Let’s run a 12-team, head-to-head, 5×5 category fantasy baseball mock draft using FantasyPros’ Draft Wizard tool. For this mock, we’ll use the following positions: 1-C, 1-1B, 1-2B, 1-3B, 1-SS, 3-OF, 1-UTIL and 7-Pitchers. I will be drafting from the sixth spot. You can find the draft board here.
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Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft
1.06: Jose Ramirez (3B – CLE)
Jose Ramirez is the best five-category contributor at the position. My pick came between Ramirez and Ronald Acuna Jr., and I went with the player at the shallower position.
Editor’s Note: Jose Ramirez (shoulder) exits early Sunday with left shoulder inflammation
2.07: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B – TOR)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. isn’t a player I usually target in the second round, but he brings a solid floor to fantasy rosters. His 23 homers in 2025 ranked only 12th at the position.
3.06: Zach Neto (SS – LAA)
Zach Neto is the sixth shortstop drafted. He had 26 homers and 26 steals in only 128 games last season after putting up 23/30 in 2024. His strikeout rate is concerning, but his upside is matched by few.
4.07: Logan Gilbert (SP – SEA)
Logan Gilbert is my SP1. He was at his best last season before landing on the injured list (IL) for the first time in his career. Before the injury, he had a 2.37 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 13 K/9. He returned to the mound with a 3.75 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 11.5 K/9 from June on.
5.06: Jackson Merrill (OF – SD)
Jackson Merrill broke out in his rookie season with 24 homers and 16 steals in 156 games. His sophomore season, however, he dealt with injuries that saw him land on the IL three different times, limiting him to 115 games.
Merrill’s 16 homers, 59 runs and 67 RBI were on pace for 20 homers, 77 runs and 87 RBI over 150 games. That’s a very similar pace to his rookie campaign. With health, maybe the speed can return.
6.07: Maikel Garcia (2B, 3B, SS – KC)
Maikel Garcia is a good all-around contributor and my starting second baseman. He hit a career-high 16 homers last season and has a good chance to set a new career-high with the new dimensions in Kauffman Stadium.
7.06: Kyle Bradish (SP – BAL)
Kyle Bradish returned last season and looked even more impressive than he had pre-injury. He is likely going to have some sort of innings limit, but somewhere around 150 innings seems reasonable.
8.07: Christian Yelich (OF – MIL)
Christian Yelich should fit in perfectly with this offense, as an all-around contributor with no standout category. He hit 29 homers last year, his first time reaching 20+ since 2019.
Yelich also last hit .300 back in 2024, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility for him to be a help in batting average.
9.06: Chase Burns (SP – CIN)
Chase Burns is my SP3 and perfectly mixes volatility with upside. He had a 4.57 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 13.9 K/9 in 43 innings last season.
In a five-start stretch from July to August, Burns had four 10-strikeout games. He had two in one inning before a rain delay in the only game in that stretch where he didn’t have double-digit strikeouts. The talent is obvious.
10.07: Teoscar Hernandez (OF – LAD)
Teoscar Hernandez feels undervalued in drafts this year. His 25 homers and 89 RBI are enough on their own, but to get a piece of the Dodgers’ lineup this late is a steal. He will likely bat in the back half of the lineup, but the RBI potential should be huge.
11.06: Jeff Hoffman (RP – TOR)
Jeff Hoffman bounced back after a rough start to 2025. From September through the playoffs, he had a 1.17 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 10.2 K/9. The Blue Jays added Tyler Rogers this offseason, but he shouldn’t threaten Hoffman’s hold on the closer role.
12.07: Emmet Sheehan (SP – LAD)
Emmet Sheehan looked promising in his 73 innings last year. He ended with a 2.82 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 10.9 K/9. Among pitchers with at least 70 innings pitched, Sheehan ranked 14th in strikeout-minus-walk rate (K-BB%).
Sheehan is projected to be the Dodgers’ fourth starter and should remain in the rotation when Blake Snell returns.
13.06: MacKenzie Gore (SP – TEX)
MacKenzie Gore will get a change of scenery as he was traded to the Texas Rangers this offseason. We’ve seen glimpses in the past from him, but he’s struggled to keep it going for a full season.
Gore had a 13.3 K/9 through May and an 8.3 K/9 through the rest of the season.
14.07: Kenley Jansen (RP – DET)
Kenley Jansen signed with the Detroit Tigers and moves into the closer role. He’s recorded no fewer than 27 saves in a season (excluding 2020) since 2012, when he had 25. That’s pretty hard to believe.
15.06: Trevor Story (SS – BOS)
I am generally out on Trever Story at his fantasy baseball ADP of 116. However, in this draft, he fell so far that I had to take him at pick 174. Last year was his best season since he played for the Colorado Rockies, but his health was the real story, no pun intended.
Story made 600+ plate appearances for the first time since 2019, and he’s only played in more than 100 games in five of his 10 seasons. His health makes it impossible to trust him at his ADP.
16.07: Francisco Alvarez (C – NYM)
Francisco Alvarez was an attempt to make up some ground in homers and RBI. Despite multiple IL stints, he put it all together in the second half.
Alvarez’s second half saw him bat .276 with 22 runs, eight home runs and 21 RBI in 40 games. I’d love for him to stay healthy and contribute in the middle of that lineup.
Draft Wizard Insights
The Draft Wizard gave this draft a B grade (85/100). I’m projected to finish in the top five in batting average, steals, RBI and WHIP, and eighth overall in the standings.
I like my offense, but power may be lacking. Jose Ramirez, Zach Neto, Maikel Garcia, Christian Yelich and Trevor Story give me a great floor for stolen bases and runs scored. Ramirez, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Neto, Jackson Merrill, Yelich, Teoscar Hernandez and Francisco Alvarez all have 20+ home run potential. None are likely to reach 40+, but hopefully a few can reach 30.
My pitching has high strikeout upside, but lots of volatility. Logan Gilbert is the safest pick in the rotation, but he dealt with injuries last year. Kyle Bradish is returning from a serious injury. Chase Burns, Emmet Sheehan and MacKenzie Gore have no track record of sustained success. If this draft were to be played out, I’d look to fill my bench spots with starters to alleviate some of the risk.
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