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Fantasy Baseball 2024 Rankings for Each Position and Latest Mock Draft

Erik Beaston

The fantasy baseball season is upon us and managers will be looking for the most productive offensive weapons, the most dominant pitchers, and the hidden gems who will propel them past their opponents and earn them their league's championship.

With offenses more productive in the wake of the introduction of the pitch clock, there are more options than ever to fill out key positions on your roster.

Ahead of what should be a prolific fantasy season in terms of head-to-head points, is a look at rankings for each position and the latest mock draft.

All stats via MLB.com.

First Mock Draft

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  1. Ronald Acuna Jr., RF, Atlanta Braves
  2. Mookie Betts, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers
  3. Julio Rodriguez, CF, Seattle Mariners
  4. Corbin Carroll, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
  5. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF, San Diego Padres
  6. Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Kansas City Royals
  7. Aaron Judge, CF, New York Yankees
  8. Shohei Ohtani, DH, Los Angeles Dodgers
  9. Matt Olson, 1B, Atlanta Braves
  10. Juan Soto, LF, New York Yankees
  11. Kyle Tucker, RF, Houston Astros
  12. Yordan Alvarez, LF, Houston Astros
  13. Spencer Strider, SP, Atlanta Braves
  14. Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets
  15. Bryce Harper, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies
  16. Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland Guardians
  17. Gunnar Henderson, SS, Baltimore Orioles
  18. Austin Riley, 3B, Atlanta Braves
  19. Marcus Semien, 2B, Texas Rangers
  20. Adolis Garcia, OF, Texas Rangers

First Basemen

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Rankings

  1. Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers
  2. Pete Alonso, New York Mets
  3. Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
  4. Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
  5. Cody Bellinger, Chicago Cubs
  6. Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals
  7. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
  8. Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox
  9. Nolan Jones, Colorado Rockies
  10. Christian Walker, Arizona Diamondbacks

From Freeman to Guerrero, the first base position is loaded with stars who can be trusted to contribute consistently and in a big way.

Olson hit 54 home runs and easily could have won the NL MVP award a season ago, but one would be hard-pressed to imagine him putting up those same numbers in 2024.

Alonso is in a contract year and could go on a tear as he attempts to show the Mets why he is worth signing to a long-term deal or, more importantly, any potential suitor outside of New York why he is worth every penny of his asking price.

Keep an eye on budding Red Sox star Casas, who hit 24 home runs and drove in 65 RBIs a season ago. He had a slash line of .247/.342/.454.

While those numbers do not necessarily jump off the page, the Red Sox will count on young talent to carry them this season after making limited offseason moves, which means Casas will have the opportunity to put up numbers.

Ditto Jones in Colorado who had an on-base percentage of .389 and an OPS of .931 while blasting 20 homers and driving in 62 RBI.

Second Basemen

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Rankings

  1. Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers
  2. Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves
  3. Matt McLain, Cincinnati Reds
  4. Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
  5. Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees
  6. Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
  7. Ha-Seong Kim, San Diego Padres
  8. Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs
  9. Spencer Steer, Cincinnati Reds
  10. Bryson Stott, Philadelphia Phillies

Semien was the most consistent second baseman in baseball a year ago, driving in 100 runs and blasting 29 homers.

He got on base and his slugging percentage of .478 eclipsed his career number. He did everything well for the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers and earned the top spot in these rankings.

The explosive offense of the Atlanta Braves makes Albies (.280/.336/.513 in 2023) a quality option, while the Cincinnati Reds have both McLain and Steer who can produce at the position.

Marte has put up an average of .455 in spring training, with an on-base percentage of .518. Those numbers may not mean much in a preseason setting but do not be surprised if the reigning NL champion has a strong season as Arizona builds on the chemistry that took the team to the World Series last year.

Shortstops

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Rankings

  1. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
  2. Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
  3. Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
  4. Francisco Lindor, New York Mets
  5. Corey Seager, Chicago Cubs
  6. Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds
  7. Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies
  8. Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates
  9. Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays
  10. CJ Abrams, Washington Nationals

Betts had one of the best years of his Hall of Fame-worthy career in 2023, with 39 homers, 107 RBI, and 14 stolen bases.

With the announcement that he will play shortstop permanently in 2024, and what he accomplished a season ago, it is nearly impossible to take anyone but the former MVP first.

Cruz's 2023 was cut short by a fractured fibula but he wasted little time announcing to the world that he will not be hampered by the injury this season, with five home runs on seven total hits this spring, with an OPS of 1.331.

He may not be the most obvious pick for the position but if he can build on the momentum he has established early in his comeback, he has the potential to be a top-10 pick at shortstop this fantasy season.

Third Basemen

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Rankings

  1. Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves
  2. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres
  3. Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians
  4. Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins
  5. Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals
  6. Alex Bregman, Houston Astros
  7. Yandy Diaz, Tampa Bay Rays
  8. Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies
  9. Josh Jung, Texas Rangers
  10. Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox

Riley amassed 432 head-to-head points in 2023, on the heels of 97 RBI and 37 home runs. He was the best at his position in the big leagues a season ago and is the clear No. 1 pick in 2024.

Jung was solid for the World Series champion Rangers a season ago, blasting 23 homers and batting in 70 runs. His numbers do not jump off the stat sheet but with another offseason under this belt, and experience in the postseason, he should see continued growth in one of the most explosive offenses in the game.

After his worst statistical season in four years, Nolan Arenado will look to bounce back for a St. Louis Cardinals team that hopes to do the same. Even in a down year, Arenado still managed 26 homers and 93 RBI. Assuming he does not take another step back, he is a worthy addition to your roster.

Outfielders

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Rankings

  1. Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves
  2. Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners
  3. Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks
  4. Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros
  5. Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros
  6. Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres
  7. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
  8. Adolis Garcia, Texas Rangers
  9. Juan Soto, New York Yankees
  10. Michael Harris Jr., Atlanta Braves

The outfield is where the fantasy season will be won or lost.

It is the most start-studded position in the game, with Acuna being the obvious No. 1 based on his historic, MVP season a year ago, but do not sleep on some of the other names behind him.

Rodriguez hit 32 home runs and batted in 102 runs a year ago. Carroll had a rookie of the year season in which he helped lead the D-Backs to the World Series. Alvarez and Tucker were instrumental in helping the Astros back to the ALCS with 31 and 29 homers, respectively.

Tatis hit 25 home runs and added 78 RBI while Judge still hit 37 homers amid a foot injury that sidelined him for a portion of the season.

Soto is the most interesting player on the list, especially as the newest addition to the Yankees roster. With 35 home runs and 109 RBI a season ago for an underperforming Padres team, it will be interesting to see what he accomplishes in New York, where expectations will be through the roof for the generational player.

Pitchers and Catchers

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Catcher Rankings

  1. Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles
  2. Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
  3. Sean Murphy, Atlanta Braves
  4. J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies
  5. Francisco Alvarez, New York Mets
  6. Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
  7. Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
  8. Wilson Contreras, St. Louis Cardinals
  9. Jonah Heim, Texas Rangers
  10. Yainer Diaz, Houston Astros

Rutschman is the gem of the catcher class following a season in which he hit 20 homers, 80 RBI, and compiled a slash line of .277/.374/.809. If he can avoid injury, he should build on that output and justify his position at the top of the list.

He will likely be the first catcher to go, though, so if you are hoping to take a young player at the position without committing such a high pick on him, look for Alvarez and Heim later in the draft.

The latter was the All-Star starter from the AL while Alvarez blasted 25 homers in his first year behind the plate for the Mets.

Pitcher Rankings

  1. Corbin Burnes, Baltimore Orioles
  2. Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves
  3. Tyler Glasnow, Los Angeles Dodgers
  4. Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies
  5. Pablo Lopez, Minnesota Twins
  6. Luis Castillo, Seattle Mariners
  7. Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks
  8. Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants
  9. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers
  10. Framber Valdez, Houston Astros

Burnes arrives in Baltimore with the loftiest of expectations. The missing ingredient in the Orioles' World Series hopes, the former Cy Young winner will hope to bring his 3.39 ERA, 200 strikeouts, and 193.2 innings pitched to an organization that was one ace away from making a legitimate run at the pennant.

Strider went 20-5 in 2023 with 281 strikeouts. He also allowed 80 earned runs, the most of his young career. His ERA increased starting in June before steadying in the 3.7-3.8 range in September. He struggled against the Phillies in the postseason, allowing three home runs on seven hits.

His K's are valuable, no doubt, but he may also get rocked on occasion. Especially down the stretch.

   

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