In 2023, the Atlanta Braves dominated the league in regular season victories (104), runs (947), and home runs (307).
Ronald Acuña Jr, Spencer Strider, and Matt Olson were among the finest players in their respective positions, demonstrating dominance in fantasy sports.
And the league is taking notice in 2024.
Six different Braves are predicted to be selected in the first 35 picks of early fantasy baseball drafts, according to the National Fantasy Baseball Championship average draft position boards. Atlanta has complete dominance up and down the draft, with every lineup regular, including vital backup Travis d’Arnaud, selected in the first 30 rounds.
Ronald Acuña Jr. is the top overall pick.
Most drafts include seven outfielders within the first twelve picks, but none until Ronald Acuña Jr.
In 2023, the dynamic leadoff hitter hit a new gear, leading the league in hits (217), runs (149), steals (73), on-base percentage (.416), and total bases (383) while also leading the National League in plate appearances (735) and at-bats (643), OPS (1.012), and OPS+ (168) on his way to his first MVP award.
He is the only player in the first round who is a consistent 40/40 possibility, with Aaron Judge, Juan Soto (steals), and Corbin Carroll (homers) either lacking one of Ronald’s game features or performing at a lower level.
1st round: Spencer Strider
Strider, who led baseball in wins (20), winning percentage (.800), strikeouts (.276), and strikeout rate (13.5 K/9) last season, is not only one of only two pitchers to be selected in the first two rounds (Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees is the other), but he is also the only one taken in the first round, with an average draft position of 8.49.
Strider, the betting favourite for NL Cy Young in 2024, is the ideal workhorse for a fantasy baseball team, producing wins and strikeouts at an unrivalled rate while maintaining low ratios.
Round 2: Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies.
Atlanta’s infield trio is usually picked in the second round of most drafts, as the second first baseman (ADP = 16.49), third baseman (ADP = 20.31), and second baseman (ADP = 22.78) off the board, trailing only Freddie Freeman, José Ramirez, and Mookie Betts.
Last season, the trio hit 124 home runs, with Olson leading the MLB with 54.
Round 3: Michael Harris II
In a nice change, Michael Harris II, the model of consistency, is gaining tremendous respect for his late-third-round selection position. Harris, with an ADP of 34.63, is often the tenth outfielder off the board and is one of just two outfielders to be the second outfielder chosen from their own team, with Juan Soto (ADP = 11.92) going off the board shortly after Aaron Judge (ADP = 11.30).
Harris has two seasons with batting averages in the.290s, a /297 in 2022 and a.293 in 2023, twenty stolen bases in both years, and a total of 37 home runs.
Round 6 – SP Max Fried and RP Raisel Iglesias
Fried (ADP = 64.47) and Iglesias (ADP = 69.79) both came off the board in the sixth round, with Fried being the 16th starting pitcher and Iglesias the 7th reliever.
Fried, who will be available for free agency after the 2024 season, was a shining example of consistency previous to his injury-plagued 2023, ranking 19th in innings from 2019 to 2022 and with only two pitchers posting a higher ERA and more innings than him during that time.
Iglesias went 33/37 in save opportunities for Atlanta, recording five wins and a 2.75 ERA in 55.2 innings this season.
The rest of Atlanta’s starters and rotation, as well as vital backup Travis d’Arnaud, will be picked by the 31st round in NFBC leagues.
12th – Sean Murphy (142.43).
13th: Marcell Ozuna (153.42)
14th, Chris Sale (166.41)
19th: Jarred Kelenic (223.14)
20th: Charlie Morton (239.78)
29th – Orlando Arcia (412.45) and Travis d’Arnaud (422.57).
31st: Bryce Elder (464.59)
Prospect AJ Smith-Shawver stands out here, going in the 33rd round (ADP of 502.10) despite not being guaranteed a rotation role in 2024. With him selected within two rounds of 2023 All-Star Bryce Elder, the fantasy baseball community has faith in his ceiling.
Did you win your fantasy baseball league last year thanks to an Atlanta Braves player? Let us know!
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