2013 Draft Prep: Early 12-team, Head-to-Head mock
In our first head-to-head mock draft for 2013, there were plenty of familiar names from past years in the early rounds, though there was one glaring exception. Once Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander and Ryan Braun went off the board with the first three picks, 2012 American League Rookie of the Year Mike Trout was taken with pick No. 4. After just 179 major league games, it appears Trout is already considered to be among Fantasy's elites.
Pitchers are usually well represented among the top scorers in standard Head-to-Head formats, as was the case in 2012 when R.A. Dickey and Verlander were the two highest scorers overall, but in our mock draft, owners went for bats in the first two rounds. Only Verlander (second overall), Clayton Kershaw (12th) and David Price (21st) were selected among the first 24 picks. The real run on starters began in the third round, and Dickey was not taken until the first pick of the fifth round, reflecting the skepticism that many owners have about his chances for a repeat of last season. Relief-eligible pitchers starting going in the sixth round, and the first two taken -- Aroldis Chapman and Kris Medlen -- are both expected to be starters in 2013.
As far as hitters went, a premium was placed on the power positions -- first base and outfield. Within the first 19 picks, eight outfielders and four first basemen were taken. While high-producing talent is more scarce at other positions, owners were patient in pursuing third basemen, middle infielders and catchers.
While there weren't many surprises in the first five rounds, owners started to take chances in Round 6. Ian Desmond, Jacoby Ellsbury, Max Scherzer, Aroldis Chapman, Chris Sale and Kris Medlen -- all risks due to inconsistency or limited track records -- went in this round. And when did our owners start to get prospect fever? Minor league sensation Wil Myers, the prize sent to the Rays in the James Shields trade, was picked in the 12th round, but it wasn't until Trevor Bauer and Jurickson Profar were taken in the 17th round that we started to see prospects peppering the draft log.
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| 1 | Scott White, Senior Fantasy Writer | 7 | Peter Madden, Editorial Director, Fantasy Sports |
| 2 | Igor Mello, Fantasy Writer | 8 | Michael Hurcomb, Fantasy Editor |
| 3 | Bill Passonno Fantasy Writer | 9 | Nando Di Fino, Senior Fantasy Writer |
| 4 | Jeff Lippman, Fantasy Editor | 10 | Adam Moore, Fantasy Writer |
| 5 | Matt Snyder, CBSSports.com MLB blogger | 11 | Jeff Tobin, Associate Managing Editor, Fantasy Sports |
| 6 | Al Melchior, Data Analyst | 12 | Chris Towers, Fantasy Writer |
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