Intro
Many dynasty leagues venture into the format known as Open Universe, where any baseball player, regardless of affiliation, can be selected. It’s a fun way to dig deep into the prospect pool and find hidden gems from all around the world. I’ve personally drafted players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (before the Blue Jays signed him), Shohei Ohtani (while he was still in high school), and Luis Robert Jr. (when he had just defected from Cuba) in my home league. These players can be lottery tickets who change the course of your dynasty team…if you happen to hit on one of them. However, the hit rate is small because most are still years away from playing in the Show. There is a lot of risk when selecting players so far away from the big leagues, but it’s all about the thrill of chasing the potential reward in leagues like this!
Best Practices
With so many players to consider, what are some best practices for drafting in an Open Universe league?
1. Do your research - Read as much as possible about the players you are interested in. The more you learn, the more informed a decision you can make. Following sites like Baseball America and independents like Shawn Spradling and Yakyu Cosmopolitan can help you uncover the next wave of talent in North America and internationally.
2. Use your eyes—if you’ve seen some of these players play on video or TV, it’s incredibly helpful, especially if they are playing against good competition (WBC, NCAA, etc.). Watch the WBC (even the weaker teams), the Premier 12 tournament, and the NCAA if you have time. Seeing these players will help you become more familiar with their profiles.
3. Proximity matters —drafting 16-year-olds is not a winning proposition. For every Vlad Jr., there are thirty Miguel Tejada Jr.'s. From my experience, college players are the best way to go, followed by NPB, high school, and finally, IFAs.
4. Know the rules for international free agency posting —The NPB and KBO have specific rules for how long players need to play before becoming free agents. Ohtani and Sasaki are the exceptions; most players will wait to maximize their contract options. In the NPB and KBO, international free agency takes place after 9 years of service time, meaning most players coming over are 27 or older. In some cases, teams will agree to allow players to get out of their contracts, but these occurrences are not the norm.
5. Draft athletes—It’s hard to teach athleticism, and special athletes typically grow their skills at a faster rate to higher levels. If you’re choosing between players, pick the more athletic; more often than not, you will make the right choice.
Some Interesting Names
While creating this list, I came across several players who I was unfamiliar with and who are worth considering in deep Open Universe Leagues.
In recent years, we’ve seen a wave of Japanese pitchers who have had tremendous success: Ohtani, Yamamoto, Imanaga, and more. Another wave is about to follow them, including names like Hiroto Takahashi, Shunpeita Yamashita, and Haruto Inoue. Generally, the NPB arms don’t have the same level of stuff that the college or high school arms have, but they tend to have more polish and command. Remember Carter Stewart? He’s set to return to North America after 6 years in the NPB after deciding not to sign with the Braves. Check out Perry Nadreau’s article from last spring to familiarize yourself: https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2024/4/5/remember-carter-stewart-jr
Another player from the far east that intrigues me is 3B Do-yeong Kim. He could be the best hitter we’ve ever seen come out of South Korea and becomes an international free agent in 2030 (he would be much higher on this list were it not for his proximity). Last season, as a 21-year-old, he hit .347/.420/.647 with 38 HR and 40 SB. He’s so young we will see him in two more WBC tournaments before he becomes eligible to play in MLB. If you have the patience (and room in your farm system), this is a player to stash before the hype grows. He could also be a unique case (similar to Ohtani and Sasaki) where he negotiates a way out of his contract and comes to the US before that time.
I will direct you to the college hitters if you want to go a slightly safer route. Names like Jace Laviolette of Texas A&M (in the running to be the first overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft), A.J. Gracia of Duke, and Cam Canarella of Clemson could be options to anchor your farm system (and future MLB roster) for years to come.
These Open Universe leagues give managers so many options that it’s almost overwhelming. But following the tips above will help you navigate the deep waters and make higher percentage choices, and with a bit of luck, you’ll even up with your next franchise player.
Where To Find the List
Smada
The list can be found in the PLIVE+ APP SUITE which is available to The 60 Tier Patreon subscribers ($10/mo). The app suite page also has a google sheet for the Open Universe ranks.
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