How To Do A Fantasy Draft In MLB The Show 26?
To start a fantasy draft in MLB The Show 26, you must launch a new game in Franchise Mode and turn the fantasy draft setting on before the mode loads.
How to Start the Draft
- Go to Franchise Mode: Navigate to the game modes menu and select Franchise.
- Start a New Game: Choose Start New to begin a fresh franchise.
- Pick Your Roster: Select either the current live roster or a custom roster.
- Enable Fantasy Draft: On the settings screen that appears before choosing a team, find the option labeled Fantasy Draft and toggle it to On.
- Choose Your Team: Pick the MLB team you want to manage.
- Set Options: Choose whether you want the draft order to be Standard or Serpentine (Snake).
- Begin Draft: Select Start Draft to enter the draft room and make your first pick!
Top Fantasy Draft Strategies For Success
To build a powerhouse team during an MLB The Show fantasy draft, you should focus on securing reliable hitters early, hoarding young talent with A-potential, and picking up high-strikeout pitchers in the middle rounds. Because a typical franchise spans multiple simulated years, your strategy must balance immediate production with long-term development.
1. Grab Elite Hitters in the First 3 Rounds
Secure consistent, top-tier everyday hitters with your first few picks. Look for all-around stars who provide a strong combination of high floors and explosive ceilings.
- Prioritize Power: High power ratings are harder to find later in the draft.
- Avoid Early Extreme Risks: Do not use your top three picks on risky, low-contact hitters or highly volatile pitchers. Focus on anchors who hit for a high average and score runs consistently.
2. Snag "Hero" Pitchers and Build a Safe Rotation
Pitching can be highly volatile, so you want a clear plan for your rotation.
- The "Hero" Ace Approach: Take exactly one elite starting pitcher in the first four rounds to headline your rotation.
- Target High K/9 and BB/9: In rounds 4 through 6, focus on pitchers with high K/9 (Strikeouts Per 9 Innings) and BB/9 (Walks Per 9 Innings) attributes. These specific ratings perform exceptionally well during simulated game logic.
- Wait on Relievers: Never draft closing pitchers or middle relievers early. You can find highly serviceable bullpen arms in the final rounds of the draft.
3. Hoard High-Potential Youth
If you play with budget limitations turned on, elite veterans will quickly drain your cash.
- The Under-25 Rule: Look for players under the age of 25 who hold A or B potential ratings.
- Look Past Low Overalls: Do not be discouraged if a 21-year-old player has a low overall rating (like a 65 OVR). If their potential is an A, their attributes will skyrocket after a season or two of training, giving you a cheap superstar.
4. Fill Premium Positions First
Good hitting at positions like Shortstop (SS), Catcher (C), and Center Field (CF) is incredibly rare.
- Secure your starting shortstop and catcher by the middle rounds.
- Positions like First Base (1B) and Left Field (LF) are incredibly deep. You can easily find great power hitters for those spots much later in the draft.
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How To Manage Your Team's Financial Budget During The Draft
To manage your budget well during the draft, you must pick cheap young players with high potential and avoid overpaying for older veterans. MLB The Show enforces strict budget limits unless you turn them off, so a few bad contracts can ruin your team for years.
1. Check Your Settings First
Before the draft starts, look at your Franchise settings.
- Ignore Financials: If you turn this On, you do not have to worry about money at all. You can pick anyone you want.
- Financials On: If you keep this Off, you must manage every dollar. Your total budget is based on the team you picked. Big-market teams (like the Yankees or Dodgers) have much more money to spend than small-market teams (like the Athletics or Rays).
2. Lock In Cheap, High-Potential Youth
This is the most important rule for saving money.
- The Rookie Discount: Players on their initial contracts or pre-arbitration years cost almost nothing.
- Target "A" Potential: Draft players under age 25 with an A potential rating. They will only cost a few hundred thousand dollars a year, but they will grow into superstars. This leaves you with millions of extra dollars to spend elsewhere.
3. Avoid Aging, Expensive Veterans
Older players with high overall ratings (90+ OVR) demand massive, long-term contracts.
- The Decline Trap: Players over the age of 30 will see their skills drop quickly over a season or two.
- Bad Contracts: If you draft an expensive 32-year-old, you will be stuck paying them $20+ million a year while their skills get worse. Only draft expensive players if they are under 28 years old.
4. Save Money on Pitchers and Bulpen Arms
Pitching can drain your bank account faster than anything else.
- Draft One Ace: Spend big money on just one elite starting pitcher to lead your rotation.
- Fill the Rest with Budget Options: Fill out the rest of your starting rotation with cheaper, middle-tier pitchers.
- Never Pay for Closers: Do not draft expensive closing pitchers. Look for cheap relief pitchers with high K/9 and H/9 ratings in the late rounds. They will perform just as well for a fraction of the cost.
5. Monitor Your Pending Budget
As you draft, the game shows your remaining team budget on the screen. Always keep a safety cushion of at least $10 million to $15 million in free budget. You will need this extra cash later in the season to sign mid-season free agents, trade for players, or re-sign your own players whose contracts are expiring.
List of Cheap, Young Players With High Potential To Target In Your Draft
To get the most value out of your MLB The Show 26 fantasy draft, you should target young players with "A" potential who are currently on cheap rookie deals. These players have lower initial overall ratings (OVR) so you can draft them very late, but they will quickly develop into superstars within one or two seasons.
Best Young Hitters to Target
- Harry Ford (C): Catchers with high offensive upside are incredibly rare. He possesses massive potential and holds excellent baserunning speed for a catcher.
- Zach Neto (SS): He plays a premium infield position and frequently develops into a consistent MVP candidate with massive power growth if you train him early.
- Marcelo Mayer (2B/3B): A five-tool infielder with great versatility who can easily slot into multiple positions across the diamond while developing elite contact and power stats.
- Coby Mayo (1B/3B): A corner infielder who rapidly transforms into a premier power-hitting threat in the middle of your lineup.
- James Wood (OF): A true potential superstar with massive raw power and speed who can anchor your outfield for over a decade.
- Evan Carter (OF): Features incredible defensive range in the outfield and a highly smooth, user-friendly batting swing that plays well above his ratings.
Best Young Pitchers to Target
- Taj Bradley (SP): A high-velocity young starter with a great pitch mix who serves as a perfect building block to anchor the middle of your rotation.
- Shane Baz (SP): He can often be drafted very low due to injury history, but his high strikeout upside makes him a premier bounce-back target.
- Trey Yesavage (SP): A dominant rookie pitcher with excellent baseline attributes that scale exceptionally well during simulated game logic.
Draft Tips for Finding Hidden Gems
- Sort by Potential: When you are in the middle and late rounds of the draft, switch the player list filter to view Potential rather than Overall (OVR).
- Look for Age 18–23: Look for anyone under 24 years old with a blue "A" potential bar. Even if their current rating is only a 60 OVR, they will likely jump past an 80 OVR within two years of in-game development.
- Prioritize High Physical Stats: Look for young players who already have high Speed or Power ratings. It is much easier for the game's progression system to fix a player's Contact or Fielding stats than it is to teach them raw speed or power.
