Yesterday, I informed you tips on how to draft your pitchers for 2025 fantasy baseball. I laid it out to you good and easy (if in case you have a level in “What The Hell Is Gray Speaking About?” Not a PhD, thoughts you. Only a BS.) At present, we overlook all that jabberwocky on the who-ha and get right down to enterprise previous school-style (which suggests when you don’t comprehend, I’ll hit you over the pinnacle with a baseball bat signed by Joe Clark.) What I’m hoping to put out to you is who do you draft 2nd, when you’ve drafted so and so first. For simple reference, the royal we can be utilizing the High 10 for 2025 Fantasy Baseball, high 20 for 2025 fantasy baseball, and the start of the high 100 for 2025 fantasy baseball. I’m going to imagine you’re in a 12 group, 5×5, MI, CI, 5 OF, 1 Utility, 1 Catcher league, much like our Razzball Commenter Leagues. (Join a number of leagues, and beat the heck out of your frenemies or make new frenemies!) Anyway, right here’s some pairings for the primary two rounds of 2025 fantasy baseball drafts:
1. Bobby Witt Jr. – First off, I liberally return to earlier years and look to see what I mentioned so I can fine-tune for you. As the nice B. Actual of Cypress Hill as soon as mentioned, how are you aware the place you’re at when you don’t know the place you’re coming from? He didn’t say that to me, he mentioned it in a track. He did discuss to me although on our podcast. One in all my largest regrets in life is I used to be emailing with Phife Dawg of A Tribe Known as Quest to be on the pod and he mentioned he would, then he tragically handed away a couple of days later. Wait, how’d we get on this tangent? Okay, anyway, I went again to take a look at final yr’s draft pairings, and anybody who doesn’t suppose there’s enormous swings and misses with even essentially the most dependable gamers is sorely mistaken, and don’t name me Sorely. Final yr’s high 5 was Acuña, Jrod, Witt, Corbin and Tucker. You’ll be able to say, “Wow, you’re an fool,” and perhaps I’m however that was close to consensus. Solely enormous distinction was some individuals wished Spencer Strider within the high 5! So, when you don’t have the highest 5 choose in a draft, don’t you dare woe is me. Woe is your self! Any hoodle, when you draft Witt, you’re set for all times. You’ll be able to’t lose! He pairs with actually anybody in spherical two. No, don’t draft Cavan Biggio in spherical two! What are you doing?! Wanna draft Matt Olson? Draft away! Bryce Harper makes it again to you? Sure and please. Witt and Wyatt? Wy’not! James Wooden? I want you’ll! You just like the Jazz? I just like the Jazz! I just like the Jazz! I just like the Jazz! RIP Phife. Witt and Machado? You the Manny now, dawg! Simply don’t draft a shortstop like Deal with Urner or Oneil Cruz, as a result of dur, and I’d additionally keep away from Ozzie Albies, since you don’t wish to get to the third spherical and solely have MIs. If Jackson Chourio or Jarren Duran are nonetheless there? You realize I’ll do this with the quickness!
2. Shohei Ohtani – Who does Ohtani pair with? How about anybody when utilizing this DraftKings code! Okay, earlier than I lastly put final yr to mattress, Ohtani wasn’t ranked within the high 12! Declare I’m dumb, however that was near ADP, so y’all are dumb too! Okay, okay, OKAY! You’ll be able to draft anybody after Ohtani, for reals. Or pho reals, when you’re Vietnamese. Ohtani and Cavan Biggio would possibly even work. Or higher but, Ohtani and Olson; Ohtani and Jazz; Ohtani and Machado; Ohtani and Albies; Ohtani and, okay, and Cavan Biggio. You’ll be able to’t go incorrect with Ohtani as a result of he’s UTIL-Solely. Now, my desire as a result of he’s UTIL-Solely is to get one thing apart from outfield. You are able to do Wooden — might? Sure. You might do Wyatt, however nyet. You don’t wish to get to the third spherical and have zero infield positions coated. You might, sure, however you don’t need it, ideally.
3. Elly De La Cruz – Much like Witt in that you may draft anybody however a shortstop, however with E! you need somebody who’s extra power-forward. So, draft Karl Malone? No, man, incorrect sport. Draft somebody with energy first, or energy at first! Matt Olson and E! for the W. How about E! and Austin Riley? Sure, and are there anybody however failed Braves within the final 2nd spherical? No, there’s not. Oh, I do know an excellent one which seemingly gained’t be there however perhaps you’ll be able to dream: Bryce Harper. Somebody who will completely be there may be Brent Rooker, and I’ve him ranked there for the taking, however he’s being drafted later, so you’ll be able to seemingly wait a couple of rounds for him. You realize two guys who kinda scare me with E!? (That’s not an interrobang, that’s E! with a query mark.) E! and Albies or Ketel. They’ll be there, however you’ll don’t have any nook man or outfielder and I don’t belief their energy as a lot as I would like with Elly. I drafted E! in a single league already and took Machado within the 2nd and cherished it. Observe me to the Promised (30/50 and 30/15) Land.
4. Aaron Choose – Lastly a man who doesn’t have velocity! Whew! [finger to ear bud] I’m being informed I nonetheless must draft steals. The bizarre factor this yr is it looks as if there’s a ton of speed-first guys for the 2nd spherical choose, so the considerations with E! will not be there for Choose. Seize Choose within the 1st spherical, then loop round to Deal with Urner and I like that canine in your combat. Choose and Jazz? I don’t care that they’re on the identical group, give me that each one day. Suppose I’m loopy, take into consideration rostering Choose and Soto final yr, was that unhealthy? Choose and Oneil Cruz? I simply orgasmed. Choose and Jackson Merrill, Wyatt or Wooden? I might. I don’t thoughts the double outfielder faucet there as a result of they’re so complementary, however don’t you dare draft one other outfielder for 4 or 5 rounds. Choose and Olson? Meh, it’s not my favourite, however when you should, you higher be mindful how badly you want SBs. Choose and Corange Juice Abrams? I kinda adore it, and that Corange Juice is definitely worth the squeeze!
5. Gunnar Henderson – He’s a shortstop like E! and Witt, however stats-wise Gunnar’s extra Ohtani-ish. (No, nobody is 50/50, however 40/20 is “ish,” don’t quibble, individuals don’t like that.) So, everybody goes with Gunnar besides one other shortstop. I mentioned this at one level earlier than on a earlier submit, however if in case you have choose 5, you may need one of the best choose within the draft. I like Gunnar for fantasy. He pairs so effectively with so many differing kinds. E!’s 30/60 potential is healthier, Choose’s 60/15 potential is healthier, however Gunnar going 35/15 at brief is so good to pair. You’ll be able to go speed-ish with Wyatt Lang. or J. Wooden or you’ll be able to go energy with Manny M., Matt O. or Austin R. Why am I doing bizarre abbreviations? Idk, tbh.
6. Juan Soto – Horny Dr. Pepper kinda splits Choose and Gunnar. He has Choose’s place and Gunnar’s stats-ish. Much less velocity, so Deal with Urner has that canine in that pairing. Horny and Jazz? Seems like I’m shopping for a CD off Pornhub, however I’d give it some spins. Horny and Oneil Cruz? Pardon me, however I’ve to sit down down. I’m feeling lightheaded from being full of horn. Soto and Olson or Riley? Meh, I’m not going to say no, however you actually higher flip round and draft Corange Juice or somebody with velocity quick-fast. Horny/Albies? I’d draft that night time and day. Double outfielder faucet? Sure, if Wooden, Wyatt or Merrill, however like I mentioned above for Choose, don’t draft extra outfielders for a couple of rounds. Think about you drafted Horny/Jazz/Wooden and also you’re not naming your group Pores and skin Flute? C’mon, brother, I do know you higher than you understand your self.
7. Jose Ramirez – Wait, a participant who has a place apart from outfielder or shortstop? I don’t consider it! Am I dreaming? You’ll be able to inform if I’m dreaming as a result of I’m carrying a whipped cream bikini and Giancarlo is a huge tongue. Sure or no? No? Then no dream. So, Jo-Jo-Ram takes all third basemen off the board, however massive whoop. No Machado or Riley? No, no matter. Jo-Jo and Duran, Chourio or Harper? Is perhaps pipe desires, however I’m Pookie and smoke ’em when you acquired ’em! Jo-Jo and Olson? Yeah, I can dig it. Jo-Jo and Deal with? I’m snacking. Jo-Jo and any hitter apart from a third baseman? Sure, you’re following now.
8. Francisco Lindor – And we’re again to shortstops. So, you’re drafting just a little later within the 1st spherical and also you’re lacking out on Witt, Ohtani, and so on., however the profit to drafting just a little bit later is you’ll be able to pair Lindor with Jarren Duran or Chourio or Harper or Jazz or might you even sneak in Vlad Jr.? Lindor and Cake Batter sounds scrumptious. Stats-wise, Lindor pairs with anybody, however I might keep away from a shortstop — sorry, Deal with — and I’d attempt to keep away from a possible iffy common, so Olson and Lindor feels extra meh than you need together with your 1st two picks. Lindor and Riley? That works. Lindor and JRod? I’ve to say, that sounds nearly as good as Witt and Wyatt, Wooden or Merrill. Lindor and Corbin? Can I get an enormous LFG?
9. Kyle Tucker – Samesies as Lindor however with Soto’s place and no fear on common. Hmm, Tucker sounds kinda higher than Lindor, I suppose he has a bit extra harm danger due to final yr. Tucker pairs with any hitter. I can’t cease fascinated about how attractive Tucker and Duran or Chourio sounds, however be sure to don’t outfield once more for a couple of. Tucker/Harper? Sure, and I barely knew her! Tucker/Jazz? Sure, easily. Tucker/Turner? Sure, on a single mattress! Tucker/Riley? So wile! Tucker/Olson? My coronary heart be pulsin’! Tucker/Cake? Okay, that’s soiled, and I feel ideally suited.
10. Fernando Tatis Jr. – You’re nearly sure by honor to draft Enjoyable The Jewels and double-tap outfielder. It’s simply the place Enjoyable goes in drafts, so do it, however know you’ll be able to’t draft one other outfielder for a couple of. Do it with Enjoyable and Duran; Enjoyable and JRod; Enjoyable and Chourio; Enjoyable and Captain Woo Cubano; Enjoyable and Acuña and Enjoyable and enjoyable, actually. If you will get Enjoyable and Betts, then I adore it. Enjoyable and Cake? Sploshing to your coronary heart’s content material! Actually, the extra I am going over attainable picks with Enjoyable, Tucker and the subsequent two guys, the extra I take into consideration the way it appears like a very nice time to have a back-end of the first spherical choose.
11. Corbin Carroll – So, much like Enjoyable in numerous methods, however it’s important to draft energy, common and energy and did I point out energy? I don’t need Corbin and Duran and I would like Duran all over the place. I would like Corbin and Yordan, badly. I would like Corbin and Harper, to snuggle. I would like Corbin and Cake, as a result of that common goes to be good and the ability is there adequately. Corbin and JRod? Sure, I’ll. Corbin and Betts? That works for me, however you higher be eying a Christian Walker or Burger later. Hungry or not. Corbin and Lindor? Talked about it earlier, why wouldn’t I nonetheless be doing it? Are you testing me? Don’t check me.
12. Julio Rodriguez – Practically equivalent to Enjoyable. In reality, JRod appeared in considered one of Enjoyable’s pairings. JRod and Corbin? Sure, I already mentioned that! In some leagues, you would possibly be capable to get JRod and Lindor. Make it Lindorj and backwards and forwards we love (however cease at “nil” going backwards). JRod and Cake? Break me off a slice of that! JRod and Yordan? It’s an outfield double faucet, which I’m permitting, however with caveats that had been beforehand talked about. JRod and Bryce Harper? Okay, it doesn’t sound “attractive” to you, however that’s so secure for runs and RBIs (RuBIs) and common and energy and velocity and that’s the way you win leagues. You’re welcome.
