Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft: Building an Elite Team From the No. 1 Pick

Fantasy baseball average draft position data is live on FantasySP for 2026, so after taking a look at the list a bit, I decided it was time for my first fantasy baseball mock draft of 2026.

This 10-team mock draft is done from the first draft position. There's one starter at catcher, first base, second base, shortstop and third base, three outfield starters, one utility hitter, two starting pitcher and relief pitcher slots and then four other pitcher (starter or reliever) spots. There's also five bench slots for this head-to-head points league setup. 

Conduct your own fantasy baseball mock drafts on FantasySP!

Round 1 - Shohei Ohtani

Ohtani is my easy choice at the No. 1 overall spot. He was the top fantasy player a season ago, and I think he will be again in 2026.

In leagues where he can rack up points as a hitter and pitcher, there's nobody else I'd rather have. Even as just a hitter, Ohtani is a great option for the top pick.

Rounds 2/3 - Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cristopher Sanchez

With my second pick, I went with Guerrero. I decided to land a pitcher next before it got too late, and Sanchez was my choice.

Guerrero was just outside being a top-10 hitter, and I think getting him at pick 20 is a bit of a steal. He will be locked into my first base slot daily, and should help carry my fantasy squad.

Sanchez is a great first fantasy pitcher, and is coming off a season in which he scored the fourth-most fantasy points among pitchers (not including Ohtani). He is due for a little regression, but at this draft slot, I feel like I still can get good value out of him.

Rounds 4/5 - Pete Alonso and Cody Bellinger

In the fourth round, I grabbed another first baseman in Alonso - he will be one heck of a utility player/trade asset with Guerrero already at 1B and Ohtani taking the utility spot - it was best player available for me, so he was too good to pass up. Bellinger is another option at first base, but can also slot into outfield spots, so that's where he will be for me.

Alonso was the No. 15 fantasy hitter last season, so getting him at the end of round 4 feels like a win. Bellinger ranked as the No. 10 fantasy hitter, so that's a draft steal in my eyes.

If those two deliver like they did a season ago, I'm going to have a great quartet of hitters leading my squad - at some point, I have to add to my pitching.

Round 6/7 - Trea Turner and Nick Pivetta

I was torn on who to take in the sixth round. I decided on Turner over Nico Hoerner and Jarren Duran. Hoerner actually was a better fantasy asset last season, but only by a point - I like Turner more in 2026. Duran is coming off a bit of a down year, so even though he was available past his ADP, I didn't like the idea of taking him.

Turner will slot into my shortstop slot every day for me. I cannot complain about that.

I reached a bit on Pivetta, taking him over Blake Snell. Pivetta is coming off a huge season, and was just outside the top 10 as a fantasy pitcher. 

If Pivetta is close to the top 10 again in 2026, that pick will be another draft steal and huge value for me.

Rounds 8/9 - Spencer Strider and David Bednar

I went with Strider to finish the eighth round, then Bednar to kick off the ninth round.

Strider is a risk coming off a couple injury-shortened seasons, but if he returns to his high-end form, this could be the draft steal of the year. At this juncture of a fantasy draft, I'm willing to take a little bit of a gamble, especially on a high-upside player.

I decided to take Bednar to fill out one of my relief pitcher slots. I don't like drafting fantasy relievers, but I like his outlook as the new Yankees' closer in 2026. If he stays healthy and pitches pretty well, he could finish as one of the top fantasy relievers.

Rounds 10/11 - Luis Castillo and Christian Yelich

I went with Castillo as another starting pitcher option, then grabbed Yelich as my second outfielder.

Castillo is a really solid No. 4 fantasy starting pitcher for me, and could be another great draft value. He continues to churn out good seasons, and I think he's got a few more in him even though he's on the wrong side of 30 now.

Yelich had a pretty good showing in 2025, but most importantly played 150 games. Availability is the biggest thing for him, and if he plays that much in 2026, he will be a good daily fantasy asset in the top part of the Brewers' lineup.

Rounds 12/13 - Gleyber Torres and Nolan McLean

Torres was my choice in the 12th round, and will be my second baseman. McLean opened the selections in round 13, and is another starting pitcher for my squad.

Torres had a pretty solid 2025 season, and should be in line for a similar season with Detroit in 2026. He's a pretty safe starting option at second base, so I like the value here in round 12.

McLean looked great in his first eight MLB starts last season. While I expect some regression in his first full year in the big leagues, he's a great value pick at this point. As a fifth option (sixth if you include Ohtani), it's not a huge risk, and the reward could be stellar.

Rounds 14/15 - Eury Perez and Hunter Goodman

Perez was a possibility for me the last time I picked, so he was a no-doubt selection in round 14. I finally filled my catcher slot with Goodman to kick off the 15th round.

Perez is a bounceback candidate in 2026 after missing the 2024 season and then struggling to a 4.25 earned run average over 20 starts in 2025. If he bounces back, I have another draft steal, or good trade chip, on my hands.

Goodman was a top-five fantasy catcher last season, so to get him in the 15th round feels like incredible value. If he's eligible at any other spots, then that's even better for me. Even if he regresses, I think I got a draft steal with Goodman.

Rounds 16/17 - Tyler Soderstrom and Zac Gallen

Soderstrom is another outfield option for me, while Gallen is another starting pitcher option.

Soderstrom had a very good 2025 season, and is a fantastic third fantasy outfield option. I see him as a daily starting option.

Gallen isn't likely to go this late, but he is for now with no team yet. Sure, he also is coming off a poor season in 2025, but he is a bounceback candidate, and not a huge risk on this team, as I don't need him to be great, or even on my roster all year.

Rounds 18/19 - Munetaka Murakami and Dennis Santana

I still needed a third baseman, so Murakami was a perfect option. Santana is the Pirates' closer, who ironically took over for Bednar.

Murakami is definitely a gamble, and I plan to add an insurance plan before the draft is up. He has the chance to shine in Chicago, and if he does, then I have another daily starter, and at an incredible value.

Santana was good in the closer role last year, and I see Pittsburgh being a bit better in 2026, so I like his fantasy outlook. I would like to add one more reliever, as insurance for Santana, but also so I can swap one into a pitcher spot when I have slots open.

Rounds 20/21 - Edward Cabrera and Sal Frelick

I got yet another starting pitcher option here in Cabrera, who was traded to the Cubs this offseason. Frelick is a secondary outfield option for me, but with a good average and not a lot of strikeouts, he's a sneaky-good fantasy asset.

Cabrera was a good fantasy pitcher while with Miami, so his outlook is better now while with a better team. He's another low risk, but high upside pick at this point of a draft.

Frelick is a daily starter for the Brewers, and is a fantastic fill-in in case one of my outfielders goes down, or someone has an off day. He could be a great trade chip if he excels like he did last season.

Round 22 - Nolan Arenado

I rounded out my draft with Arenado, who is a good option in case Murakami struggles.

Arenado is already a bounceback candidate, and in Arizona now, I like his fantasy outlook. He could end up overtaking Murakami, or being a good trade asset if he bounces back.

I didn't land a third reliever like I hoped, but I love the look of my team/roster, so I cannot complain. I got an A+ grade and think I'd be a favorite to win it all with this group.

There will be plenty of fantasy baseball mock drafts to come, so keep checking back for those articles!