Tomorrow night starts the beginning of one of the greatest times of the year for me. Fantasy Baseball draft time! Every year I do a few head to head leagues, maybe a Roto league and an AL Only Roto League with auction values.
Tomorrow nights league is a 12 team H2H Mixed Draft (Both AL and NL players) so I figured I would give my take on what I believe the first round should look like based off the league settings (by the way it is standard Yahoo Pro League settings). So take a look below and tell me what you think.
1. Mike Trout - Outfield
Mike Trout has to be the #1 player off the board. A lot of people forget out good he is after his injured season last year but with an improved lineup around him he is primed to go off....again.
3 year average - 106 Runs, 34 HRs, 87 RBI, 21 SB and a .306 AVG.
2. Jose Altuve - Second Base
How good is Jose Altuve? AVG in the mid .300s, gives you 20+ HR, 100+ runs and 80+ RBI and oh yeah dont forget SB's. He is a five category stud across the board and in the infield no less.
3 year average - 102 Runs, 21 HRs, 81 RBI, 33 SB and a .332 AVG.
3. Nolan Arenado - Third Base
You got to go Nolan here. 3B masher who hits at a .300 AVG.
3 year average - 104 Runs, 40 HRs, 131 RBIs, 2 SB and a .296 AVG.
4. Charlie Blackmon - Outfield
You can go a lot of ways here but every year I count out Blackmon and he continues to climb the charts and last year he fully exploded with 37 HR's and 137 Runs!
3 year average - 114 Runs, 28 HRs, 81 RBIs, 25 SB and a .313 AVG.
5. Giancarlo Stanton - Outfield
Yes, this guy doesn't hit .300 or steal bases but the stats he can accumulate of a full healthy season at Yankee stadium can be tremendous, I am going out on ledge here but 60+ HR's, and 140 RBI plus 100 Runs! I mean why should he not go here? H2H leagues are week by week anyway so the lack of steals and AVG shouldn't hurt you when you can fill the gaps in later rounds.
3 year average - 75 Runs, 38 HRs, 91 RBIs, 2 SB and a .265 AVG. (Keep in mind those averages are lower due to injuries the 2 prior seasons).
6. Bryce Harper - Outfield
OK, I will be smart here and go with Harper. A quality bat in a quality lineup.
3 year average - 99 Runs, 32 HRs, 91 RBIs, 10 SB and a .296 AVG.
7. Mookie Betts - Outfield
After an insane breakout year in 2016, Mookie dropped a bit in 2017 but was still great and he is only 25 years old. I still would want these numbers on my team.
3 year average - 105 Runs, 24 HRs, 97 RBIs, 24 SB and a .292 AVG.
8. Clayton Kershaw - Starting Pitcher
I never like to go with a pitcher super early, or even in the first round but if ever there was one who deserved to go this high and even higher in some leagues it would be Clayton. There is no better pitcher on a game to game basis. And if he goes two starts for you in one week, forget it, you won that week in Pitching.
3 year average - 15 Wins, 225K, 2.08 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 0 Saves.
9. Paul Goldschmidt - First Base
First basemen are always deep but I don't recall seeing a guy who hits for power and has speed like Goldy.
3 year average - 109 Runs, 31 HRs, 108 RBIs, 24 SB and a .304 AVG.
10. Max Scherzer - Starting Pitcher
I know I said I don't go starting pitcher really at all but times are changing. The elites these years are amazing and Max has been one of those elites for a while now. If you want to lock up your ace pitcher you might have to look no further.
3 year average - 17 Wins, 276K, 2.74 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 0 Saves.
11. Carlos Correa - Shortstop
Why not go for him here? He keeps getting better with age and was on his way to a great season last year before an injury. He is an infielder fully capable of hitting .300 with 30HRs and 100RBI. You cant find that anywhere else at Shortstop.
3 year average - 70 Runs, 22 HRs, 83 RBIs, 10 SB and a .287 AVG.
12. Kris Bryant - Third Base
This was a tough one but so was the whole last half of this round. So many players can be swapped out at anytime and you might not like Stanton, Kershaw or Correa. I couldn't in good conscience put another pitcher in the first round even though I was close on Kluber or Sale. I am not loving Turner so lets go with Kris Bryant. He had a down year last year but he is a solid player in the infield and from his averages you will see why he made the list.
3 year average - 106 Runs, 31 HRS, 91 RBIs, 9 SB and a .287 AVG.
So good luck to all those who have or will be participating in MLB fantasy drafts this year. Perhaps I will do a follow up with who I ended up with after tomorrow nights draft.
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STOPHi crofman, loved your write up! 60+ HRs from Stanton? I love him this season, but damn that would be unprecedented. Perhaps you are a hopeful Yankees fan?
Keep writing, I like what I’m reading! Cheers
Haha thanks. I mean he hit 59 playing half his games in a huge Marlins Park. Not a Yankees fan though. Big Baseball fan in general however and would root for Stanton. Especially if he ended up on some of my fantasy teams.