based on real-life Major League Baseball (MLB) players. The performance of these players in actual games determines the results in the fantasy league. It’s a blend of skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck, akin to the real-world decisions team managers must make.

Basic Strategy for Fantasy Baseball Success

1. Understand Your League’s Format and Scoring

Before drafting your team, it’s essential to understand the scoring system and rules of your specific league, as this will influence your drafting and management strategy. Knowing whether you’re in a points-based, category-based, or head-to-head league will guide you in selecting players whose strengths align with the scoring system.

2. Drafting Your Team Wisely

A solid draft is the foundation of a successful season. Here are a few tips for the drafting phase:

Balanced Team: Ensure you have a balanced team with a mix of power hitters, average hitters, speedsters, starting pitchers, and relievers.
Position Scarcity: Be aware of the depth of talent at each position. Some positions, like shortstop, may have fewer high-quality players, making it beneficial to draft a top player at that position early.
High-Floor Players: Early in the draft, focus on players with a proven track record of consistency.
Upside Picks: In the later rounds, look for “upside” players. These are athletes who have the potential to outperform their draft position.

3. In-Season Management

Stay Active: Constantly look for ways to improve your team through waivers, trades, and free-agent pickups.
Mind the Matchups: Pay attention to player matchups, platoon splits, and ballparks. Starting a pitcher in a hitter-friendly park, for example, can be risky.
Injury Management: Stay on top of player injuries and have backups ready for your key players.