Prospect rankings, like my own top 100, are an industry staple, but their very existence gives them an authoritative quality that, frankly, is undeserved. We're not even comparing established players, but theoretical ones, which leaves ample room for disagreement. And opinions can shift even further when specifying a particular scoring format.
The goal of this mock was to draft only prospects, and with 5x5 Rotisserie scoring in mind. Maybe that meant pushing pitchers down a little. Maybe it meant emphasizing speed and deemphasizing plate discipline. It should have probably meant all those things, but the point is that it wasn't just for me to decide. I shared the task with 11 others:
1) Jake Wiener, Prospects1500 (@GatorSosa)
2) R.J. White, CBS Sports (@rjwhite1)
3) Chris Towers, CBS Sports (@CTowersCBS)
4) Rhys White, Prospects Live (@RhysBWhite)
5) Frank Stampfl, CBS Sports (@Roto_Frank)
6) Tim Kanak, Fantasy Aceball (@fantasyaceball)
7) Chris Blessing, Baseball HQ (@C_Blessing)
8) Phil Ponebshek, Patton & Company
9) Scott White, CBS Sports (@CBSScottWhite)
10) Doug Roe, defending Podcast League champ
11) Drew Wheeler, Prospects Live (@drewisokay)
12) Chris Welsh, Prospect One (@IsItTheWelsh)
The draft lasted 120 picks in all, taking us a little beyond a conventional top-100 list. We also did this same mock but with Head-to-Head points scoring in mind, and as you might expect, more pitchers were drafted in that one (41 vs. 27). Our approach to hitters also changed between the two formats, but in more subtle ways probably best exemplified by Ceddanne Rafaela. A potential jack of five categories but master of none whose poor plate discipline could hold him back in points leagues, he was the 70th player drafted in this one. He wasn't drafted at all in the other.
Round By Round
| Round 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 1 | Jake Wiener | C. Carroll LF ARI |
| 2 | R.J. White | G. Henderson 3B BAL |
| 3 | Chris Towers | J. Walker 3B STL |
| 4 | Rhys White | J. Chourio CF MIL |
| 5 | Frank Stampfl | J. Lawlar SS ARI |
| 6 | Tim Kanak | E. De La Cruz SS CIN |
| 7 | Chris Blessing | J. Wood CF WAS |
| 8 | Phil Ponebshek | A. Volpe SS NYY |
| 9 | Scott White | G. Rodriguez SP BAL |
| 10 | Doug Roe | D. Jones CF ARI |
| 11 | Drew Wheeler | K. Senga SP NYM |
| 12 | Chris Welsh | A. Painter SP PHI |
| Round 2 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 13 | Chris Welsh | K. Manzardo 1B TB |
| 14 | Drew Wheeler | L. O'Hoppe C LAA |
| 15 | Doug Roe | R. Tiedemann SP TOR |
| 16 | Scott White | M. Vargas 1B LAD |
| 17 | Phil Ponebshek | E. Tovar SS COL |
| 18 | Chris Blessing | J. Holliday SS BAL |
| 19 | Tim Kanak | E. Carter CF TEX |
| 20 | Frank Stampfl | P. Crow-Armstrong CF CHC |
| 21 | Rhys White | F. Alvarez C NYM |
| 22 | Chris Towers | E. Perez SP MIA |
| 23 | R.J. White | T. Casas 1B BOS |
| 24 | Jake Wiener | M. Mayer SS BOS |
| Round 3 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 25 | Jake Wiener | D. Espino SP CLE |
| 26 | R.J. White | B. Baty 3B NYM |
| 27 | Chris Towers | Z. Veen RF COL |
| 28 | Rhys White | E. Green CF WAS |
| 29 | Frank Stampfl | O. Peraza SS NYY |
| 30 | Tim Kanak | J. Dominguez CF NYY |
| 31 | Chris Blessing | C. Mead 3B TB |
| 32 | Phil Ponebshek | N. Marte SS CIN |
| 33 | Scott White | M. Luciano SS SF |
| 34 | Doug Roe | E. Rodriguez C PIT |
| 35 | Drew Wheeler | M. Yoshida LF BOS |
| 36 | Chris Welsh | J. Jung 3B TEX |
| Round 4 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 37 | Chris Welsh | T. Johnson 2B PIT |
| 38 | Drew Wheeler | K. Harrison SP SF |
| 39 | Doug Roe | H. Brown RP HOU |
| 40 | Scott White | H. Ford C SEA |
| 41 | Phil Ponebshek | O. Colas CF CHW |
| 42 | Chris Blessing | J. Merrill SS SD |
| 43 | Tim Kanak | R. Lewis SS MIN |
| 44 | Frank Stampfl | M. Mervis 1B CHC |
| 45 | Rhys White | E. Rodriguez CF MIN |
| 46 | Chris Towers | T. Soderstrom 1B OAK |
| 47 | R.J. White | G. Williams SP CLE |
| 48 | Jake Wiener | C. Cowser CF BAL |
| Round 5 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 49 | Jake Wiener | S. Frelick CF MIL |
| 50 | R.J. White | C. Montgomery SS CHW |
| 51 | Chris Towers | D. Cartaya C LAD |
| 52 | Rhys White | G. Stone SP LAD |
| 53 | Frank Stampfl | T. Hence SP STL |
| 54 | Tim Kanak | T. Bradley SP TB |
| 55 | Chris Blessing | B. Lee SS MIN |
| 56 | Phil Ponebshek | R. Hassell CF WAS |
| 57 | Scott White | H. Davis C PIT |
| 58 | Doug Roe | A. Amador SS COL |
| 59 | Drew Wheeler | M. Winn SS STL |
| 60 | Chris Welsh | C. Norby 2B BAL |
| Round 6 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 61 | Chris Welsh | B. Pfaadt SP ARI |
| 62 | Drew Wheeler | C. Collier 3B CIN |
| 63 | Doug Roe | E. Julien 2B MIN |
| 64 | Scott White | M. Busch 2B LAD |
| 65 | Phil Ponebshek | B. Davis CF CHC |
| 66 | Chris Blessing | W. Brennan LF CLE |
| 67 | Tim Kanak | B. Naylor C CLE |
| 68 | Frank Stampfl | C. Encarnacion-Strand 3B CIN |
| 69 | Rhys White | C. Mayo 3B BAL |
| 70 | Chris Towers | C. Rafaela CF BOS |
| 71 | R.J. White | E. Ruiz LF OAK |
| 72 | Jake Wiener | B. Miller SP LAD |
| Round 7 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 73 | Jake Wiener | B. House SS WAS |
| 74 | R.J. White | G. Valera RF CLE |
| 75 | Chris Towers | M. Meyer SP MIA |
| 76 | Rhys White | S. Jones CF NYY |
| 77 | Frank Stampfl | D. Harris LF TEX |
| 78 | Tim Kanak | G. Cross CF KC |
| 79 | Chris Blessing | C. DeLauter CF CLE |
| 80 | Phil Ponebshek | K. Alcantara CF CHC |
| 81 | Scott White | J. Wiemer RF MIL |
| 82 | Doug Roe | Z. Neto SS LAA |
| 83 | Drew Wheeler | E. Quero C LAA |
| 84 | Chris Welsh | K. Parada C NYM |
| Round 8 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 85 | Chris Welsh | D. Gilbert CF HOU |
| 86 | Drew Wheeler | D. Hall RP BAL |
| 87 | Doug Roe | E. Arroyo SS CIN |
| 88 | Scott White | T. Bibee SP CLE |
| 89 | Phil Ponebshek | A. Wells C NYY |
| 90 | Chris Blessing | M. Abel SP PHI |
| 91 | Tim Kanak | C. Morris SP CLE |
| 92 | Frank Stampfl | G. Gonzalez RF SEA |
| 93 | Rhys White | D. Rushing C LAD |
| 94 | Chris Towers | C. Cavalli SP WAS |
| 95 | R.J. White | J. Berry 3B MIA |
| 96 | Jake Wiener | B. Jordan 3B BOS |
| Round 9 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 97 | Jake Wiener | A. Pages RF LAD |
| 98 | R.J. White | D. Jameson SP ARI |
| 99 | Chris Towers | J. Leiter SP TEX |
| 100 | Rhys White | C. Keith 3B DET |
| 101 | Frank Stampfl | H. Kjerstad RF BAL |
| 102 | Tim Kanak | O. White SP TEX |
| 103 | Chris Blessing | J. Jung 2B DET |
| 104 | Phil Ponebshek | J. Caminero 3B TB |
| 105 | Scott White | M. Bleis CF BOS |
| 106 | Doug Roe | N. Gonzales 2B PIT |
| 107 | Drew Wheeler | G. Graceffo SP STL |
| 108 | Chris Welsh | A. Ramirez CF NYM |
| Round 10 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 109 | Chris Welsh | Y. Mercedes CF MIN |
| 110 | Drew Wheeler | K. Delgado SS NYY |
| 111 | Doug Roe | K. Watson SS MIA |
| 112 | Scott White | J. Westburg SS BAL |
| 113 | Phil Ponebshek | B. Montgomery CF COL |
| 114 | Chris Blessing | B. Rocchio SS CLE |
| 115 | Tim Kanak | Z. Gelof 2B OAK |
| 116 | Frank Stampfl | E. Hancock SP SEA |
| 117 | Rhys White | C. Hjerpe SP STL |
| 118 | Chris Towers | A. Burleson RF STL |
| 119 | R.J. White | G. Mitchell CF MIL |
| 120 | Jake Wiener | J. Jobe SP DET |
Team by Team
| Jake Wiener | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 1 | C. Carroll LF ARI |
| 2 | 24 | M. Mayer SS BOS |
| 3 | 25 | D. Espino SP CLE |
| 4 | 48 | C. Cowser CF BAL |
| 5 | 49 | S. Frelick CF MIL |
| 6 | 72 | B. Miller SP LAD |
| 7 | 73 | B. House SS WAS |
| 8 | 96 | B. Jordan 3B BOS |
| 9 | 97 | A. Pages RF LAD |
| 10 | 120 | J. Jobe SP DET |
| R.J. White | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 2 | G. Henderson 3B BAL |
| 2 | 23 | T. Casas 1B BOS |
| 3 | 26 | B. Baty 3B NYM |
| 4 | 47 | G. Williams SP CLE |
| 5 | 50 | C. Montgomery SS CHW |
| 6 | 71 | E. Ruiz LF OAK |
| 7 | 74 | G. Valera RF CLE |
| 8 | 95 | J. Berry 3B MIA |
| 9 | 98 | D. Jameson SP ARI |
| 10 | 119 | G. Mitchell CF MIL |
| Chris Towers | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 3 | J. Walker 3B STL |
| 2 | 22 | E. Perez SP MIA |
| 3 | 27 | Z. Veen RF COL |
| 4 | 46 | T. Soderstrom 1B OAK |
| 5 | 51 | D. Cartaya C LAD |
| 6 | 70 | C. Rafaela CF BOS |
| 7 | 75 | M. Meyer SP MIA |
| 8 | 94 | C. Cavalli SP WAS |
| 9 | 99 | J. Leiter SP TEX |
| 10 | 118 | A. Burleson RF STL |
| Rhys White | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 4 | J. Chourio CF MIL |
| 2 | 21 | F. Alvarez C NYM |
| 3 | 28 | E. Green CF WAS |
| 4 | 45 | E. Rodriguez CF MIN |
| 5 | 52 | G. Stone SP LAD |
| 6 | 69 | C. Mayo 3B BAL |
| 7 | 76 | S. Jones CF NYY |
| 8 | 93 | D. Rushing C LAD |
| 9 | 100 | C. Keith 3B DET |
| 10 | 117 | C. Hjerpe SP STL |
| Frank Stampfl | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 5 | J. Lawlar SS ARI |
| 2 | 20 | P. Crow-Armstrong CF CHC |
| 3 | 29 | O. Peraza SS NYY |
| 4 | 44 | M. Mervis 1B CHC |
| 5 | 53 | T. Hence SP STL |
| 6 | 68 | C. Encarnacion-Strand 3B CIN |
| 7 | 77 | D. Harris LF TEX |
| 8 | 92 | G. Gonzalez RF SEA |
| 9 | 101 | H. Kjerstad RF BAL |
| 10 | 116 | E. Hancock SP SEA |
| Tim Kanak | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 6 | E. De La Cruz SS CIN |
| 2 | 19 | E. Carter CF TEX |
| 3 | 30 | J. Dominguez CF NYY |
| 4 | 43 | R. Lewis SS MIN |
| 5 | 54 | T. Bradley SP TB |
| 6 | 67 | B. Naylor C CLE |
| 7 | 78 | G. Cross CF KC |
| 8 | 91 | C. Morris SP CLE |
| 9 | 102 | O. White SP TEX |
| 10 | 115 | Z. Gelof 2B OAK |
| Chris Blessing | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 7 | J. Wood CF WAS |
| 2 | 18 | J. Holliday SS BAL |
| 3 | 31 | C. Mead 3B TB |
| 4 | 42 | J. Merrill SS SD |
| 5 | 55 | B. Lee SS MIN |
| 6 | 66 | W. Brennan LF CLE |
| 7 | 79 | C. DeLauter CF CLE |
| 8 | 90 | M. Abel SP PHI |
| 9 | 103 | J. Jung 2B DET |
| 10 | 114 | B. Rocchio SS CLE |
| Phil Ponebshek | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 8 | A. Volpe SS NYY |
| 2 | 17 | E. Tovar SS COL |
| 3 | 32 | N. Marte SS CIN |
| 4 | 41 | O. Colas CF CHW |
| 5 | 56 | R. Hassell CF WAS |
| 6 | 65 | B. Davis CF CHC |
| 7 | 80 | K. Alcantara CF CHC |
| 8 | 89 | A. Wells C NYY |
| 9 | 104 | J. Caminero 3B TB |
| 10 | 113 | B. Montgomery CF COL |
| Scott White | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 9 | G. Rodriguez SP BAL |
| 2 | 16 | M. Vargas 1B LAD |
| 3 | 33 | M. Luciano SS SF |
| 4 | 40 | H. Ford C SEA |
| 5 | 57 | H. Davis C PIT |
| 6 | 64 | M. Busch 2B LAD |
| 7 | 81 | J. Wiemer RF MIL |
| 8 | 88 | T. Bibee SP CLE |
| 9 | 105 | M. Bleis CF BOS |
| 10 | 112 | J. Westburg SS BAL |
| Doug Roe | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 10 | D. Jones CF ARI |
| 2 | 15 | R. Tiedemann SP TOR |
| 3 | 34 | E. Rodriguez C PIT |
| 4 | 39 | H. Brown RP HOU |
| 5 | 58 | A. Amador SS COL |
| 6 | 63 | E. Julien 2B MIN |
| 7 | 82 | Z. Neto SS LAA |
| 8 | 87 | E. Arroyo SS CIN |
| 9 | 106 | N. Gonzales 2B PIT |
| 10 | 111 | K. Watson SS MIA |
| Drew Wheeler | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 11 | K. Senga SP NYM |
| 2 | 14 | L. O'Hoppe C LAA |
| 3 | 35 | M. Yoshida LF BOS |
| 4 | 38 | K. Harrison SP SF |
| 5 | 59 | M. Winn SS STL |
| 6 | 62 | C. Collier 3B CIN |
| 7 | 83 | E. Quero C LAA |
| 8 | 86 | D. Hall RP BAL |
| 9 | 107 | G. Graceffo SP STL |
| 10 | 110 | K. Delgado SS NYY |
| Chris Welsh | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 12 | A. Painter SP PHI |
| 2 | 13 | K. Manzardo 1B TB |
| 3 | 36 | J. Jung 3B TEX |
| 4 | 37 | T. Johnson 2B PIT |
| 5 | 60 | C. Norby 2B BAL |
| 6 | 61 | B. Pfaadt SP ARI |
| 7 | 84 | K. Parada C NYM |
| 8 | 85 | D. Gilbert CF HOU |
| 9 | 108 | A. Ramirez CF NYM |
| 10 | 109 | Y. Mercedes CF MIN |
