Fantasy Baseball 20-Team Categories Mock Draft with 20th Pick

I decided to switch things up and take on a bit of a bigger challenge in my latest fantasy baseball mock draft. I drafted from the 20th position in a 20-team 5x5 categories league.

There was one starter at catcher, first base, second base, shortstop, third base, a utility spot, three outfielders, nine pitching slots and eight bench spots. I did the draft with the FantasyPros mock draft simulator.

Get ready for draft season! Check out our Mock Draft Simulator, Average Draft Position list and Draft Genius!

Early Round Strategy

I made it a point to grab at least one pitcher during the back-to-back selections I had, and I did that the first three times I was up (so through six picks).

I took Baltimore Orioles’ Corbin Burnes, Houston Astros’ Josh Hader, the still unsigned Blake Snell and Chicago Cubs’ Justin Steele over that span. I matched them with Boston Red Sox’s Rafael Devers and Philadelphia Phillies’ Nick Castellanos.

In hindsight, I could have passed on Burnes and gone with another hitter there, but that’s also a trade I could make before the season begins.

Filling Out the Lineup

The next priority for me was to fill my starting lineup out.

I got Oakland Athletics’ Zack Gelof in the seventh round, and then took Cubs’ Ian Happ as my second outfielder.

I got my starting first baseman in round nine with Milwaukee Brewers’ Rhys Hoskins. I then added to my pitching staff by landing Toronto Blue Jays’ Jose Berrios.

I got a second closer in round 11 with Detroit Tigers’ Alex Lange. Minnesota Twins’ Carlos Correa was my choice in round 12, and he’ll serve as my top shortstop.

I got the ultra-versatile Luis Rengifo of the Los Angeles Angels in round 13. I took Chicago White Sox’s Andrew Vaughn as a backup plan for Hoskins, who hasn’t played since 2022.

I went back-to-back starting pitchers in rounds 15-16. I took Kansas City Royals’ Michael Wacha and Washington Nationals’ MacKenzie Gore.

After neglecting the catcher position to this point, I finally got one in round 17 in Oakland’s Shea Langeliers. I took Milwaukee outfielder Sal Frelick in round 18 - he’s been getting some work in the infield, so I’m hoping he could offer some position versatility at some point this season.

Oakland’s JP Sears was my pick in round 19 before I got another infielder in Tampa Bay Rays’ Amed Rosario.

The Final Rounds

The final few rounds of the mock were used to take some gambles on players.

I tried to get some more saves out of round 21 when I chose Colorado Rockies’ Justin Lawrence. To ensure I got the team’s closer, I also drafted Tyler Kinley in round 23. I'd drop whatever player loses the job - if the team decided to split the closer job, I could just drop both (if nobody wanted to trade for them).

I got Kansas City pitcher Brady Singer in between the two Rockies’ relievers. My round 24 pick was spent on White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi.

To round things out, I took Angels’ Tyler Anderson in round 25 before landing Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers with my final pick.

Takeaways/Analysis

My team was given a draft grade of 84 and ranked seventh by FantasyPros, which I’d consider pretty solid for starting with the 20th pick.

The site graded my bench as the third best in the league, while my pitchers were sixth. My hitters and overall starters were ranked 12th and 13th, respectively.

My biggest draft steals were Vaughn, Frick and Benintendi, going a combined 13 rounds later than they are ranked. I reached on Sears and Singer by a combined six rounds.

I was projected to be top six in the league in both wins and earned run average, but that could take a hit with a trade of Burnes for a single top bat in return.

I personally didn’t feel great about my catchers, which probably would be the position I targeted in a trade of Burnes - my hope would be to flip Burnes and one of my two catchers for a top-end fantasy catcher and then maybe another mid-level hitter or starting pitcher.

All in all, I am pretty pleased with the end result here. I personally am not in any fantasy drafts this year with this kind of format, but I would highly suggest you do several mock drafts from your draft position so you are prepared for it.

It was kind of shocking to see some of the starting options I had along the way, and it definitely could cause a fantasy owner to panic. Be sure to utilize FantasySP’s Mock Draft Simulator, Average Draft Position list and Draft Genius as you gear up for your draft, regardless of your league’s settings.