Officially less than a month away from the MLB Draft, it is time for dynasty owners to start planning their FYPD strategy. After the immediate success of the 2024 draft class, it is important to know the prospects who will be entering pro ball this year. In this primer, we will break down an updated top 10 mock, then dive into prospects to know so you can dominate your FYPD!
Updated Top 10 Mock Draft
1. Washington Nationals– Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
2. Los Angeles Angels– Jamie Arnold, LHP, FSU
3. Seattle Mariners– JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis (MS)
4. Colorado Rockies– Ethan Holliday, Stillwater (OK)
5. St. Louis Cardinals– Billy Carlson, SS/RHP, Corona (CA)
6. Pittsburgh Pirates– Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State
7. Miami Marlins– Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona (CA)
8. Toronto Blue Jays– Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma
9. Cincinnati Reds– Ike Irish, OF, Auburn
10. Chicago White Sox– Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
This draft is going to come down to the money. The actual selection order on draft day is going to come down to what team at the top wants to find a bargain deal, then use that money on this class’s strength, which is the depth. That is why there is not major movement in the top 10, since my last mock draft.
The most notable movement is that for the 3rd time, there is a new number 1 selection for the Nationals. Kade Anderson has been the largest riser in the 2nd half of the season, and he capped that off with 16 IP of only 1 ER, while striking out 17 in the College World Series. That success on the biggest stage is going to stick in the minds of evaluators.
Another major riser is JoJo Parker to the Mariners at 3. Parker reminds me a ton of Mariners top prospects Colt Emerson and Cole Young, as a hit over power prospect with a projectable frame. The Mariners have a track record of success with a prospect like Parker, and if they look to stack some savings at 3, I think Parker could be a likely selection.
On the opposite end, the main faller in this mock is Liam Doyle. The main reason he fell has nothing to do with his late season struggles, and more because of fit. If he falls past the Rockies at 4, I think a fall to the White Sox can make a lot of sense. Doyle has some reliever risk, and the White Sox have shown that they are willing to take chances on those types of prospects. With a wide open top 10, nothing would surprise me.
Favorite Prospects Dynasty Managers Should Know
For all the prospect junkies out there, this is not the 2024 draft class. Quite frankly it isn’t even close.
With the electric debut of Chase Burns this week, coinciding with the impressive debut seasons of Nick Kurtz, Jac Caglianone, Cam Smith, and Christian Moore, it is understandable to feel like you want to get a piece of some of the top talents in the draft after missing on some of those prospects last year.
The problem is, there is a wide gap between what the top of the 2024 class is and the top of the 2025 class. I firmly believe all of the top 8 selections from 2024 would be runaway candidates for the 1st overall selection to the Nationals, and 4 more of the top 15 would be in the conversation. That is how different the tops of the classes are. 2024 was special. 2025’s value is in it’s depth. Build your FYPD Draft strategy around targeting that depth.
Top of the Class
JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis (MS)
If there is any prospect at the top of the draft I would be willing to call my shot on, it is JoJo Parker. As mentioned above, he has risen up my draft board, and is now firmly in top 5 territory for me. The ability to possess plus feel for the barrel and bat to ball skills with a projectable frame, is a hot commodity amongst MLB orgs. Parker showcases both plus bat to ball skills and athleticism. As he continues to add strength to his 6 foot 2 frame, the power should follow suit.
Late 1st/Early 2nd
This is where the money will be made in this draft. If you are a dynasty owner with an early draft pick, your best route might be to shop around and try to use that early selection as trade bait. Go get a current prospect you love, or even move back for multiple selections. In the long term, I think the main theme of this draft class will be “how did ____ player get drafted outside of the 1st round?”
Andrew Fischer, 1B, Tennessee
After hitting .285 with 20 home runs as a Sophomore with Ole Miss, I felt Fischer would be nothing more than a three true outcome prospect. But as has been the case with many prospects, he transferred to Tennessee and immediately got better. On the 2025 season, he flashed improved approach and bat to ball skills, while maintaining his power production. He finished the season hitting .341/.497/.760 with 25 home runs, 16 doubles and 63 walks compared to 42 strikeouts. He averaged a 93.4 mph exit velocity with a 77.3% contact rate and a 18.2% chase rate. If Fischer ends up as the best hitter in the class, I will not be the least bit surprised.
Ethan Conrad, OF, Wake Forest
Ethan Conrad’s rise this season was cut short due to a season ending injury. If he continued the trends that led to his .372/.495/.744 with 7 home runs in 21 games, he would have a legit argument for the top 10-15 in the class. While Wake Forest is a hitter friendly park, the combination of power production and bat to ball skills is what makes Conrad so intriguing. He sported an 82.4% contact rate on the year, while showcasing impressive power numbers. The impact was not elite with a 91.9 mph exit velocity, but Conrad has a feel for elevating the baseball to the pull side. Add in a 23.6% chase rate, and you have a hitter who checks all the boxes to perform at the next level. Similarly to Fischer, if Conrad became the best hitter in the class, I would not be shocked.
Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina
Maybe not the best dynasty prospect, but Bodine has a great chance to be a future big leaguer. He is the best receiver in the class, while also being an above average catch and throw defender. The questions around Bodine is in his bat, specifically his power. He is in the conversation with Summerhill and Kilen for best bat to ball skills in the class. On the 2025 season, he featured an 89% contact rate with an elite 4.2% in zone whiff rate. Bodine also showed impressive swing decisions with a 22.9% chase rate. But with those impressive contact skills, came only 5 home runs. He did hit 18 doubles and averaged a 90.7 mph average exit velocity, so there is more power in the tank, but 5 home runs with a metal bat doesn’t exactly give confidence in the power output at the next level.
Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas
Gage Wood became a national name after his 19 strikeout no hitter in the College World Series that I wrote about, here. If it had not been for injuries limiting his opportunity, Wood’s name would be in conversation for much higher in the draft. He combines an 80 grade fastball with a 70 grade slider while featuring plus command. That is simply a great combination for success. If he had not thrown the no hitter in the CWS, dynasty owners might have been able to sneak a waiver wire add past their league mates, but after that outing on the national stage, I think Wood will be a name all owners will be trying to add.
Sleeper Prospects (Outside top 50)
What is a sleeper? For this exercise, I am sticking to outside the top 50. These are the prospects to watch closely and wait for them to potentially rise up prospect lists. Last year the names I identified like Payton Tolle, Khal Stephen, Dakota Jordan, Carson DeMartini, and Ryan Johnson have shown well in professional baseball, and are all fringe must own prospects.
Charles Davalan, OF, Arkansas
Davalan made national headlines for all the wrong reasons. With 2 outs in the 9th inning of an elimination game, Davalan miss played a fly ball that led to the tying run scoring. The next hitter ended Arkansas season. That moment will be one Davalan will have a hard time forgetting., but that doesn’t change the fact that he can flat out hit.
Finishing the season hitting .346/.433/.561 with 14 home runs, 12 doubles, and a 35:27 K:BB ratio, he showcased an impressive combination of power and bat to ball skills. On the 2025 season, he featured an 89.6% contact rate, while only chasing at a 19.8% rate. The approach and bat to ball are some of the best in the class. The power is not fully there, but as a draft eligible sophomore, it is easy to dream on more power coming with maturity. If he continues to progress in the power department, Davalan could be a steal in this draft.
Ethan Petry, OF/1B, South Carolina
Petry made a name for himself as the Freshman of the Year in 2023, but regressed in 2024. The combination of an elite summer in the Cape Cod and the 2025 season, was a return to expectations for one of the best power hitters in the class. The approach is a little aggressive with a 28.9% chase rate, but the contact rates are above average at 73%. Combine that with a 94.4 average exit velocity, and a feel for elevating the baseball to the pullside, and you have a recipe for success at the next level. Petry’s .360/.480/.760 with 11 home runs in 31 games in the Cape also shows that the power plays with wood.
Chase Shores, RHP, LSU
An embarrassment of riches. While Shores started the season in LSU’s rotation, struggles led to a move to the bullpen where he was dominant during the run to a National Championship. Only a handful of teams can “afford” to move 100+ mph arm to the bullpen, but that is one of the reasons LSU is the National Champion.
Shores was coming off major surgery, and many times command is the last part to return to form. I think that is why Shores struggled so much this season. If he chose to come back, there would be a good chance to hear his name in the top 10 of the 2026 draft, but the stuff is too good for an MLB team not to take a chance on him this year. Similar to the Yankees selection of Griffin Herring, I would be shocked if Shores isn’t offered over slot after Day 1. If the command returns to pre surgery form, Shores has future ace written all over him.
