5 Early-Round Draft Picks to Target (2026 Fantasy Baseball)

Here are some of our favorite fantasy baseball draft picks to target from a recent fantasy baseball mock draft.

Fantasy Baseball Draft Picks to Target

Let’s run a 10-team, head-to-head, 5×5 category fantasy baseball mock draft using FantasyPros’ Draft Wizard tool. For this fantasy baseball mock draft, we’ll use the following positions: 1-C, 1-1B, 1-2B, 1-3B, 1-SS, 3-OF, 1-UTIL and 7-Pitchers. I randomized the draft order and am drafting from the 10th spot. You can find the draft board here.

1.10: Elly De La Cruz (SS – CIN)

Three pitchers went within the first nine picks, which made for an interesting 10th pick. Elly De La Cruz is my first player drafted, and he gives me a great start in stolen bases.

The Reds slugger has recorded 20+ homers and 100+ runs in each of his last two seasons, while playing in 160+ games.

2.01: Kyle Tucker (OF – LAD)

Kyle Tucker signed with the Dodgers this offseason and moves into the most potent lineup in all of baseball. Though he’s battled injuries the last two seasons, Tucker still put up 20+ homers and a sub-20% strikeout rate in each of the last five seasons.

Tucker’s potential for counting stats in the Dodgers’ lineup is huge.

3.10: Yordan Alvarez (OF – HOU)

Yordan Alvarez dealt with injuries last season and has seen his average draft position (ADP) plummet as a result. Before 2025, he had four straight seasons of 30+ homers and 80+ RBI while batting .296.

Alvarez is essentially a zero in the stolen bases category, but he can provide a big boost in batting average and power.

4.01: Bryce Harper (1B – PHI)

Bryce Harper is not the player he once was, but he can still be valuable. He hasn’t reached triple digits in runs scored since 2021, and his last 100-RBI season was all the way back in 2019.

However, he can still provide a good batting average (.280 from 2023-2025), and 30 home runs is still within his range of outcomes.

5.10: Austin Riley (3B – ATL)

Austin Riley has now had back-to-back down seasons. Through his injuries, he hasn’t reached 20 homers or 60 RBI in either season. But let’s not forget the player he was from 2021 to 2023.

Over those three years, Riley averaged 36 homers, 99 runs, 99 RBI and a .286 batting average. Still in his prime (29 years old), Riley has a great chance to bounce back in 2026.