Home runs is a category that can get away from a fantasy manager in drafts. There are some elite power options early, but if you miss on those bats, you’ll have to make up for the miss later. A fantasy manager can’t just draft players who hit 20 home runs and make up the gap; you need players who can hit 30+ home runs.
In this article, I’ll discuss eight hitters going after pick 100 in average draft position (ADP) that can help your team make up home runs or take your team to higher levels in the power department. As you go farther down the draft board, most players will lack other five-category production. Continue to draft accordingly when looking for home runs late.
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Fantasy Baseball Players to Target for Home Runs
Jake Burger (1B, 3B – TEX)
Jake Burger has been a powerhouse over his last two seasons. He hit 34 and 29 home runs the previous two seasons playing with bottom dwellers in the White Sox and Marlins. He has showcased great power skills with a career 14.4% barrel rate and a 47.7% hard-hit rate.
Burger also has a career .789 OPS with a 20.7% home run to flyball (HR/FB) rate. Burger now joins an explosive Rangers offense that should allow him to tap into all of his offensive prowess. If Burger plays at least 140 games, he should be a lock for 30+ home runs.
Jorge Soler (OF – LAA)
Jorge Soler may be a bit of a wild card as he has hit either 30 to 40 home runs or barely hit 20. He is coming off a down season with 21 home runs, but that was mainly due to the first half of the season, where Soler struggled in San Francisco.
Soler hit 11 of his 21 home runs over 60 games in the second half of the season while hitting .267. He had a .900 OPS, .388 wOBA and 150 wRC+ in the second half. Those are elite numbers from Soler. This season, he joins an Angels team that should be decent at the top half of the lineup. If Soler can tap into that second-half skillset from last season, he could be in store for another 30+ home run season with a chance of hitting 40+.
Shea Langeliers (C – ATH)
There are so many who like Cal Raleigh as a catcher to get his power production. Well, Shea Langleiers is a poor man’s Raleigh. Langeliers hit 29 home runs last year after hitting 22 in 2023. He has a barrel rate of at least 12.8% and a hard-hit rate of 40% over the previous two seasons.
Langeliers has averaged an HR/FB of 16.9% over three seasons with a .708 OPS. Langeliers will hit in the middle of the A’s order in a hitter-friendly ballpark in Sacramento. At worst, Langeliers hits 20+ home runs with the potential of cracking 30.
Adolis Garcia (OF – TEX)
Even during a down season last year, Adolis Garcia hit 25 home runs. He has hit 25 to 39 home runs over the previous four seasons. Garcia has had an 11.5%-16.1% barrel rate with a hard-hit rate of 45.3%-49.7%.
Garcia had a .400 slugging rate over his down season, but over the previous three seasons, he had strong slugging rates of .508, .456 and .454. He will take his career 17.7% HR/FB into 2025 as he looks to bounce back and return to his 30+ home run potential.
Tyler O’Neill (OF – BAL)
Tyler O’Neill is a dicey draft pick but brings tons of power upside. He has only played over 100 games twice in his career but hit over 30 home runs in those two years. Last season was one of those years — 31 home runs in 113 games with the Red Sox.
O’Neill slugged .511 with a 17.3% barrel rate and a 48.4% hard-hit rate. Projections have O’Neill playing 110-120 games while only hitting 25 home runs. I’ll take the over on the home runs if O’Neill plays that number of games.
Christopher Morel (2B, RB – TB)
Christopher Morel is being drafted around pick 275 in fantasy baseball ADP. At that point, it’s all about the upside. Morel has plenty of that entering his first full season with the Rays. He hit 21 home runs over 152 games last season but just one home run with the Rays.
Morel was never comfortable at Tropicana Field, which carried over in his time with the Rays. This season, the Rays will play at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a minor-league ballpark that could bring Morel and his power back to life.
In 2023, while playing for the Cubs, Morel hit 26 home runs over 107 games. A major bounce-back season could be in store for Morel. His potential for 30 home runs at his ADP is a risk worth taking.
Matt Wallner (OF – MIN)
Matt Wallner has insane power potential, and this may be the first season where we see the full potential. In the last two seasons, Wallner played 76 and 75 games, respectively, with the Twins, hitting 14 and 13 home runs.
This season, Wallner is expected to play nearly every day, even versus left-handed pitching, which he did towards the end of last season. Last season, Wallner had a 17.5% barrel rate and a 53.2% hard-hit rate. Wallner has a 20-home run floor with 30+ home run upside if he plays at least 140 games. He has an ADP of around 285, which is a great time to take the chance for some power.
Rhys Hoskins (1B – MIL)
After missing 2023 with an ACL injury, Rhys Hoskins returned last year and hit 26 home runs over 131 games with the Brewers. Hoskins has hit 26+ home runs over the previous five non-COVID-19 seasons.
Hoskins has a career .481 slugging rate, 11.8% barrel rate, 42% hard-hit rate and 17.4% HR/FB. Hoskins has all the skills to be a 25+ home run bat yet again with a 30+ home run upside. He comes at a nice ADP of nearly 300.
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