Fantasy Baseball 2019: Who Should Be First Overall Pick?

ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 25: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim looks on prior to a game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on September 25, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Fantasy Baseball /

The 2019 fantasy baseball season is creeping up. If you have the first overall pick, who would pick for your team?

Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report in under a month. It’s time for fantasy baseball players to start prepping for the new season. Whether it’s making your own rankings or participating in mock drafts, there’s plenty of ways to gather information and assess players’ values. The tough question is who would you take with the first overall pick?

There are only four players I would even consider taking with the first pick. Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Francisco Lindor and Max Scherzer. You could throw Jose Ramirez in the mix, but his batting average is just a bit too low for him to be considered.

What I look for in a first-round pick, let alone the first overall, is a player that can contribute to as many stats as possible. It also depends on your league format. If you use on-base percentage instead of batting average, guys like Joey Votto get a value boost.

You want a hitter that will provide hits, runs, home runs, RBIs and average (or OBP) or a pitcher that can record wins (or quality starts), strikeouts and a low ERA and WHIP. That player will be the anchor and the constant for your fantasy baseball team.

Looking at the four players I mentioned, they can do all of that.

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Trout finished with under 80 RBIs for the second straight season. That’s not his fault, though, as it required his teammates to get on base for Trout to drive them home. He hit 39 home runs and scored 101 runs. Trout hit over .300 for the third straight season.

Something that doesn’t get talked about enough is Trout’s speed. He has at least 22 steals in each of the last three seasons. He was a home run away from finishing in the 30-30-100 club in 2016. With speed at a premium in fantasy baseball, Trout’s 20 steals shouldn’t go unnoticed.

This season might be another low RBI season as the Los Angeles Angels don’t have the best offense. Another season with under 80 RBIs is likely but hitting over .300 with 30-plus home runs and 95 runs scored will keep Trout in the conversation.

Betts broke out in 2018 with an unbelievable season. The MVP finished with a .346 batting average, 32 home runs, 80 RBIs, 129 runs scored and 30 steals. I forgive Betts for the low RBIs because he hits atop the Boston Red Sox lineup.

The Red Sox have a better supporting cast for Betts with J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogaerts and Andrew Benintendi in the lineup. Betts will be able to score another 100 runs this season.

While I don’t think he’ll break 30 home runs, 25 is still not a bad total with a .320 batting average. It’s easier to find power late in the draft. He’ll rack up another 22 steals in the process.

Scherzer is the only pitcher I would consider drafting with the first overall pick. The group of elite pitchers isn’t as big and missing out on a top-five arm could hurt in the long run. There are plenty of bats in the draft that can help you compete. The dropoff in talent for pitchers is a big one.

The three-time Cy Young award winner finished 2018 with another Cy Young-worthy season. He won 18 games with a 2.53 ERA, 0.911 WHIP and 300 strikeouts. It was the first time he reached 300 strikeouts in his career.

In his 11th season, he was able to lower his walk rate and increase his strikeout rate.

He finished with the sixth-best ERA, second-best WHIP, fourth-most wins and most strikeouts among qualified starting pitchers last season. There are pitchers that have better ERAs or wins but no one can put it all together like Scherzer can and 2019 will be no different.

The last player to consider with the first overall pick is Lindor. While his batting average isn’t as high as the other two hitters, career .288 hitter, Lindor can still hit for power, score runs and steal bases. He also gets on base at a ridiculous rate.

Lindor, like Betts, has a great lineup around him. Ramirez, Carlos Santana, Jason Kipnis and Leonys Martin all protect Lindor in one way or another.

Lindor hit 38 home runs and 92 RBIs with 25 steals, all career highs. He is just 25 years old so we haven’t seen the best of Lindor yet. Plus, playing a position that is a premium for fantasy, Lindor’s value is at an all-time high.

The shortstop pool isn’t as deep as outfield. Jean Segura is the 10th-best shortstop, according to ESPN. Charlie Blackmon is the 10th-best outfielder. You can make up the difference in stats later in the draft.

These four players are difference makers in any fantasy baseball league. Trout is arguably the best hitter in the game today. Betts and Lindor are two young stars. Scherzer is unstoppable on the mound. You will have a nice cushion in your league with whatever player you draft.

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