With the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues underway, it’s time for the 2019 edition of the RealGM fantasy baseball draft guide. In case you’re not familiar with the format of my rankings, I organize the players in tiers based on position. I strongly suggest using a tier system for all of your drafts. You will also find a composite ranking of the top 150 players at the end of this article, which you must use to cross-check against the tier rankings (since player values vary based on position).
So to reiterate because it’s important, you need to use the tier rankings and the top 150 in tandem in order to best make use of this guide (e.g. a tier 1 catcher doesn’t have the same value as a tier 1 first baseman, etc.). Please also note the following with respect to the rankings:
- Rankings are based on the standard 5 x 5 categories (R, HR, RBI, AVG and SB on offense; W, K, ERA, WHIP and S for pitching). Adjust accordingly for leagues with additional/different categories. For example, Joey Votto gets a bump for leagues with OBP.
- Rankings cover the 2019 season ONLY. For keeper/dynasty leagues, you will need to factor in keeper ramifications accordingly.
Please hit me up on twitter at @NeemaHodjat with any questions for your draft or the rankings. With that, here we go:
Catchers
Tier 1: J.T. Realmuto, Gary Sanchez
Tier 2: Buster Posey, Yasmani Grandal, Willson Contreras, Wilson Ramos
Tier 3: Yadier Molina, Welington Castillo, Robinson Chirinos, Austin Hedges, Mike Zunino, Jorge Alfaro, Francisco Mejia, Francisco Cervelli, Yan Gomes
Tier 4: Danny Jansen, Tucker Barnhart, Tyler Flowers, Chris Iannetta, Jonathan Lucroy
First Base
Tier 1: Paul Goldschmidt, Freddie Freeman
Tier 2: Anthony Rizzo, Cody Bellinger, Joey Votto, Rhys Hoskins
Tier 3: Matt Carpenter, Jose Abreu, Daniel Murphy, Jesus Aguilar, Joey Gallo
Tier 4: Matt Olson, Edwin Encarnacion, Eric Hosmer, Max Muncy, Jurickson Profar, Ian Desmond, Miguel Cabrera
Tier 5: Travis Shaw, Carlos Santana, Justin Smoak, Luke Voit, CJ Cron, Josh Bell
Second Base
Tier 1: Jose Ramirez
Tier 2: Jose Altuve, Javier Baez
Tier 3: Whit Merrifield, Ozzie Albies, Adalberto Mondesi, Gleyber Torres, Daniel Murphy
Tier 4: Jonathan Villar, Scooter Gennett, Dee Gordon, Robinson Cano, Rougned Odor, Brian Dozier
Tier 5: Cesar Hernandez, Jonathan Schoop, Yoan Moncada, DJ LeMahieu, Nick Senzel
Third Base
Tier 1: Jose Ramirez, Nolan Arenado
Tier 2: Alex Bregman, Manny Machado, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez
Tier 3: Anthony Rendon, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Eugenio Suarez
Tier 4: Matt Carpenter, Miguel Andujar, Justin Turner
Tier 5: Matt Chapman, Josh Donaldson, Will Myers, Jurickson Profar, Mike Moustakas
Tier 6: Rafael Devers, Travis Shaw, Kyle Seager
Shortstop
Tier 1: Trea Turner, Francisco Lindor, Alex Bregman, Manny Machado, Javier Baez
Tier 2: Trevor Story
Tier 3: Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts, Adalberto Mondesi, Gleyber Torres, Corey Seager, Jean Segura
Tier 4: Jonathan Villar, Jose Peraza, Amed Rosario, Tim Anderson, Elvis Andrus, Jurickson Profar
Tier 5: Andrelton Simmons, Paul DeJong, Eduardo Escobar, Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco, Chris Taylor
Outfield
Tier 1: Mike Trout, Mookie Betts
Tier 2: JD Martinez, Ronald Acuna, Christian Yelich, Bryce Harper, Giancarlo Stanton, Kris Bryant, Charlie Blackmon, Aaron Judge
Tier 3: Juan Soto, Andrew Benintendi, Starling Marte, Whit Merrifield, Cody Bellinger, Rhys Hoskins
Tier 4: George Springer, Lorenzo Cain, Khris Davis, Nick Castellanos, Mitch Haniger, Tommy Pham, Marcell Ozuna, Eddie Rosario, Justin Upton, Michael Conforto
Tier 5: Yasiel Puig, AJ Pollock, Joey Gallo, Dee Gordon, Aaron Hicks, David Dahl, Mallex Smith, Andrew McCutchen, Wil Myers
Tier 6: Eloy Jimenez, Victor Robles, Michael Brantley, Stephen Piscotty, Byron Buxton, David Peralta, Ender Inciarte, Adam Eaton, Nomar Mazara, Corey Dickerson, Kyle Schwarber, Ryan Braun, Ian Desmond, Harrison Bader, Odubel Herrera, Brandon Nimmo
Starting Pitcher
Tier 1: Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, Chris Sale
Tier 2: Corey Kluber, Justin Verlander, Blake Snell, Aaron Nola, Gerrit Cole, Noah Syndergaard
Tier 3: Carlos Carrasco, Walker Buehler, Trevor Bauer, James Paxton, Patrick Corbin, Zack Greinke, Stephen Strasburg
Tier 4: Jameson Taillon, Jose Berrios, Jack Flaherty, Mike Clevenger, Clayton Kershaw, Luis Severino
Tier 5: Zack Wheeler, Charlie Morton, Luis Castillo, German Marquez, Mike Foltynewicz, Miles Mikolas, Robby Ray, Masahiro Tanaka, David Price, Madison Bumgarner, Chris Archer
Tier 6: Kyle Hendricks, JA Happ, Shane Bieber, Yu Darvish, Cole Hamels, Eduardo Rodriguez, Nick Pivetta, Dallas Keuchel, Kent Maeda, Yusei Kikuchi, Nathan Eovaldi, Jose Quintana, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney, Rich Hill
Tier 7: Marco Gonzalez, Tyler Skaggs, Tyler Glasnow, Joey Lucchesi, Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, Kevin Gausman, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dylan Bundy, Joe Musgrove, Chris Paddack
Relief Pitcher
Tier 1: Edwin Diaz, Kenley Jansen, Blake Treinen, Aroldis Chapman, Roberto Osuna
Tier 2: Felipe Vazquez, Brad Hand, Craig Kimbrel, David Robertson, Kirby Yates, Sean Doolittle, Raisel Iglesias
Tier 3: Corey Knebel, Wade Davis, Jose Leclerc, Ken Giles, Archie Bradley, Will Smith, Cody Allen, Jose Alvarado, Arodys Vizcaino, Josh Hader
Tier 4: Matt Barnes, Hunter Strickland, Pedro Strop, Jordan Hicks, Alex Colome, Shane Greene, Trevor May, Dellin Betances, Ross Stripling
Tier 5: Wily Peralta, Drew Steckenrider, Mychel Givens, AJ Minter, Alex Wood, Brandon Morrow
Top 150
- Mike Trout
- Mookie Betts
- Jose Ramirez
- Nolan Arenado
- Max Scherzer
- Trea Turner
- JD Martinez
- Jacob deGrom
- Ronald Acuna
- Chris Sale
- Jose Altuve
- Francisco Lindor
- Alex Bregman
- Christian Yelich
- Bryce Harper
- Giancarlo Stanton
- Manny Machado
- Kris Bryant
- Corey Kluber
- Javier Baez
- Paul Goldschmidt
- Charlie Blackmon
- Aaron Judge
- Justin Verlander
- Freddie Freeman
- Blake Snell
- Anthony Rendon
- Aaron Nola
- Trevor Story
- Gerrit Cole
- Juan Soto
- Noah Syndergaard
- Andrew Benintendi
- Anthony Rendon
- Starling Marte
- Whit Merrifield
- Anthony Rizzo
- Vlad Guerrero Jr.
- Carlos Carrasco
- Cody Bellinger
- Joey Votto
- Walker Buehler
- Rhys Hoskins
- Trevor Bauer
- Carlos Correa
- Ozzie Albies
- Eugenio Suarez
- James Paxton
- Xander Bogaerts
- Patrick Corbin
- George Springer
- Adalberto Mondesi
- Gleyber Torres
- Zack Greinke
- Stephen Strasburg
- Lorenzo Cain
- Khris Davis
- Corey Seager
- Nick Castellanos
- Matt Carpenter
- Edwin Diaz
- Mitch Haniger
- Kenley Jansen
- Jean Segura
- Jose Abreu
- Daniel Murphy
- Jameson Taillon
- Miguel Andujar
- Tommy Pham
- Jose Berrios
- Marcell Ozuna
- Jack Flaherty
- Jesus Aguilar
- Eddie Rosario
- Blake Treinen
- Justin Upton
- Michael Conforto
- Justin Turner
- Mike Clevenger
- Clayton Kershaw
- Jonathan Villar
- Luis Severino
- Aroldis Chapman
- Roberto Osuna
- Scooter Gennett
- Yasiel Puig
- AJ Pollock
- Dee Gordon
- Robinson Cano
- Joey Gallo
- Aaron Hicks
- Zach Wheeler
- Jose Peraza
- JT Realmuto
- Charlie Morton
- Luis Castillo
- David Dahl
- Gary Sanchez
- German Marquez
- Mallex Smith
- Felipe Vazquez
- Matt Chapman
- Mike Foltynewicz
- Amed Rosario
- Rougned Odor
- Brad Hand
- Miles Mikolas
- Robbie Ray
- Josh Donaldson
- Masahiro Tanaka
- Brian Dozier
- Andrew McCutchen
- Wil Myers
- Craig Kimbrell
- David Robertson
- Tim Anderson
- David Price
- Madison Bumgarner
- Matt Olson
- Jonathan Villar
- Edwin Encarnacion
- Kirby Yates
- Chris Archer
- Sean Doolittle
- Eric Hosmer
- Kyle Hendricks
- Raisel Iglesias
- Max Muncy
- Eloy Jimenez
- Victor Robles
- JA Happ
- Elvis Andrus
- Jurickson Profar
- Shane Bieber
- Yu Darvish
- Corey Knebel
- Mike Moustakas
- Michael Brantley
- Wade Davis
- Cole Hamels
- Eduardo Rodriguez
- Ian Desmond
- Miguel Cabrera
- Stephen Piscotty
- Byron Buxton
- Nick Pivetta
- Jose Leclerc
- Dallas Keuchel
- Kent Maeda
- Yusei Kikuchi