With spring training on the horizon, the Rotoworld crew put out the call – picture Ron Burgundy’s iconic news team, assemble moment – and 15 fearless industry experts answered the call to participate in a startup dynasty mock draft. Despite its self-deprecating name, there’s nothing comical about a mock draft. It’s serious business and that’s why we brought in some of the biggest names out there to join Rotoworld’s robust fantasy roster for this exercise.
Armed with unique research, insights and strategic approaches, this loaded group of experts’ selections should help fantasy managers prepare for the upcoming season by providing a table-setting look at the dynasty landscape.
Basics: 15 teams. 28 rounds. Standard 5×5 roto categories. Rosters: C (1), 1B (1), 2B (1), 3B (1), SS (1), CI (1), MI (1), OF (5), UT (1), P (9), Bench (6).
Draft Order
1) Nick Shlain (Rotoworld)
2) Geoff Pontes (Baseball America)
3) Dave Shovein (Rotoworld)
4) George Bissell (Rotoworld)
5) Jorge Montanez (Rotoworld)
6) D.J. Short (Rotoworld)
7) Shelly Verougstrate (Pitcher List)
8) Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)
9) Dylan White (Baseball America)
10) Eric Samulski (Rotoworld)
11) Matthew Pouliot (Rotoworld)
12) Chris Blessing (BaseballHQ)
13) Chris Clegg (The Dynasty Dugout)
14) Christopher Crawford (Rotoworld)
15) James Schiano (Rotoworld)
Without further delay, let’s dive into the results!
Round 1
1.1 (1) Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals (Shlain)
1.2 (2) Shohei Ohtani, UT/SP, Dodgers (Pontes)
1.3 (3) Gunnar Henderson, SS, Orioles (Shovein)
1.4 (4) Elly De La Cruz, SS, Reds (Bissell)
1.5 (5) Fernando Tatis Jr., OF, Padres (Montanez)
1.6 (6) Juan Soto, OF, Mets (Short)
1.7 (7) Jackson Chourio, OF, Brewers (Verougstrate)
1.8 (8) Corbin Carroll, OF, Diamondbacks (Welsh)
1.9 (9) Paul Skenes, SP, Pirates (White)
1.10 (10) Kyle Tucker, OF, Cubs (Samulski)
1.11 (11) Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Braves (Pouliot)
1.12 (12) Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees (Blessing)
1.13 (13) Julio Rodríguez, OF, Mariners (Clegg)
1.14 (14) Tarik Skubal, SP, Tigers (Crawford)
1.15 (15) Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays (Schiano)
There’s a legitimate debate between Bobby Witt Jr. and Shohei Ohtani for the top overall spot in start-up dynasty leagues heading into spring training. We’ve given Witt the slight edge over the Dodgers two-way superstar in our latest Rotoworld Top 500 Dynasty Rankings based almost entirely…