The 2023 MLB season is nearly here. Groundhog Day has come and gone, and regardless of whether or not we're getting six more weeks of winter, fantasy baseball is approaching like a freight train. After some exciting winter meetings full of big-name signings and stunning trades, pitchers and catchers will report in a matter of weeks, which means the start of Spring Training will soon follow. There's no better time to prep for your league's draft, which is why we're highlighting our all-new 2023 Rotoworld Baseball Draft Guide! Before we dive into our latest preview, let's look at what the draft guide can offer you.
This jam-packed edition has all the information and features you need to prepare for every single draft. Equipped with in-depth player profiles, positional rankings for multiple scoring formats, projections, tiers and positional reports, managers can feel confident navigating the 2023 fantasy landscape. Plus, the draft guide features exclusive columns from our experts, in addition to mock drafts, statistics, scoring leaders and more.
What captures the spirit of the impending draft season better than a fresh mock draft? One of our resident fantasy experts David Shovein got together with several other Rotoworld pros and other industry analysts to conduct a 12-team, 23-round 5x5 fantasy draft using default Yahoo settings. While no singular draft tool can win you a title, it's crucial to have as many in your bag as possible and mocks are no exception. They offer you a glimpse into the mind of other drafters, ranging from big-time industry pros to first-time drafters and everyone in between. This insight can be invaluable on draft day when making critical selections for your own rosters.
Here's a glimpse of the mock draft and analysis that's available in totality with the 2023 Rotoworld Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide:
Draft Participants
1. Chris Clegg - PitcherList
2. George Bissell - Rotoworld
3. Ahmed Fareed – NBC Sports
4. Matthew Pouliot - Rotoworld
5. Mike Gianella – Baseball Prospectus
6. Shelly Verougstraete - Rotoworld
7. Drew Silva - Rotoworld
8. Chris Crawford - Rotoworld
9. Dave Shovein - Rotoworld
10. Colin Henderson - Rotoworld
11. Brant Chesser – Baseball HQ
12. D.J. Short - Rotoworld
Round 1
1.1 Trea Turner, SS, Phillies
1.2 Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees
1.3 José Ramírez, 3B, Guardians
1.4 Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Braves
1.5 Julio Rodríguez, OF, Mariners
1.6 Mookie Betts, OF, Dodgers
1.7 Juan Soto, OF, Padres
1.8 Kyle Tucker, OF, Astros
1.9 Gerrit Cole, SP, Yankees
1.10 Corbin Burnes, SP, Brewers
1.11 Manny Machado, 3B, Padres
1.12 Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers
Round Analysis: Once again, Trea Turner looks to be the consensus top overall selection in 2023 fantasy drafts, even with his move from the Dodgers to the Phillies. A.L. Rookie of the Year and budding superstar Julio Rodríguez enters the first round for the first time, and he should spend most of the next decade there. A lot of stud five-category hitters and a few elite starting pitchers, exactly as you would expect in the first round of drafts. The biggest reach of the round according to Average Draft Position (ADP) looks like my pick of Cole – it's just my preference to start with one of the top starting pitchers and a secure strikeout base in a league of this format. If it were a deeper league (say NFBC style), I'd have rolled with Bobby Witt Jr. in that spot.
Round 2
2.13 Sandy Alcantara, P, Marlins
2.14 Bobby Witt Jr., 3B, Royals
2.15 Yordan Alvarez, UT, Astros
2.16 Shohei Ohtani, UT, Angels
2.17 Bo Bichette, SS, Blue Jays
2.18 Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays
2.19 Rafael Devers, 3B, Red Sox
2.20 Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, Padres
2.21 Michael Harris II, OF, Braves
2.22 Mike Trout, OF, Angels
2.23 Justin Verlander, P, Mets
2.24 Austin Riley, 3B, Braves
Round Analysis: There's a whole lot of fun going on in the second round. Dynamic young talents like Michael Harris II and Bobby Witt Jr. make the first of what should be many appearances in the top two rounds. There are proven sluggers like Rafael Devers and Mike Trout, both four-category monsters that lack stolen bases. There's a soon-to-be 40-year-old reigning Cy Young award winner heading to the National League for the first time in his career and a pair of utility-only eligible hitters. You've also got superstar shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who is coming back from injury and suspension and who is still expected to miss the first 20 games of the season.
If you want to see the full 23-round mock draft with round-by-round analysis, in addition to everything else the Rotoworld Baseball Draft Guide offers, be sure to purchase your copy today for $19.99 here. And, don't forget to take advantage of our special Draft Guide Bundle offer where you can get ALL THREE draft guides -- Baseball, Football and Basketball -- for $44.99. Check it out here!