Welcome to the 2023 Dynasty Baseball FYPD Mock Draft.
With many re-draft leagues preparing for their 2023 draft season. Dynasty baseball leagues prepare for our drafts. In dynasty leagues, the draft is a first-year player draft (FYPD). This is where the participants select any of the top players that were drafted in the MLB draft and any of the international signees.
Now with both the draft and the International prospects signed, this year's class is set. We now know who is and isn't available in this year's draft class. Now is the time to focus on this class and find out who you should be targeting and which prospects are worth letting fall to your competition. I gave my opinions on that in my FYPD Rankings. If you're more curious as where these players fall overall, check out Dave Eddy's Dynasty Rankings.
The staff here at Fantasy Six Pack and several other industry folks took part in an FYPD mock draft. This was before many of the international class was signed. However, there were several players that we knew were going to sign. So for the mock draft purposes, they were eligible to be drafted in the mock draft.
The mock draft was based on the rule set of a 12-team, 5x5 Roto league. It was set for five rounds and was a standard format draft.
Now let's get into it this year's FYPD mock draft, which you can view the draft board on Fantrax. Also if you have not moved your league there yet, what are you waiting for? They have the deepest player pool, allow for the most/best customizations and more. Move your league now to Fantrax.
2023 Dynasty Baseball FYPD Mock Draft
Team Results
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My picks
Round 1 Pick 6 (Kodai Senga, RHP, New York Mets)
After the big four at the top of the draft, Senga is a great target in this range. The former NPB right-handed pitcher was posted this off-season and signed a 5-year $75M contract with the New York Mets. While we wait to see if his game translates to the MLB, the thought of being able to plug and play a starting pitcher in your dynasty lineup from day one was too good to pass up in this range.
Senga holds a career 2.59 ERA and a 10K/9 in 11 seasons in the NPB. He has a knack for getting swings and misses. With the sixth pick in the draft. I had no problem taking Senga, as I have seen him going as early as second overall.
Round 2 Pick 18 (Jacob Berry, 3B, Miami Marlins)
Before the MLB draft, Berry had a great collegiate career and was thought of as one the top hitters in this draft class. The Marlins drafted him sixth overall in the draft. However, Berry did have his struggles in his first couple of months in the low minors.
It wasn't all bad, and Berry did show signs of life in August. I believe he has the skills and ability as a pure hitter to be a contributor at the highest level. The 2023 season will be a big one for Berry as he looks to prove he can make the adjustments needed to be a top fantasy contributor. I will admit I might be higher on Berry than most others, but the value at the 18th pick was too good to pass.
Round 3 Pick 30 (Ivan Melendez, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks)
When I found myself on the clock in the third round, there were many prospects that I liked on my big board. However, the thought of adding one of the top power bats in the draft seemed like a no-brainer.
Ivan has massive power, displayed by his 32 home runs for Texas in 2022. Those 32 bombs led the Big 12/country and was the most in a collegiate season since 2013 when Kris Bryant hit 31. The 6'3", 225lb first basemen received a 60-grade power from MLB Pipeline and a 70-grade power from Fangraphs.
Melendez has yet to make an impact in the Arizona farm system since being drafted. However, that didn't stop me from drafting Melendez 30th overall. I believe after a strong 2023, Melendez will be climbing prospects rankings.
Round 4 Pick 42 (Noah Schultz, LHP, Chicago White Sox)
Noah Schultz is a tall, lanky, left-hander that was selected 26th overall pick in the MLB draft. He already has three plus pitches and his fastball sits mid-90s.
While Noah has yet to make his professional debut, he did have a dominant Prospect Draft League when he struck out 37 batters in 19 innings with a 0.93 ERA. He has a dominant slider that pairs nicely with the fastball.
Noah did have times when he struggled with his control but the White Sox have a track record for developing starting pitchers. I have Noah ranked 33rd so when he was available at the 42nd pick I smashed the draft button.
Round 5 Pick 54 (Colby Thomas, OF, Oakland Athletics)
If your league's FYPD goes five or more rounds, you need to start looking for some solid dart throws or lottery tickets. I generally wait to grab my pitching prospects until the 4th or 5th rounds. However, with the way the draft board fell to me I ended up taking pitching earlier so I looked for a hitter in the 5th round.
I have Colby ranked as the 50th prospect in this class, so it seemed like a solid pick at 54. Colby had a solid 2022 season at Mercer when slashed .325/.451/.734 with a 1.184 OPS. He also showed flashes of power and speed when he hit 17 home runs and stole 11 bases in 42 games.
Colby did get hurt this past season which caused the Athletics to be cautious and Colby did not make his professional debut last season. I will be paying attention to see how his 2023 season goes to re-evaluate the 54th pick.
Value Picks in this 2023 Dynasty Baseball FYPD Mock Draft
Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals (Round 3 Pick 27)
Thought of as one of the top pitching prospects in this class by many, it seems a little alarming that he made it to the first half of the third round. Cooper was the sixth pitcher taken in the draft and that seems like great value.
Cooper had a great collegiate career at Oregon State University, which included 275 strikeouts in only 192 innings pitched. He also broke a school record when he struck out 161 batters in 2022. I have since bumped Cooper up my rankings and even with the 27th pick Cooper could return great value.
Drew Gilbert, OF, Houston Astros (Round 2 Pick 21)
I currently have Gilbert ranked as the 15th-best prospect in this class. So when he was taken with the 21st pick he could have a great return on value.
Gilbert was drafted by the Astros with their first-round pick after a strong performance at the University of Tennessee. He finished with a slash line of .314/.400/.534 with 22 home runs and 16 stolen bases in three seasons.
Houston has a great track record of developing hitters and Gilbert could be the next in line. Even in a small sample size in the low minors in 2022, Gilbert showed an advanced approach at the plate and is someone that could end up rising the prospect rankings.
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