This mock draft is a little different from other ones that you have probably seen on this website. Instead of a full draft for one team, this draft goes pick-by-pick who you should take in the first round of a ten-team mock draft.
1. OF Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Picking first may leave you with a tough decision whether to pick Trout or Miguel Cabrera, but it is still a win-win situation. Even though Cabrera may be the better hitter, Trout gets a slight edge because of his ability to steal bases and be a complete five-tool player.
If you draft Trout, you have a solid base for all hitting categories and do not need to worry about making up a certain statistic (such as stolen bases) with other players later on in the draft.
Some expected Trout to experience a sophomore slump last year, but he was just as dominant as his rookie season of 2012. Expect him to be no different this year and continue causing jaws to drop in only his third Major League season.
2. 3B Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers
The easiest decision in the draft. If Trout is gone, take Cabrera. If Cabrera is gone, take Trout.
The back-to-back MVP is listed as a third baseman due to the fact that he played at the hot corner last season, but he will be moving to first base this season after the departure of Prince Fielder.
Cabrera will once again be a threat for the Triple Crown, as his average could reach the .330s and he could hit 40 or more home runs. Snagging Cabrera with the second overall pick would give you a huge advantage over your foes in the offensive categories.
3. 1B Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks
The third pick is a toss-up between Goldschmidt and Andrew McCutchen, but click here if you want to read an in-depth reasoning why Goldschmidt is a slightly better choice.
For a first baseman, Goldschmidt can supply some speed on the bases as he will likely get double digits in stolen bases again. He is also a tremendous power hitter, and having some more protection in the Diamondback lineup in Mark Trumbo could help him put even more eye-opening numbers.
4. OF Andrew McCutchen - Pittsburgh Pirates
The second-easiest decision in the draft.
Last year's National League MVP is the full package, somewhat of a very slightly-weaker version of Trout. He is almost a guarantee to have another 20-20 season and will hit for average and score runs.
McCutchen bats two spots behind speedy Starling Marte and one spot ahead of power-hitting Pedro Alvarez, giving him great opportunities to put up stats all across the board for your fantasy team.
5. SP Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
Some may argue that fifth-overall may be a little too early to take a pitcher, but Kershaw may in fact be the best name on the board. After all, pitching stats are just as important as hitting stats in fantasy baseball.
Kershaw is clearly the top pitcher to have on your team, and if you can gain the upper hand against your opponents in the pitching department, you may have a major advantage of them if you can continue to draft productive hitters. Offensive is deeper than pitching in fantasy baseball this year, especially with all of the Tommy John surgeries going on.
Kershaw may be struggling this Spring, but expect him to regain his old form once the season gets going.
6. OF Carlos Gonzalez - Colorado Rockies
Gonzalez is like Trout and McCutchen: an all-around great offensive player. He uses Coors Field to advantage and has been in the 20-20 club all four years that he has been a starter at the big league level.
Getting him with the sixth pick may even be a bargain, as his numbers may not even be too far off from the aforementioned Trout and McCutchen.
Playing in probably the best hitter's park in baseball for 81 games and being surrounded by other solid hitters in the Colorado lineup, Gonzalez would be a great asset to any fantasy baseball team.
7. 1B Chris Davis - Baltimore Orioles
Think Davis's power stroke in 2013 was a fluke? Think again.
In 2012, Davis mashed 33 homers and drove in 85 runs while hitting .270. Sure, those numbers don't exactly match the 53 dingers he hit last year and don't reflect the fact that he had a shaky second half of 2013, but they prove that he is one of the league's top power hitters and could easily hit around 40 homers again this season.
Unlike some other power hitters, Davis hits for average fairly well also. Last year was only his second as a full-time MLB starter, and he ended up batting a .286 clip.
If Davis is still available with the seventh pick, take him and gain the upper hand on your enemies in power numbers.
8. 3B Adrian Beltre - Texas Rangers
Adrian Beltre just keeps on going, being one of the most consistent hitters in baseball over the better part of his career. He has hit .315 or higher in three of the past four seasons (.296 in the one that he didn't - not too shabby) and has averaged 32 home runs over those four years.
This year, Beltre will be batting in a revamped Texas Rangers lineup with Shin-Soo Choo and Prince Fielder hitting in front of him.
Talk about RBI.
He still seems underappreciated, projected to not go until the second round of most fantasy drafts. Take advantage of the fact that he will probably still be on the board and draft him in the late first round. You definitely will not be sorry.
9. Adam Jones - Baltimore Orioles
Jones is another five-tool outfielder who can help you out in all offensive areas with a concentration on power hitting. He has hit .280 or above in each of the past four seasons with over 30 home runs in each of the past two. He drove in 108 runs last year, a career high.
Jones may not steal as many bases as Trout, McCutchen or Gonzalez, but he is good for about ten-to-fifteen steals a year: still a decent amount for the cleanup hitter on one of baseball's more exciting offenses.
Jones will hit between the aforementioned Davis and newl-acquired Nelson Cruz, which should give him many RBI opportunities as well as good pitches to see.
10. Robinson Cano - Seattle Mariners
There is no doubt that Cano will experience a regression in his statistics this year, but he is still a first round pick due to the fact that the second base position is so thin in this year's fantasy pool.
First of all, in Seattle, Cano does not have nearly as much protection around him as he did in New York. Yes, last year's Yankees team was not all that frightening offensively, but it was still probably better than Seattle.
Also, the left-handed Cano will miss the short right field porch in Yankee Stadium tremendously, as he is moving to one of the better pitcher's parks in baseball. Just look at the aforementioned Beltre's statistics in Seattle compared to the rest of his career.
Expect most of Cano's numbers to decrease, but still expect him to be an All-Star caliber second baseman.