Fantasy Baseball 12-Team Categories Mock Draft with Third Pick: Aaron Judge, Zack Wheeler, Brent Rooker, Felix Bautista, Hunter Brown and More

It’s time to conduct my fifth fantasy baseball mock draft of the season. You can find my previous four mock drafts under this link.

This mock draft was again done through FantasyPros. It’s a 12-team 5x5 categories setup and I took the No. 3 pick. The roster is as follows: five starting pitchers, four outfielders, three pitchers (starters or relievers), two relief pitchers, one catcher, first basemen, second basemen, shortstop, third basemen, infielder (any position) and utility and five bench spots.

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Round 1 - Aaron Judge

After Shohei Ohtani and Bobby Witt Jr. were picked, I “was left” with Judge.

He was a beast last season, and is pretty much anytime he’s healthy and on the field. Judge not only will deliver monster power numbers, but he has a great average and OBP to help my hitting numbers out.

Round 2 - Zack Wheeler

I snagged Wheeler in the second.

He’s an inning-eater and someone who will push for 200 innings if he gets in a full season of starts. Wheeler always seems to post a good ERA, and racks up plenty of strikeouts too. He’s a great SP1 for a fantasy team.

Round 3 - Rafael Devers

Devers had a bit of a down season in 2024, but part of that was because he only played in 138 games. I like him in the third round.

Devers should push for 30 homers and 100 RBIs if he can get in close to a full season. Along with a good average and OBP, you can’t ask for much more as a fantasy owner.

Round 4 - Dylan Cease

I got my second starting pitcher in Cease in the fourth round.

He showed out well in his first season with San Diego and should contend for the top fantasy SP again this season. If he can get to, or go over, 200 innings, Cease will be a fantasy steal if he can replicate his other numbers from 2024.

Round 5 - Emmanuel Clase

I got the top fantasy closer in Clase in the fifth.

I expect a little regression in his ERA, but another big save total and low ERA and WHIP is what I’m after with Clase.

Round 6 - Brent Rooker

I got my second outfielder in Rooker in the sixth. He’s coming off a monster 2024 season, and I think he should be able to get close to those marks again in 2025.

Round 7 - Josh Naylor

Naylor was a good fantasy asset with Cleveland last season, and I think the trade to Arizona boosts his fantasy outlook. I don’t mind the lower average if he can hit 30+ homers and drive in 100+ runs.

Round 8 - Felix Bautista

I took a chance on Bautista here. He missed all of last season with an injury, but was one of the top fantasy closers the couple years before that. If he can return to that level, I love his value here in the eighth.

Round 9 - Max Fried

Fried is my next fantasy starting pitcher. He’s coming off another big fantasy season and now is surrounded by a ton of talent on the Yankees. Fried could be a bit of a sleeper this season.

Round 10 - Hunter Brown

I added a wild card here with Brown. He’s coming off a good 2024 season, and if he keeps improving his numbers across the board, I have another steal on my hands. I’m after his big strikeout numbers, so a low ERA and a big inning total are the icing on the cake.

Round 11 - Andres Munoz

I landed my final closer here in Munoz. He’s likely to continue posting a low ERA, and high strikeout numbers, so now all he needs is to be afforded a bunch of save opportunities. I think Munoz could really surprise people in 2025.

Round 12 - Luis Garcia

I got a second baseman here with Garcia. I have him as a draft steal this season, but took him more out of necessity. If he indeed is a steal, my fantasy team is going to finish better than I expected.

Round 13 - Xander Bogaerts

I grabbed Bogaerts in the 13th round. He dealt with injuries last season, so he’s a bounceback candidate in 2025. Bogaerts could be another make-or-break player for this fantasy team.

Round 14 - Logan O'Hoppe

I got O’Hoppe to be my primary fantasy catcher. He hasn’t taken off like I expected yet, but he still delivered pretty good numbers last season, and got in 136 games. I shouldn’t have to worry about the position if O’Hoppe can stay healthy.

Round 15 - Nick Castellanos

I finally got another outfielder with Castellanos here. I like that he’s on the field a bunch, and even if he matches his “down” numbers from last season, I’ll take that for a 15th-round pick.

Round 16 - J.T. Realmuto

I took a swing on Realmuto here, with the idea of starting him as my utility player. He underperformed last season, but like the value here as a potential bounceback guy. Realmuto is a nice secondary plan in case O’Hoppe flops.

Round 17 - Nathan Eovaldi

I landed a starter in Eovaldi in the 17th round. We know what to expect out of him, and that is that he will eat innings, strike out a good amount of batters and post a sub-4.00 ERA. Every deeper fantasy team needs a couple guys like this.

Round 18 - Andres Gimenez

I took a chance on Gimenez here - he’s insurance in case Garcia doesn’t pan out. His move to Toronto could revitalize his career, but even if he keeps delivering the numbers he had been in Cleveland, I’ll take that for a secondary 2B option.

Round 19 - MacKenzie Gore

I keep taking Gore in mock drafts, but I just like his value too much to ever pass on. He’s improved his numbers in three straight seasons. If he improves again, Gore should stick on my team all season.

Round 20 - Tyler O'Neill

I got another much-needed outfielder here in O’Neill. The move to Baltimore should improve his fantasy value, and now it’s all about staying on the field. If he can do that, this has the potential to be a major steal.

Round 21 - Reese Olson

I needed more pitching, so I took a gamble on Olson here. He posted solid numbers across 22 games and 112 1/3 innings last season. If he can get in a full season of stats and keep his 3.53 ERA, I’d call that a win for a 21st-round pick.

Round 22 - Mitch Keller

I added more pitching here with Keller. His ERA isn’t anything special, but his strikeout and innings pitched will be of benefit for my fantasy team. I don’t mind taking a late chance on him.

Round 23 - Chris Bassitt

Bassitt is pretty similar to Keller, especially with his 2024 marks. He can eat more innings and help in the strikeout department, and if he bounces back with his ERA, I love his value here.

Round 24 - DJ Herz

Hey look, another pitcher. Herz isn’t locked into the Nationals’ rotation, but the young-and-upcoming pitcher is worth a late-round gamble in my eyes.

Round 25 - Kyle Harrison

Harrison has a couple years of seasoning, but is in the same boat as Herz. I’m hoping for a breakout season, but would simply move on from him if he doesn’t improve.

Round 26 - Ryan Jeffers

I added another catcher in the final round. I felt that the pick was necessary because Realmuto was my utility starter, and I needed another option if he wasn’t in the lineup. Jeffers could be a trade option if another team loses their fantasy catcher early in the season.

Final Thoughts

I didn’t feel like this was my best effort. I ended up with my lowest grade on a mock draft so far, a B.

I was ranked fourth overall still. I had the second-best mark for pitchers and third-best mark for starters, but the eighth-best mark for hitters and 11th-best mark for my bench.

I felt like I waited too long on pitchers, and then spent the second half of my draft catching up. Oddly enough, I’m projected to be a top-four finisher in ERA, along with home runs, RBIs and saves.

I think there are enough pieces in place to contend, but I feel some midseason trades or waiver pickups will be needed for me to truly contend with this initial roster.