Off the top, I want to point out how this draft and the one before it are great examples of why you should NOT tank in dynasty leagues. Last year’s class was so stacked, you could’ve landed Cam Smith with a pick at the end of round one, as happened in one of my leagues. This year, there’s not much of a difference between the top fifteen or so, and there’s no fast-moving monster among the college bats.
1. Mariners LHP Kade Anderson
2. Rockies SS Ethan Holliday
3. Marlins SS Avia Arquette
4. Reds SS Steele Hall
In a class without an obvious bat at the top, Kade Anderson in Seattle represents the best combination of proximity and upside. Easily the top pick in a league where quality pitching is at all hard to find. The shallower the league, the more I’d lean Holliday here.
Ethan Holliday is probably in his own tier at the top on some lists, especially for people who like to make trades, and that’s justifiable. People love to praise a famous name, but I’m surprised by the volume of dry-clay kind of talk I’ve heard about Holliday. He’s a corner infielder with contact issues today, depending who you listen to, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be that forever. The name-value alone in dynasty should float the profile for quite a while, but Holliday could also get better. It makes all the sense in the world that he’d get better. People thought he’d light the world afire this year, but there’s only so much you can prove against high school and travel ball pitchers. The real test begins now.
I have Aiva Arquette third because I like him but also because I’m fairly impatient in my general approach to dynasty, and Arquette should fly through this system.
If Steele Hall actualizes fully at the big league level, he’ll be the most valuable fantasy player in the class a la Trea Turner in his class, a player Hall gets comped to quite a bit.
5. Cardinals LHP Liam Doyle
6. Brewers 3B Andrew Fischer
7. Twins SS Marek Houston
Liam Doyle might’ve been higher in a different organization. I really like the player, but he’s not a finished product in the sense that he lives and dies on his excellent fastball. Needs a little help developing an arsenal that plays well when blended. Keeping him this high is a bet on that heater and the hope that he can keep commanding it.
I’m higher than the average bear on Brewers 3B Andrew Fischer, but that’s cool. Part of the appeal in this tier is that you have a pretty good idea of what you drafted early in a player’s career. These days, if a major college hitter struggles early, you start asking serious questions. If he doesn’t, he’s a big leaguer.
Twins SS Marek Houston was born on April 14, which is the same day I was born. He arrived 21 years after I did, but still: same day. It’s hard to watch Houston and avoid some Kristian Campbell vibes. He’s 6’3” 205 lbs from the right side. Campbell is 6’3″ 210 lbs. Boston knows how to select and develop hitters. Minnesota knows how to select and develop hitters. Houston’s plus contact skills and all-around game is a perfect fit. Houston hit 15 home runs and stole 19 bases in 61 games for Georgia Tech in 2025. I suspect this is the highest you’ll see him on one of these lists. I admit my nonsensical bias but believe it plays little role in this ranking. This guy will hit and hit and move quickly through the system.
8. Blue Jays SS Jojo Parker
9. Rangers SS Gavin Fien
10. Diamondbacks SS Kayson Cunningham
11. Pirates RHP Seth Hernandez
12. Guardians OF Jace LaViolette
13. Rays SS Daniel Pierce
14. Red Sox RHP Kyson Witherspoon
15. Athletics LHP Jamie Arnold
16. Nationals SS Eli Willits
I might wind up low on Seth Hernandez despite loving the player. How could you not? He throws a hundred miles an hour with an adult change-up and solid command. Comes down to timeline stuff. Pittsburgh can develop pitching, but they won’t be in any kind of hurry with Hernandez. They have Oneil Cruz and Paul Skenes today. Jared Jones is on the way back and Bubba Chandler is on the way up. Why take a player who’s five years away? It’s certainly defensible because Hernandez is awesome, but it also feels like old thinking in that a front office shouldn’t draft for short-term impact. We have all seen the opposite over the last several years. Amateur baseball has come a long way. Then I think of Jackson Jobe and Andrew Painter, who’ve both been great in the minors at times but have battled injuries throughout their careers. Can’t predict that, of course, but it’s just hard to point to a high school right-hander who has returned a ton of dynasty value. There’s Hunter Greene, but he’s been hurt, too.
In a weak class for college hitters, I’m comfortable reaching for Jace LaViolette, who might’ve been the top pick in this draft had he not batted .258 as a junior in the SEC. I’m willing to write that off as a trying time stuck in neutral.
Number one overall pick Eli Willits is less interesting to me than he might be to some. He’s a high-floor kid with a solid glove who’s several years away. A solid prospect for real baseball, but I’m supposed to pay MORE because he’s 17? No, sir. That is not my way. You’ll not find me on any such lists.
17. Giants SS Gavin Kilen
18. Angels RHP Tyler Bremner
As a solid infielder and lefty bat with plate skills, Gavin Kilen is a nice pick for San Francisco. I wish he were faster: nine SB in 153 NCAA games. Better real-life than fantasy prospect. Better in OBP leagues than standard.
Like Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel, Tyler Bremner is a small-school guy who hasn’t faced a lot of top-end competition and could be rushed through the system if he can step up to the levels Anaheim pushes him to. I don’t really want him in my leagues, but I don’t know where to rank him. Here, I guess, though I’d be tempted to take a free agent with a shot at closing over a guy like Bremner in most of my leagues.
19. Astros SS Xavier Neyens
20. Braves SS Tate Southisene
21. Cubs OF Ethan Conrad
22. Phillies RHP Gage Wood
23. Orioles C Ike Irish
24. White Sox SS Billy Carlson
25. Royals OF Sean Gamble
26. Padres LHP Kade Schoolcraft
27. Royals 3B Josh Hammond
28. Tigers SS Jordan Yost
29. Twins RHP Riley Quick
30. Dodgers RHP Cam Leiter
I’m probably well into the free agent pool at this point. No offense against any of these players, but I’m guessing I can get better help off the wire in most dynasty leagues. Don’t stop looking into veterans like Mickey Moniak and Ramon Laureano this year. Save space for guys who can help now. There’s a good chance the prospects you’re rostering will never contribute in the categories.
Thanks for reading!
