Finding value in the late rounds of your fantasy baseball drafts is always a challenge, but with the right research, it can be done. If you stick to your strategy and know what you’re looking for, it’s possible to find valuable contributors by the time you reach the 250th or 300th pick.
Here are some of the most valuable picks you could make by the time your draft goes past the 20th round.
Ernie Clement, Infielder, Toronto Blue Jays
Clement recorded a career-high 588 plate appearances in 2025 for the Blue Jays, hitting .277 with a .711 OPS, nine homers, 50 RBI, 83 runs scored, and an impressive 10.4% strikeout rate. He’s going to make contact and play solid defense across several positions, meaning that he’s a player who can easily slot all over your lineup when you need to fill a gap pretty much everywhere. For a pick below the 250th mark, that’s already solid value, especially considering that Clement has played over 135 games in each of the last two seasons. Penciled as the Blue Jays’ everyday second baseman ahead of the 2026 campaign, the fact that he’ll hit in one of the best lineups in all of baseball should boost his upside as well.
Ryan O’Hearn, First Baseman/Outfielder, Pittsburgh Pirates
O’Hearn should open the season with eligibility at first base and the outfield, but he’s set to be the Pirates’ everyday right fielder in his first year in Pittsburgh. The eight-year veteran hit .281 with an .803 OPS, 17 homers, 63 RBI, 67 runs scored, and a walk rate of 10.7% in 544 plate appearances in 2025 between the Orioles and Padres. The move to PNC Park falls right in between those two franchises when it comes to the park factors: Camden Yards is generally more hitter-friendly, while Petco Park is more pitcher-friendly. But as an everyday player, O’Hearn should be a valuable hitter if he’s able to stay around the same averages he posted in 2025.
Yusei Kikuchi, Starting Pitcher, Los Angeles Angels
Kikuchi has been a consistent starter throughout his major-league career, making at least 29 starts in five of his seven years in the majors and 30-plus starts four times. That consistency is valuable, and he figures to be one of the top starters for the Angels in 2026. The veteran hurler posted a 3.99 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP across 33 starts and 178.1 innings in the 2025 season, posting an 8.8 K/9 and a 3.7 BB/9. Those numbers are far from eye-popping, but at that stage in the draft, it’s better to choose a proven player than a flier who might, or might not, pan out. Kikuchi has delivered an ERA below 4.10 in his last three seasons.
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