Even though we are still a few weeks away from teething fantasy baseball seasonIt’s never a bad idea to start sketching out some ideas in pencil. With that in mind, here’s a solo mock draft for the first round, as we look to get those drafting muscles in shape.
1. Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees
2. Shohei Ohtani, UT, Dodgers
There are no wrong answers at the top of the draft, and these two guys will be a draw in most leagues. Judge is three years older, but Ohtani also carries the pressure of his secondary pitching duties. Both men are supported by numerous queues behind them. Ohtani’s 59 interceptions from two years ago proved to be an outlier; he did it for fun once, but he probably recognizes now that it doesn’t make sense to race so aggressively in the regular season. More than any other club in baseball, the Dodgers start each year with a healthy October in mind.
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3. Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals
During what can fairly be described as an off year, Witt still led the majors in hits and doubles and was the seventh most valuable hitter in 5×5 leagues. Kansas City’s roster has an improved feel, with eight of its key starters expected to be league average or better. Witt likely hasn’t reached his peak yet, being about to enter his age-26 season.
4. Juan Soto, OF, Mets
Announcer Keith Hernandez has said for years that any baseball player could probably steal about 15 bases if he just made the effort. Soto went even further, leading the National League with 38 hits in 42 attempts, after seven full seasons of station-to-station baseball. Even if Soto’s steals take a reasonable step back, he’s a multi-class monster entering his age-27 season. The timing could be right for his first MVP year.
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(Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2026 MLB season)
5. Tarik Skubal, SP, Tigers
His last two seasons have been remarkably similar, although Skubal was less unlucky with wins last year. The voters didn’t seem to care – he was the undisputed Cy Young winner in the AL two seasons in a row. Starting pitchers are the running backs of fantasy baseball – you always worry about health risks, but if you land the right ones, you probably rule the world. The top of this position should be considered during any first round.
Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings
6. José Ramírez, 3B, Goalkeepers
He continues to throw nearly identical seasons, and he’s also taken his footing by moving up a notch in his 30s. I don’t like the lineup around Ramírez, but six straight years of durability and production earn him an obvious place at that table. Third base is also not a deep fantasy position.
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7. Corbin Carroll, OF, Diamondbacks
The batting average has rebounded over his three full seasons, but players with this type of potential for power and speed will always demand early fantasy picks. Last season was partially stifled by a wrist problem; imagine what Carroll could accomplish if he was healthy during his age 25 campaign.
8. Paul Skenes, SP, Pirates
Wins can be hit or miss, even for the greatest pitchers, so it’s reasonable to consider something other than wins to round out your league structure. No matter which way you play, Skenes has a place here, sitting on a 1.96 ERA and 0.948 WHIP over 55 MLB starts. Consultation by appointment.
A first look at how the first round of the 2026 fantasy baseball drafts could play out.
(Henry Russell)
9. Elly De La Cruz, SS, Reds
For all strikeouts, average hasn’t really been an issue — his career mark of .255 is more than good enough, considering how he fills out the other categories. And with Elly entering his age-24 season, we still have to view him as a player on the escalator.
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10. Julio Rodríguez, OF, sailors
You know you’re a special baseball player when you hit 32 home runs and steal 30 bases and rank as the 11th overall hitter. . . and the world collectively shrugs its shoulders. It would be nice if Rodríguez played in a more favorable offensive park, but you need to get those five-category contributors back while you can. Rodríguez reduced his strikeout rate to a career low last year, a subtle sign of growth.
11. Garrett Hook, SP, Red Sox
We’ve seen this movie before with Chris Sale, the last time the Red Sox picked up a Chicago left-handed ace in his prime and reaped instant rewards. Crochet’s first season in Boston was much more efficient on the road (2.25 ERA, compared to 3.02 at Fenway), but his power arsenal is capable of dominating anywhere. If Skubal is tired of winning Cy Young Awards, Hook is a logical next choice, preparing for his age-27 season.
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12. Kyle Tucker, OF, Dodgers
Fantasy baseball sages Glenn Colton and Rick Wolf will remind us that it is somewhat risky to pay for a fantasy baseball pick who is starting a big contract and is on a new team. It’s also been frustrating to watch Tucker deal with injuries over the past two years. On the plus side, Tucker is only 29 years old and is now isolated by the Los Angeles team, one of the deepest in baseball. And given the star power in Los Angeles and the reasonable expectation that the Dodgers are already in the postseason, it’s not like Tucker comes into camp with an absurd amount of pressure on his shoulders. He will be a first round pick in some leagues and an early second round pick in others.
Others considered: Ronald Acuña Jr., Gunnar Henderson, Francisco Lindor, Fernando Tatis Jr.
