X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Analyzing the First Round of the MLB Draft - Part 1 of 2

Welcome everyone to the first part of my analysis of the first round of the MLB draft! In today's segment, I will be going over picks 11-30 made by teams in the first round of the draft. Tomorrow, I will go over the top 10, delving into slightly more detail with those 10 players.

These prospects are all expected to have dynasty value in one way or another, though owners will obviously have to be patient with these players. Being that I am in a deep, 20-team, 45-player, 28-keepers dynasty league, I will be examining pure value over the next couple of seasons, and what owners in similarly deep leagues will want to know about these players that have been drafted. Though some of these players will undoubtedly have value in shallower keeper leagues, I will be coming at this from a deeper dynasty league point-of-view as that is probably where the bulk of these prospects have the most value.

So without any further ado, let's start talking MLB draft prospects!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

MLB Draft Prospects: 11-20

11. Chicago White Sox: Jake Burger (3B, Missouri State)

Age: 21

ETA: 2020

Burger was considered one of the premier power hitters in the draft, particularly when only considering college players. He launched 22 homers last season and slashed .328/.443/.648. But he played in the weak Missouri Valley Conference, and not everyone is sold just yet on his overall hit tool. If he can carry over his promising plate discipline into pro ball, his power should carry him to the majors. But I think it will take him a few seasons before he is fully ready to face major-league pitching.

 

12. Pittsburgh Pirates: Shane Baz (SP, Concordia Lutheran HS)

Age: 17

ETA: 2023

The key here with Baz is signability. Will he sign with Pittsburgh, or remain strong in his commitment to Texas Christian? For dynasty owners, Baz going to TCU would initially be disappointing, but that school has produced solid pitching talents like Brandon Finnegan and Jake Arrieta, neither of whom took particularly long to go from the draft to the majors. That ETA may not change even if the future frontline starting pitcher goes to TCU. From a talent perspective, he has the third-most upside of any high school pitcher in this draft, putting on a display of five pitches with three grading as well above-average. If there was a high school pitcher you wanted to own not named Mackenzie Gore or Hunter Greene, this should be the guy.

 

13. Miami Marlins: Trevor Rogers (SP, Carlsbad HS)

Age: 19

ETA: 2023

I'm a bit skeptical of Rogers. He's old for a high school senior, already at age 19. His command isn't overwhelmingly sharp, and MLB Pipeline grades his fastball as the only above-average pitch he has. His massive 6-foot-6 frame gives him plenty of upside, but he is a risky guy to own in many dynasty leagues. I would refrain from adding him until he proves himself in the minors.

 

14. Kansas City Royals: Nick Pratto (1B, Huntington Beach HS)

Age: 18

ETA: 2021

It's always tough to get excited about high school first base prospects. There's so much risk involved, and their debuts are always going to be so far down the line. But if there was ever one to be excited about, it would be Pratto. Scouts love his bat, with many calling it the most advanced out of any high school hitter. His power is still mostly raw, but some believe 20-homer pop should be on the way eventually. The first base tag can be pretty brutal though, especially considering he still has some development left in him. But he is as talented a first base high school prospect that has come around in a while, and owners could buy into him a tad early to get in on his high offensive ceiling.

 

15. Houston Astros: J.B. Bukauskas (SP, North Carolina)

Age: 20

ETA: 2019

It's very possible we will look back at the draft and say the Astros wound up with the biggest steal. Bukauskas was considered a consensus top-10 pick for much of the time leading up to the draft, but a blister and poor ACC/NCAA tournament performances hindered his stock. But his stuff is electric, as the 6-foot righty combines an upper-90s fastball with the best slider in the draft class. He commands the zone well and shouldn't let his smaller stature get in the way of a promising career. At this point, the development of his changeup could make or break his career as a starter, but I'm buying into Bukauskas as a starter and believe he could be one of the quicker risers to the majors in this draft.

 

16. New York Yankees: Clarke Schmidt (SP, South Carolina)

Age: 21

ETA: 2021

Schmidt seemed to have a sky-high ceiling in terms of where he could go in the draft, but after Tommy John surgery hit him, major questions started to arise. As it turned out, he still found his way to the middle of the first round. His stuff before the surgery was electric, as he had a mid-90s, sinking fastball and a pair of above-average breaking pitches. However, the surgery is a major concern, and though guys have turned their careers around after the surgery before, it will undoubtedly give owners warranted pause before adding him to their rosters. But if Schmidt makes a full recovery, he could emerge as one of the top arms to come from this draft.

 

17. Seattle Mariners: Evan White (1B, Kentucky)

Age: 21

ETA: 2019

If you ask me, this is the most advanced hitter in the draft class as a whole. White has great plate discipline, and ties that together with solid bat-to-ball skills and budding power. And don't let that first base position fool you, he is incredibly athletic, drawing comparisons to Cody Bellinger as a guy who might play first base, or all three outfield positions. White could be a high-riser to the majors and has the bat to profile well at first base as he continues to grow more game power in that 6-foot-3 frame of his.

 

18. Detroit Tigers: Alex Faedo (SP, Florida)

Age: 21

ETA: 2020

Once considered the top college prospect in this class, Faedo's stock slipped this season after a rough start to the year. But like Kyle Wright of Vanderbilt, he was able to rebuild a lot of the lost stock with a second-half turnaround. His stuff throughout the process has remained electric and he has continued to appear like a future No. 2 or 3 starter in the big leagues. If he can improve his changeup and develop more control of all three pitches, he could reach that upside in just a few seasons.

Interesting side-note about Faedo, this is the second time Detroit has drafted him. They also selected him out of his school in the 40th round with the 1210th overall pick.

 

19. San Francisco Giants: Heliot Ramos (OF, Leadership Christian Academy)

Age: 17

ETA: 2024

The sky is the limit for Ramos. Scouts said he has some of the best (if not the best) raw power in the draft as well as speed on the basepaths. The problem is he has shown a fringy hit tool throughout his Puerton Rican baseball career. Strikeouts will likely be an issue for him, and could hinder his development as he tries to move through the minors. Of the players discussed in this article, none fit the expression, "high risk, high reward" quite as well as Ramos. I want to see how he adjusts to professional pitching though before I'm buying into him just yet.

 

20. New York Mets: David Peterson (SP, Oregon)

Age: 21

ETA: 2019

With pinpoint command and an electric fastball, it is not surprising Peterson went as high as he did. Oregon's top starting pitcher, Peterson has impressed scouts with his average-to-above-average array of pitches, coupled with a remarkable ability to keep the walks to an absolute minimum, all while displaying remarkable durability. His stuff is not as electric as some of the other college starters taken before and after him, but he is one of the more likely pitchers to reach a rotation given his durability and control. He has a very high floor and could be a solid add for owners looking for a reliable arm in the draft class.

 

21. Baltimore Orioles: D.L. Hall (SP, Valdosta HS)

Age: 18

ETA: 2023

Scouts have long clamored over the upside of Hall, and with his fastball/curveball combination, it's not hard to see why. Despite standing at only 6-foot even, he has demonstrated exceptional effectiveness with both those pitches and can put a lot behind his fastball. He also has a smooth delivery for a high schooler, a relief to many who worry about young arms with whacky deliveries. He has a couple years of development, so owners can take their time adding him as they wait to see how he handles pro ball, but he will certainly be an arm to keep on the watch list.

 

22. Toronto Blue Jays: Logan Warmoth (SS, North Carolina)

Age: 21

ETA: 2020

Collegiate shortstops seem to be popular every year, but they weren't this year. It took 21 picks to come off the board before the consensus top shortstop was taken off the board. However, it's not all that surprising. Warmoth is no Dansby Swanson or Alex Bregman. He is a solid defender who put up excellent numbers for UNC, but who's numbers — many believe — exceed the talent. He tallied 10 homers and 18 stolen bases to go along with a .336 batting average, but he is considered to be at best a future 15/15 hitter in the majors. He makes enough contact to post a solid average, but he is not a super exciting prospect just yet, and does not have to be added in many dynasty leagues.

 

23. Los Angeles Dodgers: Jeren Kendall (OF, Vanderbilt)

Age: 21

ETA: 2020

Now if you want to talk about exciting, look at Kendall. Viewed by many as the toolsiest college bat in the draft, Kendall can do it all. He can run like nobody's business (20 stolen bases), he can hit for power (15 homers) and post a decent batting average (.307). But the big cause for concern is the strikeouts. He has whiffed 74 times in 62 games this season, and scouts believe it to be a major flaw in his game. The raw tools are there for an exceptional player, but he needs to cut down on the strikeouts if he is going to remain one of the top prospects in the game. Still though, you can't match his power/speed upside with many others, and that has to count for something. He is worthy of a very skeptical own in deep dynasty leagues.

 

24. Boston Red Sox: Tanner Houck (SP, Missouri)

Age: 20

ETA: 2019

The Red Sox get to make a big decision: is Houck a reliever or a starter? If he is a reliever, he could be in the majors by next season. If he is a starter, he still has until 2020 or 2021 before he is ready. His upper-90s fastball is his clear standout pitch, and he needs to improve on his other secondary offerings before he is ready to make it to the rotation. But he possesses above-average control of his arsenal, which should help him remain in the rotation. If that slider and changeup can catch up to the fastball, he could be a future frontline starting pitcher. But owners need to be skeptical of him until he proves he can put his late 2017 struggles behind him.

 

25. Washington Nationals: Seth Romero (SP, Houston)

Age: 21

ETA: 2018

Romero was kicked off Houston's baseball team for repeated violations of team and university rules. That is not a good look. Fortunately for him, his stuff has always looked really good, and it is why in spite of his off-the-field issues, he was drafted in the first round. Some view Romero as a starter longterm, and it's very possible the Nationals do too. But most believe he will be used as a reliever to get his electrifying stuff to the majors fast, meaning he could theoretically end 2017 in the Show. If he is a reliever, his stuff is good enough to close, but he will have to compete with Koda Glover longterm for saves, a battle he could lose. Before stashing him just yet, be sure to see what the Nationals plans are with the southpaw.

 

26. Texas Rangers: Bubba Thompson (OF, McGill-Toolen HS)

Age: 19

ETA: 2023

Thompson is one of the toolsiest high school outfielders in the draft. Scouts praise his untapped raw power, citing his 6-foot-2 frame as reason for optimism that he can bulk up and add some more thump to his bat. But his calling card remains his speed, his hit tool and his defense, which helped him get drafted as high as he did. He has almost a prototypical leadoff hitter profile, though he could come with more pop than the average table-setter. He has a ton of development left, which limits his dynasty value as owners will need to be extremely patient with him. But the payoff at the end of the wait could be huge.

 

27. Chicago Cubs: Brendon Little (SP, State College of Florida Manatee - Sarasota)

Age: 20

ETA: 2021

The first pitcher out of junior college selected in the draft, Little has a scouting report resembling that of a future reliever. High-octane stuff, average-to-below-average secondary offerings and concerning command. Some believe the Cubs will work with him as a starter, but personally, I see his future in the bullpen. He could be a backend of the bullpen guy with his fastball and a developed curveball, but he still has a lot of work to do in the minors before he's ready even for that tag. Hold off on buying his stock just yet.

 

28. Toronto Blue Jays: Nate Pearson (SP, Central Florida)

Age: 20

ETA: 2021

The second straight junior college arm drafted, Pearson has the higher upside of the two, though he too is not without his risks. His fastball consistently reaches the upper-90s and is one of the best in the class. But his secondary offerings aren't great, and neither is his command. The Blue Jays might work with him for a time as a starter, but his fallback — like Little — could be a future in the bullpen. That's where I think he winds up, and as a result, I cannot advise he be stashed in any format just yet.

 

29. Texas Rangers: Christopher Seise (SS, West Orange HS)

Age: 18

ETA: 2023

Seise is all about pure upside. His 6-foot-2 frame at shortstop screams future power potential, but that isn't the name of his game right now. Instead, he is regarded as a guy who makes a lot of hard contact into the gaps and takes advantage of his blazing speed to help him post a ton of extra-base hits. He is also a solid defender, and many scouts believe shortstop can remain his future home. The risk, however, is that his bat reverts to what it was before his senior season and he doesn't develop any pop. He is an intriguing player, but not one worthy of stashing just yet.

 

30. Chicago Cubs: Alex Lange (SP, Louisiana State)

Age: 21

ETA: 2020

LSU has developed quite the track record for developing talented starting pitching prospects, and Lange seems to be no different. He has a well rounded repertoire with one of the best fastball/curveball combinations in the draft, with a changeup that has made improvements this season. However, his command is lacking, bringing into question his future role. If the Cubs use him as a reliever, his stuff could help him reach the majors in short time. But with all the questions surrounding his future role, he can be avoided for now in dynasty leagues.

 

More Top MLB Prospects & Rookies




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Atlanta Braves

Braves Hire Walt Weiss as Their Next Manager
Kris Bubic

Cleared to Begin a Throwing Program
Brandon Woodruff

Declines Mutual Option for 2026
Freddy Peralta

Brewers Exercise 2026 Option on Freddy Peralta
Lucas Giolito

Declines his 2026 Player Option
Daniel Gafford

to be Limited on Monday
Jabari Smith Jr.

Sidelined on Monday Night
Josh Hart

Available to Play on Monday
Walker Kessler

Out Again on Monday Night
Khris Middleton

Unavailable on Monday
Kyler Murray

Officially Inactive on Monday Night
Johnny Furphy

Ready to Go on Monday
RayJ Dennis

Cleared for Monday
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Available on Monday
Dylan Harper

to "Miss Multiple Weeks"
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Sixth at Procore Championship
PGA

Matti Schmid Finishes Tied for 46th at Baycurrent Classic
Keith Mitchell

Finishes Tied for 10th at Baycurrent Classic
Si Woo Kim

Finishes Tied for 21st at Genesis Championship
Mackenzie Hughes

Misses The Cut at Sanderson Farms Championship
Max Greyserman

Finishes Second at Baycurrent Classic
Austin Eckroat

Finishes Tied for 56th at Baycurrent Classic
Luke Clanton

Finishes Tied for 56th at Bank of Utah Championship
Brandon Miller

Out At Least Two More Weeks
Morgan Barron

Out Week-to-Week
Terry McLaurin

Commanders Don't Think Terry McLaurin Will Play in Week 10
Jayden Daniels

to be "Out for a While" With Dislocated Elbow
Adam Lowry

Ready for Season Debut Tuesday
Pierre-Luc Dubois

to Miss "Extended Period of Time"
Omarion Hampton

Not Expected to Return to Practice Until After Week 12 Bye
Robert Thomas

Set to Return Monday
Quinn Hughes

Available Monday
Justin Brazeau

Remains Out Monday
Norman Powell

Upgraded To Questionable For Matchup With Clippers
William Nylander

Rejoins Maple Leafs Lineup Monday
Austin Reaves

Sidelined On Monday
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Sitting Out On Monday
Josh Hart

Questionable Against Wizards
Mitchell Robinson

to Miss Monday's Matchup for Rest
Zach LaVine

to Play Monday Despite Questionable Tag
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Available for Kings on Monday Night
Zach Edey

Assigned to G-League, Expected Back Soon
Keaton Wallace

Practices, Tuesday's Status Remains Uncertain
Pete Alonso

Officially Opts Out of his Contract With Mets
Alex Bregman

Opts Out of his Contract With Boston
Edwin Díaz

Edwin Diaz on the Open Market This Winter
Cody Bellinger

Becomes Free Agent After Opting Out
Robert Suarez

Opts Out, Becomes Free Agent
Kyle Larson

Wins His Second NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix
Ryan Blaney

Concludes the 2025 Season with A Win at Phoenix
William Byron

Strong Championship Effort Ends With Late-Race Flat-Tire Crash
Quinshon Judkins

Browns Optimistic Quinshon Judkins Can Play in Week 10
Andrew Nembhard

Ruled Out Again on Monday
T.J. McConnell

Set to Miss Another Game on Monday
Tucker Kraft

Done for the Year With Torn ACL
Denny Hamlin

Overtime Four-Tire Call Costs Denny Hamlin the Championship
Chase Briscoe

Championship Bid Never Really Started After Two Tire Failures
Brad Keselowski

Nearly Steals Phoenix Race
David Onama

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss
Steve Garcia

Scores First-Round TKO Win
Ante Delija

Suffers His First UFC Loss
CFB

Dylan Raiola Suffers Season-Ending Injury
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Gets Knockout Win
Themba Gorimbo

Drops Decision At UFC Vegas 110
Jayden Daniels

Suffers Dislocated Elbow on Sunday Night
Jeremiah Wells

Gets Back In The Win Column
Yadier del Valle

Remains Undefeated
Jayden Daniels

X-Rays Come Back Negative on Jayden Daniels' Left Arm, MRI to Come
Jaelan Phillips

Gets Dealt to Eagles for a Third-Round Pick
Isaac Dulgarian

Cut By UFC Following Submission Loss
Daniel Frunza

Still Winless In The UFC
Charles Radtke

Dominates Daniel Frunza
Allan Nascimento

Gets Submission Win
Philipp Kurashev

Stays Hot on Sunday
Cody Durden

Suffers Second-Round Submission Loss
Lucas Raymond

Extends Point Streak With a Goal
Jake Guentzel

Notches Two Points as Lightning Continue Winning Streak
Leo Carlsson

Establishes New Career High With Six-Game Point Streak
Jonathan Huberdeau

Guns Down Flyers
Matthew Schaefer

Has Historic Multi-Goal Game
Jaylen Warren

Records First Career Two-Touchdown Game in Week 9 Win Over Colts
Michael Pittman Jr.

Leads Colts With Nine Catches in Week 9 Loss at Pittsburgh
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Continues Historic Pace, Racks Up 129 Yards in Week 9 Win
Tory Horton

Catches Two Touchdowns in Week 9 Win at Washington
Sam Darnold

Nearly Flawless in Dominant Sunday Night Win at Washington
Jayden Daniels

Suffers Gruesome Left-Arm Injury on Sunday Night
Kyren Williams

Goes Over 100 Rushing Yards, Scores in Dominant Win Over Saints
Davante Adams

Continues Red-Zone Dominance in Week 9 Win
Dalton Kincaid

Leads Bills in Receiving Yards in Week 9 Win
Geno Smith

Throws Four Touchdown Passes in Week 9
DJ Moore

Scores Two Touchdowns, Involved in Several Ways Sunday
Kyle Monangai

Capitalizes on Expanded Role in Week 9
Quinn Hughes

Returns to Practice Sunday
Roman Josi

Moved to Injured Reserve
Max Scherzer

Doesn't Plan on Retiring
Michael King

Becomes Free Agent After Declining Mutual Option
Cole Smith

to Miss 3-6 Weeks
Ryan Reaves

Placed on Injured Reserve
NYI

Max Shabanov Not Close to Returning
Tyson Foerster

Won't Play Sunday
Sean Couturier

Returns to Flyers Lineup Sunday
Austin Cindric

is A Driver to Avoid for Phoenix DFS Lineups
Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Named World Series MVP
Alex Bowman

Could Alex Bowman be A Sneaky Tournament Play for Phoenix?
Noah Gragson

Should DFS Players Roster Noah Gragson At Phoenix?
Erik Jones

Is Erik Jones Worth Rostering for DFS at Phoenix?
Connor McDavid

Records Three Assists in Saturday's Win
Michael McDowell

an Easy Recommendation for DFS at Phoenix
Chase Briscoe

Probably Won't Win the Title
Joey Logano

Could Play Spoiler in Championship Battle at Phoenix
Tyler Reddick

Seeking to End Winless Drought, but Probably Won't Have the Speed
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Looks to Protect Top-10 Points Finish at Phoenix
Brad Keselowski

Hasn't Been Fast at Phoenix With RFK Racing
Daniel Suarez

With Nothing at Stake, Expect Little From Daniel Suarez
Kyle Busch

Qualifies Well, but Will Probably Finish Worse Than he Starts
Chris Buescher

Ryan Preece has a Shot to Overtake Chris Buescher as RFK Racing's Lead Driver
Austin Dillon

Looks to Avoid Finishing Last in NASCAR Playoffs
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Might be a Worthy DFS Option
Shohei Ohtani

to Start Game 7 of World Series
Alejandro Kirk

X-Rays Come Back Negative on Alejandro Kirk's Hand
Alejandro Kirk

Goes for X-Rays After Being Hit on the Hand
Gleyber Torres

Undergoes Sports-Hernia Surgery
Bo Bichette

Not Expecting to Need Offseason Knee Surgery
George Springer

Back in Leadoff Spot for Game 6 of World Series
David Onama

Set For UFC Vegas 110 Main Event
Steve Garcia

Returns At UFC Vegas 110
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Set For Co-Main Event
Ante Delija

In Search For His Second UFC Win
Themba Gorimbo

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 110
Jeremiah Wells

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Yadier del Valle

Looks To Remain Undefeated
CFB

Arizona State Quarterback Sam Leavitt Out for the Season
Isaac Dulgarian

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Daniel Frunza

Looks For His First UFC Win
George Springer

"Strong Possibility" That George Springer Returns in Game 6 of World Series
Bryce Miller

Not Expected to Need Elbow Surgery
CFB

Arch Manning Listed as Questionable for Vanderbilt Matchup
CFB

Arion Carter Listed as Questionable Ahead of Oklahoma Matchup
CFB

Jordyn Tyson Questionable for Iowa State Matchup with Hamstring Injury

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP