Yesterday, I told you how to draft your pitchers for 2026 fantasy baseball. I laid it out to you nice and simple (if you have a degree in “What The Hell Is Grey Talking About?” Not a PhD, mind you. Just a BS.) Today, we forget all that jabberwocky on the who-ha and get down to business old school-style (which means if you don’t comprehend, I will hit you over the head with a baseball bat signed by Joe Clark.) What I’m hoping to lay out to you is who do you draft 2nd, if you’ve drafted so and so first. For easy reference, the royal we will be using the Top 10 for 2026 Fantasy Baseball, top 20 for 2026 fantasy baseball, and the beginning of the top 100 for 2026 fantasy baseball. Eff why eye, I updated Corbin Carroll and Francisco Lindor after their injuries, so if you haven’t seen the top 10, top 20 and top 100 since their injuries, you should look. I’m going to assume you’re in a 12 team, 5×5, MI, CI, 5 OF, 1 Utility, 1 Catcher league, similar to our Razzball Commenter Leagues. (Sign up for multiple leagues, and beat the heck out of your frenemies or make new frenemies!) Anyway, here’s some pairings for the first two rounds of 2026 fantasy baseball drafts:
1. Shohei Ohtani – First off, I liberally go back to previous years and look to see what I said so I can fine-tune for you. As the great B. Real of Cypress Hill once said, how do you know where you’re at if you don’t know where you’re coming from? He didn’t say that to me, he said it in a song. He did talk to me though on our podcast. One of my biggest regrets in life is I was emailing with Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest to be on the pod and he said he would, then he tragically passed away a few days later. Wait, how’d we get on this tangent? Okay, anyway, I went back to look at last year’s draft pairings, and anyone who doesn’t think there’s huge swings and misses with even the most reliable players is sorely mistaken, and don’t call me Sorely. How’sever, last year was almost exactly the same as this year’s top five. The remarkable thing is the only guy who fell out was Gunnar Henderson, and all last preseason I talk about how I’ve never drafted him but want to, and I did. Prescient ain’t just a word you need dictionary dot com for. Anyhoodle, if you draft Shohei Ohtani, you have a top two hitter and a top 15 starter. You should stop drafting and turn to the nearest mirror to congratulate yourself. Effin’ well done! Way to do nothing but show up to your draft and get lucky, you Daft Punk! We’re here to tell you who to draft 2nd after you take Ohtani first and you can draft anyone after Ohtani, for reals. Or pho reals, if you’re Vietnamese. Ohtani and Brayan Rocchio might even work. Or better yet, Ohtani and Albombso; Ohtani and Vlad Jr.; Ohtani and Jazz; Ohtani and Rooker; Ohtani and, okay, and Rocchio! I would even draft Ohtani and Corbin Carroll or Francisco Lindor if they were there for my 2nd pick. If you could’ve drafted Ohtani and Carroll two weeks ago with your first two picks, you would’ve been over the moon. Well, get in a rocket and get over the moon again. You can’t go wrong with Ohtani because he’s UTIL-Only. Now, my preference because he’s UTIL-Only is to get something other than outfield with your 2nd and 3rd picks. Remember, if you have the good fortune of getting Ohtani, it likely means you have the 1st pick of the draft and you’re getting two picks when it’s your turn again. With one of your next two picks, you can do Wood — could? — Yes, you could Wood. There’s Rooker; you know I love me some Machado or Naylor. Maybe Ohtani and Naylor will both go 50/50, as we just saw Naylor can do anything he wants, even if he runs like he’s in quicksand while wearing a full diaper. Inside there ain’t quicksand!
2. Aaron Judge – Since Judge is an outfielder, you definitely don’t want another outfielder, but you will have another pick after the person with the 1st pick takes two. Since Judge has less speed than Ohtani, you also want a guy who is little more steals. I’m thinking of Jazz, and I don’t care that they’re on the same team. If you drafted them both last year, would you had been regretting it? Layup question for the NO! Was slightly confused why Zach Neto’s early ADP was mid-20’s, and I think I stumbled on the reason. A seven-foot, 300-pound muscle mountain of a reason. It also explains Treat Urner going around the same spot. People are drafting Judge and turning around and grabbing a middle infielder with speed. It makes sense, but my rankings don’t say Treat. (See top 500 overall.) I’m saying Machado, Neto or Brice Turang. Specifically, I am saying Turang quite definitively. Crazy, huh? Yeah, the 26-year-old who was just 40th overall on the Player Rater or the 27th best hitter. I’d be thrilled to have Judge/Turang. I could say all of this again about CJ Abrams or Lindor too. Also, you have another pick after two picks, assuming you’re getting Judge at the 2nd pick, then take a 1st baseman like Naylor or 3rd baseman like Machado. So, you’d gave Judge, Turang or CJ or Lindor, and Naylor or Machado? Yes, please or please or please, and yes, please or please.
3. Bobby Witt Jr. – If you draft Witt, you’re set for life. You can’t lose! He pairs with literally anyone in round two, except another shortstop. Wanna draft Albombso? Draft away! Vlad Jr. makes it back to you? Yes and please. Witt and Rooker? Sign me up! James Wood? I wish you would! You like the Jazz? I like the Jazz! I like the Jazz! I like the Jazz! RIP Phife. Witt and Machado? You the Manny now, dawg! Just don’t draft a shortstop like Lindor, Treat Urner or Abrams, because dur, and I’d also avoid Neto and Turang, even though they’re 2nd base, because you don’t want to get to the third round and only have MIs. Yordan? Yeah, I’d do that with the quickness! All of these go for the 3rd pick too, if they’re available.
4. Jose Ramirez – Wait, a player who has a position other than outfielder or shortstop? I don’t believe it! Am I dreaming? You can tell if I’m dreaming because I’m wearing a whipped cream bikini and Giancarlo is a giant tongue. Yes or no? No? Then no dream. So, Jo-Jo-Ram takes all 3rd basemen off the board, but big whoop. No Machado? No, whatever. Jo-Jo and Albombso or Vlad? Might be pipe dreams, but I’m Pookie and smoke ’em if you got ’em! Jo-Jo and Rooker? Yeah, I can dig it. Jo-Jo and Treat? I’m snacking. Jo-Jo and Turang? Let’s go! Jo-Jo and Corbin Carroll? Guys and five girl readers, I am very much liking the idea of Corbin Carroll as my 2nd pick. Jo-Jo and any hitter other than a 3rd baseman? Yes, you’re following now.
5. Elly De La Cruz – Similar to Witt in that you can draft anyone but a shortstop, but with E! you want someone who is more power-forward. So, draft Karl Malone? No, man, wrong sport. Draft someone with power first, or power at first! Albombso and E! for the W. How about E! and Tucker? Yes, and yum. Oh, I know a good one that likely won’t be there but maybe you can dream: Nick Kurtz. Someone who will absolutely be there is Brent Rooker, and I have him ranked there for the taking. E! And Bing Bong? I’m drooling. You know two guys who kinda scare me with E!? (That’s not an interrobang, that’s E! with a question mark.) E! and Neto or Ketel. They’ll be there, but you’ll have no corner man or outfielder and I don’t trust their power as much as I want with Elly. Elly and Machado? Yes, follow me to the Promised (30/50 and 30/15) Land. Elly and Corbin? That is drool-worthy, but feels light on power. Guess if you do that then follow quickly with the next pick grabbing someone like Rooker or Albombso, then I doubt Albombso falls that far.
6. Julio Rodriguez – Okay, we’ve reached the point where I need to give some caveats. JRod is going later than this, so you could have the 10th pick and take JRod and Gunnar. If you’re going by just my rankings, then it’s more like JRod and Junior Caminero — call it, JuniorRod! Um, actually, no, don’t. You could also have JRod and Chourio or Schwarber. You have no infielders, but your 3rd and 4th pick should be around Naylor and Machado and Neto and Turang, so double tap outfield, then do not take another outfielder in the next two picks. Or JRod and Tucker or Kurtz. Ooh, that hurtz so good.
7. Juan Soto – Sorta the opposite of JRod as in you likely are not drafting Soto this year, if we’re being real with ADP. But if you do get him, all of the shizz I said for JRod goes for him. Gunnar? Yes, sir. Soto and Caminero? Please, do not excite me so! Sexy Dr. Pepper and Chourio? I am have a corollary I am so excited. Again, the double tap of outfielder doesn’t bother me, just make sure it becomes something like Soto and Chourio, then Neto or Abrams or Albombso or anything but another outfielder. Ideally, you know what I’m gonna say: Soto and Kurtz. Ooh, daddy, please make it hurtz!
8. Ronald Acuña Jr. – Repeat all I said for JRod and Soto. Tildaddy is sitting between JRod and Soto in ADP, so realistically, it’s him and Gunnar or Caminero but it could be Tildaddy and Gunnar. I just almost fainted. Know why? I thought about having Tildaddy and Kurtz. Can you imagine the goose pimples on my arm if I had such fortune? “Let me have wonderful,” I whisper to my draft board. Acuña and Tucker? Sure, but I honestly don’t know why you don’t just go Caminero or Gunnar. They’re right there.
9. Gunnar Henderson – So, everyone goes with Gunnar except another shortstop. He pairs so well with so many different types. Gunnar going 35/15 at short is so nice to pair. He’s going 35/15 and not 15/35 right? Please say right. I could see Gunnar and Tucker; Gunnar and Caminero; Gunnar and Tatis, clearly. Gunnar and JRod if, ya know, it’s possible. Gunnar and anyone before this if they fall, of course. Gunnar and Kurtz? Yes, that’s for the purtz! Gunnar and Chourio? Cheerio, I love it. Gunnar and Schwarber even sings to me, and not pitchy at all.
10. Fernando Tatis Jr. – This feels like a lowkey awesome draft spot. You want Fun and Gunnar? Yes, how about Funnar! You want Fun the Jewels and Junior Caminero? Yes, how about Funinero! You’re almost bound by honor to draft Fun The Jewels and Nick Kurtz. That’s spearmint, baby, because it’s double the fun! It’s just where Fun is going in drafts that makes him incredibly funner. Yes, funner! Fun and Tucker? That’s one fun *ucker! Fun and Schwarber? How can this lose? Fun and J-Rod? Yes, I don’t even care about the double tap of outfielder here, but know you can’t draft another outfielder for a few. I don’t care about it because you’re 3rd pick can be an MI or CI then an SP, then another MI or CI with your 5th or 6th pick. Then you can get back in on outfielders once you get to around Stowers and Soderstrom in seven rounds. Yes, I love this draft pick, don’t be glum because you didn’t get Ohtani or Judge.
11. Kyle Schwarber – He is all power and you know what that pairs with? Everyone specifically who I mentioned prior. So, if I said Gunnar and Schwarber for Gunnar, why would it not work for Schwarber? Only new scenarios with Schwarber is Caminero? Yes, but draft speed heavy afterwards. Sooner the better, like Abrams, Neto, etc. If you go Schwarber and Corbin Carroll, I love it, and I want to find a way to make love to your fantasy team. Schwarber and Chourio? I am finding that incredibly enticing. Of course, those two scenarios are two outfielders (assuming Schwarber has OF eligibility), so infielders with your third and fourth draft picks. Schwarber and Kurtz? Well, you’re hurtz’ing your average a lot, and have no speed. It feels fairly precarious, tee bee aitch, and zero tings to make me feel safe. How about Schwarber and Jazz? That’s all my Razz! Previously, I said “zero tings,” because I’m Jamaican sense.
12. Junior Caminero – All variations of Caminero I mentioned before work, i.e., FAO Schwartz Car vrooms vrooms with everyone above him. except Jo-Jo, but you’re not getting him anyway. Might mess around and put the toy car with Kyle Tucker. Wanna have some real fun? FAO and Corbin Carroll. Think about this — and you know what I’m gonna say — Junior Vroom and Kurtz. I’m reimagining F1 with me as Brad Pitt! The lack of speed is a concern, obviously, but go caca-cuckoo with steals in the next two rounds, think Corange Juice Abrams or Zach Neto, the Neato Man. If you can get Caminero and Gunnar, I do not understand how you could lose your league. Did you hit your head with a celebratory jump for joy and not finish your draft? That’s too bad.
