The statistical categories and point values are listed below:
In the first round, I chose Corbin Carroll over Elly De La Cruz, favoring Carroll’s lower strikeout rate and reliable production in hits and fantasy points, which aligns well with this points-based format. In the second round, I reached for Wyatt Langford, drawn to his upside, knowing I had Pete Alonso—my top first baseman—locked in for the third. Alonso’s a powerhouse in points leagues, and I think he was a steal compared to other first-basemen taken later.
I held off again on pitching early, so in the fourth round, I grabbed CJ Abrams, the best available middle infielder. His blend of power and speed gives me a high floor at a position I hadn’t yet filled.
Then, in the fifth, I pivoted to starting pitching, targeting high-strike-out/upside arms – Bryce Miller, Hunter Greene, Hunter Brown, and George Kirby were the choices over the next four rounds. I picked Kirby at a discount—despite a potential 4-5 missed starts due to a shoulder injury, I’m confident it won’t derail his elite potential and ceiling.
For my third outfielder (this Best Ball format starts three), I went with Josh Lowe, loving his power-speed combo and the hitter-friendly home park for lefties.
At catcher, Austin Wells fits my breakout catcher profile at a fair point. In BestBall formats, the catcher position will get negative points in many weeks when they go 1-for-16. Therefore, I also added Francisco Alvarez as a second catcher. I expect him back in the final week of April after suffering a broken hamate bone in spring training. His “zero weeks” could still be an advantage in this format (giving no fantasy points rather than a negative number, and I’m comfortable rostering two catchers.
Bryson Stott was a second-base value grab thanks to his discount, and I bumped up Christian Encarnacion-Strand as my breakout hitter of the year. He complements Alonso nicely and can slide into the utility spot.
This format uses one player at each infield position (C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS) plus three outfielders, with no additional middle infield or corner infield slots, so ideally, I should have grabbed someone with dual eligibility at shortstop or middle infield. But a few rounds later, I took Mason Wynn at shortstop due to leadoff his profile.
At third, Nolan Arenado was the best option available; his .270 average with 70 runs and 70 RBIs last year isn’t far off, and a power rebound—or a trade—could boost him further.
On the pitching side, Jeff Hoffman was a late-queue reliever gem who should grab saves, a nice fit since this format rewards them. Drew Rasmussen’s sub-3.00 ERA over four seasons shines when he’s healthy—he just needs to stretch out his pitch count.
Nolan Jones, after a rough year, dropped to the 18th round in this 15-team setup (a bargain from last year’s hype), and I like his power, speed, and Coors Field boost.
Jose Soriano was a late pitcher flier—his velocity hints at strikeout growth despite a lagging K-rate so far. Sal Frelick, my fifth outfielder, brings steals (less valuable here than in NFBC) and 15-team rotational value, though he’s not my typical Best Ball profile; he was just the best name left.
Reid Detmers, a 2024 disaster, still has high upside, and Luis Ortiz felt mispriced—hidden value in the queue. I got auto-drafted Kenta Maeda in the 23rd round; he was in my queue, but I would have taken him later. Still, he’s been solid in spring training (aside from his last outing) and adds depth to my pitching staff.
Ryan Kerkering could close for Philly, adding upside, and Ryan McMahon offers third-base and utility flexibility alongside Arenado. I’m thin at second with only Stott, but McMahon’s past time at the position might earn him eligibility midseason. Without the Maeda auto-pick, I might’ve grabbed another second baseman.
Jack Leiter, my final pitcher, has dazzled in spring training with a strong college pedigree—I took a chance on his upside, especially with Cody Bradford’s recent injury possibly opening a Rangers rotation spot. I landed 12 pitchers in the draft, a must in a format starting 7 with weekly best scores, to hedge against inevitable injuries.
I avoided major snipes, locking in my top four hitters early for an offensive core, then building pitching depth while alternating offense and arms in the mid-to-late rounds. It’s a competitive squad—staying healthy is the key after injuries sank me over the last two years in this event. I’m a BestBall fan, and I’m optimistic this roster will click in 2025. Time will tell!
