Fantasy Baseball First-Round Picks | How Do Picks Vary Between Redraft and Dynasty Leagues?

Discussing my ideal first-round picks in redraft leagues, and then comparing things to a dynasty league.

To some fantasy owners, like me, baseball is the sport we enjoy most. I personally enjoy it most because of dynasty leagues and it got me thinking about the differences in drafts between dynasties and redraft leagues.

So, I’m going to reveal my ideal first-round picks in a redraft league and then compare that to what things would look like in a dynasty league.

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First Pick

Redraft pick: Ronald Acuna Jr.

Dynasty pick: Ronald Acuna Jr.

Reasoning: Regardless of what kind of league you are in this season, Acuna needs to be the top pick in an initial draft. He’s just 26 years old and is coming off a monster season. He’s part of a loaded lineup and can impact the game in so many different ways. Don’t overthink things, Acuna is the No. 1 pick.

Second Pick

Redraft pick: Mookie Betts

Dynasty pick: Corbin Carroll

Reasoning: What’s fun with fantasy baseball leagues this season is that after the first pick, there’s a number of guys that are being taken second, so no two redraft leagues are going to have similar rosters. I personally like Betts because he’s got position versatility - you could plug him in at second base or an outfield spot. He’s an incredible hitter and is batting atop probably the best lineup in the league. So you get a great fantasy hitter who can be used at multiple positions? Sign me up!

As for dynasty leagues, there’s a few names you could put here too, but I like Carroll the most, for most of the same reasons I like Acuna. Carroll can impact the game in so many different ways, and is just 23, so his best playing days are likely still ahead of him. The Diamondbacks are a team on the rise, and the organization is likely going to build around Carroll, which will only help maximize his potential as a fantasy player in the future.

Third Pick

Redraft pick: Corbin Carroll

Dynasty pick: Julio Rodriguez

Reasoning: You already know I like Carroll in the long haul, but I also see him having a big enough season this year to take him third in redraft leagues. I like him over Rodriguez because of the bit better average - I’d much rather get my fantasy points with the higher average, instead of hoping for home runs to make up the difference.

I still like Rodriguez in the long run, but again is behind Carroll because of his lower average. Rodriguez could shift my thinking with a bit better average this season, but at just 23 years old, he’s going to be a fantasy force for years to come, which is why I like him third in dynasty leagues.

Fourth Pick

Redraft pick: Julio Rodriguez

Dynasty pick: Bobby Witt Jr.

Reasoning: I told you I liked Rodriguez a bunch this season, and think he continues to improve as a hitter in his third year in the big leagues. Another reason why he lands here instead of third is because I don’t like the Mariners' lineup as much as the one the Diamondbacks have, which could keep Rodriguez from matching Carroll’s numbers.

Witt is also just 23 years old and showed good improvement from his first MLB season to his second. I expect him to continue to improve as a hitter and be one of the faces of the league for years to come. That's what you are looking for early in a dynasty league draft.

Fifth Pick

Redraft pick: Bobby Witt Jr. 

Dynasty pick: Juan Soto

Reasoning: I expect Witt to improve his average this season, but being on the Royals, I think that limits him a touch, so he goes after Carroll and Rodriguez in redraft leagues for me.

It’s crazy to think Soto is just 25 years old. It doesn’t help that he’s set to join his third team across his soon-to-be seven-year MLB career. I think hitting at Yankee Stadium will do wonders for Soto, and if he can stick there in the long haul, his numbers should continue to dazzle.

Sixth Pick

Redraft pick: Freddie Freeman

Dynasty pick: Shohei Ohtani

Reasoning: My second Dodger hitter in redraft leagues goes at pick six with Freeman. There’s more firepower in the Dodgers’ lineup now, but I don’t envision that hurting Freeman’s overall numbers. If he can keep up his numbers from his first two seasons with LA, there’s a chance he could be a top-three fantasy hitter this season.

There’s some risk involved with the dynasty pick here as Ohtani is 29 years old and missing this season as a pitcher with an arm injury, but I fully expect him to return to his exceptional two-way play in 2025. Even if he isn’t the same pitcher post-injury, his hitting numbers are enough to warrant a spot this early in dynasty league drafts.

Seventh Pick

Redraft pick: Juan Soto

Dynasty pick: Kyle Tucker

Reasoning: Soto is my seventh pick in redraft leagues. Really the only reason I have him this low is because his averages the past two seasons have been below his career average (.284). He still hit .275 last season, and I think he could beat his power numbers in New York, so he can’t fall any more for me.

I feel like Tucker is pretty underappreciated in all formats. He’s a career .272 hitter and has played nearly full seasons in three straight years. There’s some doubt about who he will play for in the long run, but his numbers should translate to pretty much every ballpark, so I’m comfortable taking him here in dynasty drafts.

Eighth Pick

Redraft pick: Shohei Ohtani

Dynasty pick: Fernando Tatis Jr.

Reasoning: We’ve already mentioned Ohtani’s arm injury that will prevent him from pitching this season, but you can’t discount his fantasy prowess with the bat. He joins a much better lineup, which should only help his fantasy outlook. There’s some concern that the injury could negatively impact him at the plate, but the potential numbers in that lineup trump that thought in my head.

Tatis has had a pretty wild start to his career, but at just 25 years old, he’s still one of the top dynasty options out there. Injury concerns are definitely there, but his hitting statistics when playing are hard to deny. Now a season removed from the PED suspension, I like Tatis to really start delivering some monster seasons again for the foreseeable future.

Ninth Pick

Redraft pick: Kyle Tucker

Dynasty pick: Mookie Betts

Reasoning: Tucker has produced similar home run and RBI totals the past three seasons despite his average going between .257-.294. Even if he can’t match his .284 mark from last season, he still should hit well enough in this lineup to deliver another big fantasy season.

It’s kind of wild to me that Betts is just 31 years old. He looks to have plenty in the tank still and should have at least four more years of elite production. 

Tenth Pick

Redraft pick: Spencer Strider

Dynasty pick: Spencer Strider

Reasoning: There’s a number of players I’d like to have with the 10th pick in a redraft league, but knowing your next pick (after the next one) is going to be a ways off, I like the idea of landing a pitcher early. Strider is the top option for me. He might not win 20 games like a season ago (although it’s possible with that stacked lineup behind him), but his strikeout numbers should remain sky high and his earned run average should also improve.

I also like Strider here in dynasty leagues. He’s just 25 years old and proven to be a dependable arm you can start every five days. He’s still likely a couple years away from peaking, and those numbers are definitely ones that could power your fantasy team to titles. And again with your next set up picks being so far away, it makes sense to land a top pitcher early on.

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