Early Thoughts on Top-20 Fantasy Baseball Picks for 2025: Shohei Ohtani, Bobby Witt Jr., Paul Skenes, Elly De La Cruz, Jackson Chourio and More

The MLB regular season is still about three months from kicking off, but the hardcore fantasy baseball owners out there are itching to get their seasons underway.

I’m one of those people and decided to put together a story on top-20 draft picks. I did a mock draft simulation through FantasyPros to come up with my list. I’ll offer some thoughts on each player.

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Round 1

Pick 1 - Shohei Ohtani

Ohtani is the unquestioned No. 1 fantasy baseball top pick, and he should be as he gets back to being a two-way fantasy star. 

He was the top fantasy scorer as just a hitter last season, so this really should be a no brainer.

Pick 2 - Bobby Witt Jr.

Witt finished third among the top fantasy scorers last season, and is only going to get better as he gets more MLB experience. He should remain in the running for the top fantasy hitter this coming season.

Again, I have no complaints about him being such a high draft pick.

Pick 3 - Paul Skenes

Skenes was the first surprise in the mock draft for me. Of course, he’s a fantastic fantasy option with all his strikeouts and low earned run average, but to take him this early seems like a mistake.

I think he is better suited to be drafted between picks 10-20. He’s in the running for the first fantasy pitcher to be drafted, but probably shouldn’t be going this early.

Pick 4 - Aaron Judge

Judge would have been who I picked at pick No. 3. He only trailed Ohtani in total fantasy points last season, and should battle for the top fantasy hitter spot again this season.

If Judge can start his season a bit hotter, or simply avoid a long cold stretch, he absolutely could be the top-scoring fantasy hitter in 2025.

Pick 5 - Juan Soto

Soto is the next fantasy hitter I’d want after taking the “big three.” Changing to the other New York team is probably a bit of a negative for Soto, but he’s talented enough to deliver on any team he plays for.

He would have been my No. 4 pick.

Pick 6 - Mookie Betts

Betts was in the running for fantasy MVP before dealing with a long-term injury last season. He’s got a chance to contend for the top spot again if he remains on the field.

I think the mock draft is doing a great job (outside the Skenes pick), as I would have taken Betts fifth.

Pick 7 - Jose Ramirez

The mock draft continues to line up with my thinking by taking Ramirez next. He was the fifth highest-scoring fantasy hitter last season, and there’s no reason to expect much of a dropoff this season.

Pick 8 - Elly De La Cruz

I was a bit surprised to see De La Cruz go this early. He improved his average and on-base percentage last season, but also strikes out a ton. 

I know the high stolen base marks make him standout, but this feels like a reach. More research shows his ADP pretty high on several sites, so I guess I’m labeling him a bit overrated.

Pick 9 - Gunnar Henderson

Henderson is another player I like in the first round. His production tailed off at the end of last season, but hopefully that works in his favor going for the coming season.

Pick 10 - Ronald Acuna Jr.

Acuna was the top pick most often last season, but a torn ACL cut his season short. There’s a chance he’s ready to go for the regular season, but if his timeline gets pushed back a bit, I expect his ADP to drop a bit.

Round 2

Pick 11 - Kyle Tucker

Tucker was on his way to a big fantasy season in 2024 before an injury derailed his season. He got traded to the Cubs, which is probably going to be a bit of a negative for his fantasy outlook, but I don’t mind him being a borderline first-round pick still.

Pick 12 - Fernando Tatis Jr.

Tatis is another borderline first-round pick. He too missed time in 2024 with an injury. When healthy, Tatis is one of the best fantasy players in the league.

Pick 13 - Corbin Carroll

Carroll was a top-five fantasy pick last season, but struggled for a good portion of the season. It makes sense that he drops back to being an early second-round pick, but there’s a chance he soars back up to being one of the top fantasy hitters again, so he’s honestly a bit undervalued, in my opinion.

Pick 14 - Francisco Lindor

Lindor was a top-10 fantasy hitter last season, so I’m a bit surprised to see him as a mid second-round pick on most ADP lists. Having Soto around is probably only going to help Lindor, who I think is a bit underrated as well.

Pick 15 - Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Guerrero was the No. 6 fantasy hitter last season, so this looks like a steal despite it being in just round two. I’d absolutely love getting Guerrero in the second round this year.

Pick 16 - Tarik Skubal

Skubal is the other true pitcher in the running for top fantasy pitcher drafted alongside Skenes. I wouldn’t mind drafting either guy in the second round. Skubal might just be scratching the surface of what he could be as a pitcher.

Pick 17 - Yordan Alvarez

Alvarez finished as the No. 8 fantasy hitter a season ago. Getting him in the second round sets him up to maybe be a bit of a draft steal if he can replicate last season.

Pick 18 Julio Rodriguez

Rodriguez was another top-end draft pick last season, but regressed a decent amount. If he can regain some of the pop he had in 2023, he could be a draft steal, similar to Carroll.

Pick 19 - Jackson Chourio

Chourio came on strong as his rookie season rolled along. The sky's the limit for this kid, and I’d expect him to be put in a more fantasy-beneficial spot for the whole season. As good as his rookie season was, I’d expect him to increase his numbers across the board for the 2025 season.

Pick 20 - Freddie Freeman

Freeman continues to deliver as a fantasy asset despite getting up there in age. One would expect his production to fall off as he gets older, but I don't think it will all come at one point. I think getting him around pick 20 is perfect.