2024 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft: Expert Picks, Strategy & Player Rankings

As baseball enthusiasts gear up for another thrilling season the excitement around fantasy baseball mock drafts is reaching fever pitch. The 2024 MLB season promises significant player movements roster shake-ups and emerging talents that’ll reshape draft strategies.

Mock drafts serve as essential preparation tools helping fantasy managers test different approaches and gauge player values before their real drafts. With rising stars like Corbin Carroll established veterans like Freddie Freeman and pitching sensations like Spencer Strider all vying for first-round consideration the 2024 draft landscape looks more intriguing than ever. This evolving dynamic creates new opportunities and challenges for fantasy managers looking to gain a competitive edge in their leagues.

Understanding 2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Strategy

Fantasy baseball draft strategies evolve based on player performance trends, statistical analysis, and positional scarcity. The 2024 draft landscape presents unique opportunities for managers to adapt their approaches based on recent MLB developments.

Key Changes From 2023

• • Position eligibility adjustments affect multi-position players like Trea Turner, Mookie Betts, and Bobby Witt Jr.

• • The designated hitter role expansion creates additional value for power hitters like Yordan Alvarez and Shohei Ohtani

• • Starting pitcher value increases due to workload management trends across MLB teams

• • Stolen base emphasis continues following rule changes that led to a 41% increase in 2023

• • Rookie impact intensifies with emerging talents like Jackson Holliday and Jackson Chourio

Draft Position Impact

Draft Position	Key Advantages	Target Strategy
Picks 1-4	Elite 5-category players	Focus on Ronald Acuña Jr., Corbin Carroll
Picks 5-8	Balanced power-speed combo	Target Juan Soto, Mookie Betts
Picks 9-12	Strategic pitcher selection	Consider Gerrit Cole, Spencer Strider

• • Early-round picks focus on securing five-category contributors

• • Middle-round positions (5-8) offer flexibility in building roster foundations

• • Late first-round picks enable paired selections of complementary players

• • Snake draft format creates value opportunities at position turns

• • Position scarcity impacts draft strategy based on slot location

Top First Round Picks for 2024

The first round of 2024 fantasy baseball drafts features elite players who deliver consistent five-category production. These selections form the foundation of competitive fantasy rosters through proven track records combined with high-ceiling potential.

Elite Hitters to Target

1. 1. Ronald Acuña Jr. (OF, ATL) – Posted a 40/70 season in 2023 with a .337 batting average

1. 1. Juan Soto (OF, NYY) – Career .421 OBP with 35+ HR power in Yankees’ lineup

1. 1. Mookie Betts (2B/OF, LAD) – Dual eligibility adds value to his 30/20 potential

1. 1. Freddie Freeman (1B, LAD) – Consistent .300+ average with 25+ HR 100+ RBI profile

1. 1. Bobby Witt Jr. (SS, KC) – Breakout 30/50 threat after 30 HR 49 SB in 2023

Player	2023 Stats	Key Category Strengths
Acuña Jr.	41 HR, 73 SB, .337 AVG	All Categories
Soto	35 HR, .410 OBP	HR, RBI, OBP
Betts	39 HR, 107 RBI	R, HR, RBI
Freeman	.331 AVG, 59 2B	AVG, R, RBI
Witt Jr.	30 HR, 49 SB	HR, SB, R

Premium Pitchers Worth Considering

1. 1. Spencer Strider (ATL) – Led MLB with 281 strikeouts in 2023

1. 1. Gerrit Cole (NYY) – Cy Young winner with 15 wins 222 strikeouts

1. 1. Corbin Burnes (BAL) – Career 3.26 ERA with elite K/9 rate

1. 1. Zack Wheeler (PHI) – Combines durability with 200+ strikeout potential

1. 1. Tyler Glasnow (LAD) – Career 12.2 K/9 in pitcher-friendly park

Pitcher	2023 Stats	Key Strengths
Strider	281 K, 3.86 ERA	K, WHIP
Cole	2.63 ERA, 222 K	ERA, WHIP
Burnes	3.39 ERA, 200 K	K, WHIP
Wheeler	3.61 ERA, 212 K	IP, K
Glasnow	3.53 ERA, 12.2 K/9	K, WHIP

Mid-Round Value Picks

Mid-round selections (rounds 7-15) present optimal opportunities to secure players with high-upside potential at discounted draft positions. These rounds often feature emerging talents poised for breakout seasons alongside established veterans who remain undervalued in mock drafts.

Breakout Candidates

Several players in the middle rounds show indicators of imminent performance jumps:

• • C.J. Abrams (SS) posted a .245/.299/.459 slash line with 18 HR and 47 SB in 2023

• • Elly De La Cruz (SS/3B) combines elite speed with developing power metrics

• • Jordan Walker (OF) displayed a .276/.342/.445 line with 16 HR in his rookie season

• • Tanner Bibee (SP) recorded a 2.98 ERA with 139 strikeouts in 142 innings

• • Triston Casas (1B) showed improved plate discipline with a .367 OBP in the second half

Sleeper Picks

• • Gavin Williams (SP) – 3.29 ERA in 82 innings with Cleveland

• • Josh Jung (3B) – 23 HR in 119 games before injury shortened his season

• • Bryson Stott (2B) – 31 SB with a .276 average in 2023

• • Nick Lodolo (SP) – 11.4 K/9 rate when healthy in 2023

• • Brandon Pfaadt (SP) – 3.27 ERA in his final 6 regular season starts

Player	Key 2023 Stats	Projected 2024 ADP
C.J. Abrams	18 HR, 47 SB	Round 8-9
Jordan Walker	.276 AVG, 16 HR	Round 9-10
Josh Jung	23 HR in 119 G	Round 11-12
Bryson Stott	31 SB, .276 AVG	Round 10-11
Tanner Bibee	2.98 ERA, 139 K	Round 8-9

Position-by-Position Draft Analysis

Position-specific draft strategies shape successful fantasy baseball rosters in 2024. Understanding positional depth combined with strategic player targeting maximizes draft value across each roster spot.

The 2024 infield talent pool features distinct tiers at each position. Catchers Adley Rutschman leads the premium tier with a .277/.374/.435 slash line while J.T. Realmuto anchors the second tier with consistent 15/15 production. First base offers power depth with Matt Olson’s 54 home runs leading veterans Paul Goldschmidt Pete Alonso.

Middle infield presents dynamic options:

• • Second Base: Jose Altuve (.311 BA 17 HR) Marcus Semien (185 R+RBI)

• • Shortstop: Trea Turner (30/30 potential) Francisco Lindor (31 HR 98 RBI)

Third base features three distinct tiers:

1. 1. Elite: José Ramírez (.282 24 HR 80 RBI)

1. 1. Core: Austin Riley Rafael Devers (30+ HR floor)

1. 1. Upside: Gunnar Henderson Josh Jung (breakout potential)

Outfield and Pitcher Priorities

Outfield depth requires strategic allocation across five-category contributors. Top-tier outfielders command early picks:

Priority Targets:

• • Power/Speed: Kyle Tucker (30 HR 30 SB)

• • Average/Power: Yordan Alvarez (.293 31 HR)

• • Speed/Average: Luis Robert Jr. (38 HR 20 SB)

Starting pitcher tiers shape roster construction:

Tier	Examples	Key Stats
Ace	Spencer Strider	281 K 2.85 ERA
SP2	Logan Webb	194 K 3.25 ERA
SP3	Justin Steele	176 K 3.15 ERA

• • Elite: Josh Hader (33 SV 1.28 ERA)

• • Mid-tier: Camilo Doval Paul Sewald (25+ SV)

Common Draft Mistakes to Avoid

Fantasy baseball draft success depends on avoiding critical errors that impact team performance throughout the season. Here’s a detailed look at common pitfalls and how to navigate around them.

Reaching Too Early

Reaching for players before their optimal draft position depletes roster value and creates missed opportunities. Managers compromise their draft strategy when selecting players like Christian Yelich in round 5 instead of round 7 or reaching for closers like Raisel Iglesias three rounds ahead of their average draft position (ADP). Draft efficiency improves by:

• • Following ADP trends from multiple platforms (Yahoo, ESPN, Fantrax)

• • Monitoring player rankings across 3-5 expert sources

• • Identifying position runs to anticipate draft patterns

• • Using tier-based drafting to maximize value at each position

• • Tracking league-specific tendencies in mock drafts

Ignoring Category Balance

Category imbalance creates vulnerabilities in head-to-head matchups throughout the season. Statistical gaps emerge when managers:

• • Stack power hitters without speed contributors

• • Draft high-strikeout pitchers while neglecting WHIP

• • Overload on one-category specialists like Alexis Díaz (saves)

• • Ignore batting average impact players like Luis Arraez

• • Miss opportunities for multi-category producers like Randy Arozarena

Category Balance	Recommended Split
Power/Speed	60/40
AVG/OPS	50/50
Wins/Saves	70/30
K’s/Ratios	55/45

Infield Strategy

Success in 2024 fantasy baseball drafts hinges on thorough preparation strategic planning and adaptability. Armed with mock draft experience managers can confidently navigate the draft room while avoiding common pitfalls that plague less-prepared players.

The 2024 draft landscape offers exciting opportunities across all positions with a mix of established stars emerging talents and high-upside rookies. By staying informed about player trends positional depth and category distribution managers can build competitive rosters that remain strong throughout the season.

Remember that mock drafts are invaluable tools for testing different strategies and understanding player values. They’ll help identify the sweet spots for targeting specific players and categories while maintaining roster flexibility. The path to fantasy baseball success starts with these practice sessions.