Which Orioles should you pick for your fantasy baseball team in 2024?

Ladies and gentlemen, diehard or casual fantasy baseball players, the 2024 season started! How did you do last year? A championship? Mid-level team? A Tim Mayza performance?

Fantasy baseball is an unpredictable game in all Big 4 leagues. Unlike others, you could save your season with ease by doing your research, making trades, nailing it on the waiver wire, checking the hottest player available, selling the coldest player, buying low on an underperforming player, etc. Every move counts.

In 2024, it's a different feeling for Orioles fans. An Oriole player made the top 30 for the first time since Manny Machado. No, it isn't Adley or Gunnar. The newly acquired Corbin Burnes is the best Orioles player available.

In this piece, we'll talk about the current Orioles players, their ADP (Average Draft Position), some tips about sleepers, players who you could avoid, who target on dynasties, etc.

Which Orioles are worth your fantasy baseball attention in 2024?

ADP - 2024 Orioles players (Rankings from FantasyPros)

- SP Corbin Burnes (21.8)
- 3B/SS Gunnar Henderson (33.4)
- C/DH Adley Rutschman (38.6)
- SP Grayson Rodriguez (71.6)
- 1B/OF/DH Anthony Santander (121.6)
- SP Kyle Bradish (122.6)
- OF Cedric Mullins (133.2)
- RP Craig Kimbrel (152.6)
- 2B/SS Jackson Holliday (182.4)
- 1B/DH Ryan Mountcastle (259.8)
- RP Yennier Canó (293.4)
- SP John Means (297.4)
- 2B/3B Jordan Westburg (322.6)
- SP Dean Kremer (338.0)
- OF Austin Hays (346.0)
- SP Tyler Wells (363.8)
- 1B/3B Coby Mayo (369.5)
- 1B/OF Ryan O'Hearn (373.7)
- OF Colton Cowser (410.0)
- DH Heston Kjerstad (417.0)
- SS Jorge Mateo (483.0)
- C/1B Samuel Basallo (619.0)

Now, tips:

1) Corbin Burnes, if we're looking only at ADP ranking, could be a late first/early second round pick in your league. If your league is heavy on pitchers, pursuing Burnes must be a priority. He's the SP3 (SP4 if Shohei Ohtani counts).

2) Adley is the best catcher by far in fantasy baseball. The second-best catcher, Will Smith, is a 70.0 ADP (ESPN is the outlier with 41). For fantasy by stats or rotowire, a good hitting catcher is delightful. Pick him high in this scenario.

3) Third baseman should be in demand in rounds 3/4. Gunnar is the fourth 3B, behind Jose Ramirez ADP 14.2), Austin Riley (ADP 20.2) and Rafael Devers (ADP 21.2). If you pick one of those and Gunnar for your flex position, your 3B is secure.

4) Grayson Rodriguez shouldn't be your #1 ace on your fantasy team. GRod is behind alongside pitchers like Luis Castillo, Zac Gallen, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Aaron Nola, Max Fried, Logan Webb and Blake Snell. Pair him with one of these arms and it reinforces your rotation.

5) Kyle Bradish is a wildcard. A surefire top 50-60 pick is out with a UCL sprain. A good name for your IL, but keep building a strong rotation where Bradish coming is a helpful addition, not your savior.

6) Craig Kimbrel is a mid/late pick for your bullpen. He'll start the season as the primary closer, but he's 35 and relievers are volatile. You could push for a solid reliever or use this slot for a hybrid SP/RP like Cole Ragans from Kansas City.

7) Position versatility is a good thing to use. Pick Anthony Santander if your 1B in the queue is taken, or choose him to put in an OF slot. Slamtander is a great option for lots of fantasy points.

8) Jackson Holliday, like Bradish, shouldn't be your only addition at 2B. If you take the #1 prospect, you must pick an everyday 2B like Luiz Arraez or Zack Gelof. Be patient if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster. He'll play in the majors in 2024.

9) If 2023 is a trend, Ryan Mountcastle could be an intriguing pick because he's better against lefties than righties. Guys like Ryan O'Hearn and maybe Heston Kjerstad (more of him later) could get more at-bats than Mounty.

10) Kjerstad started at DH, but he could gain two more spots,1B and OF. If Brandon Hyde plays him more than some veterans, advantage Kjerstad. Put him on your waiver targets list.

11) Coby Mayo is a must-pick for dynasty formats. This guy can crush baseballs and he's on the cusp of playing in the majors. In standard fantasy, put him too on your waiver target list.

12) Samuel Basallo is only for deep formats. It's unlikely he'll play in the majors this year. For 2025, he'll be coveted.

If some players didn't appear on this list, don't worry. Do your due diligence and have fun.