2022 Fantasy Baseball: Top Five Players To Target Based On ADP
Fantasy Baseball drafts are coming hot and heavy as the start of the season approaches. Each year, the preseason rankings look very different than the end of the season rankings. With some good foresight, you can get the edge on your fantasy opponents by picking the players who will get you the most bang for your buck. Here are the top five players to draft based on Average Draft Position (ADP).
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Biggest Fantasy Baseball Draft Values
DH/SP Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels - ADP: 7.33
This may be the most obvious value play in the draft but at his current ADP, it would be a steal to get Ohtani in the middle of the first round. As the only player available to fantasy players to both hit and pitch, that alone is an incredible value. If you are in a points league, Ohtani might be the top overall pick in the draft. The fact that Ohtani hits and pitches at an incredibly high level are enough alone to be number one. He smashed 46 home runs with a respectable .257 average and struck out 156 batters over 23 starts last season while producing a solid 3.18 ERA. Now the MLB has taken a weight off of his and the Angels’ shoulders by creating a rule in which Ohtani can remain the DH after being pulled from games that he pitches in. That means that he no longer will have to play outfield and can remain DH or Pitcher for all of the games in which he plays. Don’t get creative, grab Ohtani within the first few picks of the draft if you have an early draft slot. In head-to-head leagues, he could even be the top pick overall!
SS Corey Seager, Texas Rangers - ADP: 48.93
Corey Seager ranks as the seventh shortstop off of draft boards this season. Going into his seventh season, Seager will play his first season as a Texas Ranger where he moves to a more hitter-friendly ballpark. Seager is undervalued because of his lack of field time over the past two seasons, playing just 147 out of a possible 222 games. During that timeframe, Seager produced 31 HRs with 98 RBIs, while hitting .307 and getting on base at a .372 clip. If he can stay healthy for the 2022 season, these kinds of numbers would make him a top-four shortstop for fantasy purposes. Plus, Seager has been smashing the ball in Spring Training. In seven at-bats over three exhibition games, the former Dodger has hit two dingers, tallied six RBIs, and is hitting at a ridiculous .571 average (though seven at-bats is a small sample size). Seager could have a true breakout campaign if he can stay avoid injuries.
SP Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants - ADP: 64.93
After starting 19 games between 2019-2020, Logan Webb broke out in his first full season in 2021 making 26 starts. In those starts, Webb had a sparkling 3.03 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and just a 20.05% walk rate. Webb’s numbers improved as the season went along showing that he’s been trending in the right direction ever since he got into the league. At age 25, Webb is primed for a possible breakout season that would see him in the Cy Young conversation. Right now he is slated to be somewhere in the fifth or sixth round. I would say if he plays to the value of a sixth-rounder that would be the very low-end of his potential output. He could be worth reaching for in the fifth round.
OF Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers - ADP: 89.91
In an earlier article where I discussed MVP odds, Bellinger was someone I mentioned to take a look at throwing a few dollars on him with his +6000 odds. There are only 29 players with shorter odds this season. While there may be a slight tax for his 2019 play, his ADP is too low for his potential. It’s hard to believe that he’s going to have another season batting .165 when he has legitimate MVP talent. Throw away his stats over the last two years as injuries plagued Bellinger in 2021 and he probably played hurt in the lineup more than he should have. He is a player I would consider reaching almost 10 spots ahead of his ADP if I were drafting today.
OF Austin Hays, Baltimore Orioles - ADP: 201.63
Austin Hays had sleeper written all over his jersey. He has massive upside despite playing for an atrocious team such as the Orioles. Hays smashed 22 homers, tallied 71 RBIs, and stole four bases in 2021. In the last month of the season, Hays was unstoppable as he knocked eight dingers out of the park in one month.
Playing in a hitter-friendly park combined with Hays’ massive power with the bat, the youngster could have a much bigger season than anyone could have anticipated. The one thing about Hays is that he strikes out way too often. Last season, Hays struck out just north of 20% of his at-bats. If he can reduce his strikeout rate, the sky is the limit for this up-and-coming star. His ADP is way too high. It’s fine to wait on selecting him due to his ADP, but don’t wait too long before someone else drafts him.
The Orioles are currently fielding calls for trades according to several sources but it’s hard to imagine Baltimore giving up their best young player. The Orioles obviously are in rebuild mode but trading a core piece of their offense and defense is probably not a good idea. So long as Hays continues to play at Camden Yards, he will make his fantasy owners quite happy. Plus, you don’t have to spend a ton of draft capital on him. Considering his ADP and Fantasy Pros’ ADP (even higher than ours at 243), Hays will be a bargain almost no matter when you draft him. He may be a late-round pick but he’s got potential upside that can help you win your fantasy baseball championship!
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