Depending on the format of your fantasy baseball league, the 12th pick of the first round could very well be the last selection of the first round, or one of the latest picks. That matters a lot when it comes to choosing which player you’ll target first because it’s not the same to pick last in the first round if your league has 12, 14, or 16 teams.
At this point in the draft, and especially if you have the final pick of the first round, strategy becomes very important. Do you want to draft from a position where top talent is scarce? Or are you going to target an all-around hitter? Perhaps you can target one of the few pitchers who deliver first-round value as long as one is available on the board.
We have identified three players who might be worthy picks with the 1.12 pick. These are Garrett Crochet, Cal Raleigh, and Kyle Tucker.
Why Garrett Crochet is the Best Pitcher for the 1.12 Pick in Fantasy Baseball
Crochet led the majors in strikeouts in 2025 with 255 across 32 starts and 205.1 innings, and he posted a K/9 of at least 11.0 with a BB/9 of 2.1 or lower for a second straight season while delivering a 2.59 ERA and 1.03 WHIP, both of which were career-best marks as a starter.
He’s one of the best pitchers in the game, and simply put, he’s tailor-made for fantasy. He strikes out a lot, barely walks opponents, and is a solid bet to deliver a quality start every time he’s on the mound. If you have set your sights on opening your roster with a pitcher and you’re selecting 12th overall, Crochet is the best option available, assuming both Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes are off the board.
Drafting Cal Raleigh at 1.12 for Elite Power and Positional Value
If you’re looking to draft an elite hitter while trying to extract value out of a positional need, Raleigh is the safest pick, considering Jose Ramirez shouldn’t be available at 12th under any circumstances. Not only is he one of the best hitters in the majors, but he’s also the best catcher available and is coming off a 2025 season in which he led the majors with 60 homers while also adding 125 RBI, 110 runs scored, and a .948 OPS, all of which were career-best marks for the fifth-year backstop.
Raleigh fills two needs. You’d be drafting out of a position where it is hard to find value in later rounds while also adding an elite hitter to your roster. If that’s your strategy, and you’re confident in finding value elsewhere down the road, then grabbing Raleigh is certainly a solid alternative.
Why Kyle Tucker Offers a High Floor at Pick 1.12
In the event that both Crochet and Raleigh are off the board by the time you have to pick 12th, there are a number of ways you could go. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is an elite first baseman, but he doesn’t provide much in the steals department. Corbin Carroll is coming off the best season of his career, but it remains to be seen just how healthy he’ll be after undergoing offseason hand surgery.
Thus, Tucker could deliver strong value at 12th. He’s a proven player who has delivered in the past, putting up excellent numbers with the Astros and Cubs. He signed with the Dodgers in the offseason, meaning he won’t be tasked to carry the offense while hitting in a lineup that also includes Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, just to mention a few players.
Tucker hit .266 and posted the third 20-20 season of his career, so he has an outstanding floor after a subpar second half of the 2025 campaign. He’s an excellent alternative if you’re looking to open your roster with a do-it-all outfielder, and the strength of the Dodgers’ lineup, as well as hitting in Dodger Stadium, boosts his value as well.
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