Who will be this year’s Jackson Merrill or Seth Lugo? Here are my top fantasy baseball draft sleepers to target for players beyond the top 300 in fantasy baseball ADP. Read on for deep fantasy baseball sleepers to draft.
- 2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit
- Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings
- Fantasy Baseball Research & Advice
- Fantasy Baseball Average Draft Position (ADP)
Fantasy Baseball Deep Sleepers
In my last article, I highlighted players with an average draft position (ADP) beyond pick 300, pointing out some potential gems for extremely deep fantasy leagues. This time around, while I’ll still incorporate a few of those names, I’ll be focusing more on the upside of some of the game’s youngest and brightest stars. You guessed it, prospects.
Prospects are always a roll of the dice. Especially the less heralded ones. But drafting that deep sleeper at pick 385 and having him finish as the 185th overall player is a great feeling. While everyone is drafting Roman Anthony and Matt Shaw, I’ve got a few other names up my sleeve that could very well surpass their current draft stock.
Max Scherzer (SP – TOR) | ADP: 318
As discussed in my previous article, it all starts with Max Scherzer. He’s the complete opposite of a prospect, having just turned 40. But when was the last time a player of his caliber was available past pick 300 in drafts? While his best days are behind him, if Scherzer can last even half the season, he can be a commodity against softer opponents.
Scherzer’s WHIP is likely his greatest asset as it should hover around 1.10. His strikeouts are also decent this late in the draft, accumulating at about 8.5 per nine innings. The future Hall of Famer will also win a respectable amount of games with an improved Toronto defense behind him.
A healthy Mad Max, albeit a lesser version of himself, still deserves consideration once your draft hits the early 300s.
Bubba Chandler (SP – PIT) | ADP: 302
Bubba Chandler is receiving some buzz this spring as a future complement to Paul Skenes and Jared Jones. He’s been slightly wild in the exhibition games so far but the kid is oozing with talent. At just 21, Chandler mowed down Triple-A hitters at a 34% clip while registering a 1.83 ERA. His slider and improved change-up should continue to produce gaudy strikeout totals once he reaches The Show.
Chandler has maintained high strikeout totals throughout his Minor League career, it’s just the control that’s held him back. If he can stay close to his 3.08 BB/9 he produced last season in the Minors, Pirates fans will be watching him every five days before long. Chandler is worth a dart-throw stash as the late rounds close out in the deepest of leagues.
Matthew Boyd (SP – CHC) | ADP: 327
Matthew Boyd was excellent last year down the stretch for Cleveland, producing a 2.72 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP over eight starts. He also registered an impressive 10.44 K/9. The oft-injured hurler has missed his fair share of games over the last five seasons, but a clean bill of health coupled with the late success last year has Cubs fans excited for his addition.
Boyd’s analytics point towards more success as well, as he limits homers and elicits plenty of soft contact. If he can stay healthy and tap into some of that Wrigley magic the starters possessed last year, Boyd could easily outperform his current projections.
Deyvison De Los Santos (1B, 3B – MIA) | ADP: 381
Any time a player hits 40 home runs in the upper Minors he is worth monitoring. The future Marlins first baseman not only hit 40 bombs last year, but he did it while playing for three different organizations.
The 21-year-old Dominican Deyvison De Los Santos is likely going to start the season in the Minors, but with Matt Mervis and Jonah Bride penciled in as Miami’s starting designed hitter and first baseman, respectively, it shouldn’t be long until the mashing De Los Santos gets his chance. He drove in 120 runs across 137 games last season and could be the Marlins’ most productive run producer before long. He’s worth stashing past pick 300.
Jhonkensy Noel (OF – CLE) | ADP: 345
Jhonkensy Noel possesses a similar skillset to Deyvison De Los Santos, albeit he’s already reached the Major Leagues. Able to go yard with the best of them, Noel mashed 13 homers in just 179 at-bats last year.
Noel will likely have to platoon with Will Brennan to start the year, but for those of you who play in leagues that allow for daily lineup changes, Noel could be the perfect complement to a high batting average/speed-heavy fantasy squad. Scouts expect Noel to further improve in his sophomore season, so a home run per every four starts is within reason.
Rhett Lowder (SP – CIN) | ADP: 382
I like Rhett Lowder this season — even if no one else does. His glaringly high strand rate is a bit of a red flag, but his ability to keep the ball in the yard should also be considered. The seventh overall pick in the 2023 draft surrendered zero home runs and only two doubles last year over six starts (1.17 ERA, 1.27 WHIP). Perhaps even more impressive was that he accomplished this feat despite pitching three of the six games in Cincinnati’s notorious bandbox. He held four of his opponents to zero runs and produced one of the best missed-barrel rates in baseball at 97%.
His four-pitch mix keeps hitters off balance as he moves the ball around the zone. According to Statcast, all four offerings rate on the plus side of run value, which is rare in today’s game.
Lowder is a born winner. He produced similar numbers in the Minors Leagues and during his time at Wake Forest. I expect more of the same in 2025. He likely won’t start the season in the Majors but he’ll get his shot sooner than later. I’m projecting an early-to-mid-May call-up. Lowder’s worth drafting in the mid-300s.
Jacob Wilson (SS – ATH) | ADP: 394
Jacob Wilson is another born and bred winner. Selected one pick before Lowder in the 2023 draft, the son of former All-Star shortstop Jack Wilson, Jacob has been preparing for this opportunity his whole life. His Minor League numbers are worth gawking at if you ever get a chance. His .433 batting average and 4% strikeout rate last year in Triple-A are just mind-blowing.
Wilson got a taste of big-league action towards the end of last season, and while he didn’t do much, there were still positives to come away with. Over 103 plate appearances, Wilson’s struck out just 10 times against his first taste of Major League pitching. He only hit .250 and didn’t launch any homers but with another year of development and offseason preparation, I fully expect Wilson to produce more profitable numbers this year.
He’ll likely play shortstop for the A’s on a nightly basis. While he won’t hit many home runs or steal many bags, his batting average and runs scored could be a nice boost to your club. He’s worth a look for those who need to fill a middle infield position in the deepest of leagues.
Kumar Rocker (SP – TEX) | ADP: 290
Kumar Rocker would be at the top of this list but his ADP is now down into the 290s. We’re going to include him anyway, just don’t tell my boss. Putting his injured past in his rearview, Kumar has shown at multiple levels he’s ready to pitch in the big leagues.
The 6-foot-5, 245-pounder struck out nearly half the batters he faced last year in the upper Minors. Granted, it was a very sample size (nearly 30 innings), Kumar was electric allowing just three runs and four walks over that span while striking out 47. He also did fairly well in his three starts last year in the Majors, registering a 3.86 ERA and a 26% strikeout rate.
Rocker will need to continue to show poise and keep the injury bug off his back. But with so many injury-prone starters projected to begin the year in the Rangers’ rotation, Rocker could be pitching in the Major Leagues before the calendar flips to May.
Drake Baldwin (C – ATL) | ADP: 574
Drake Baldwin is doing all he can to win the starting job come Opening Day. With Sean Murphy down for at least a month and Travis d’Arnaud surprisingly cut loose, it’s Baldwin’s job to lose. Starting in the Braves’ lineup immediately boosts a player’s stock and Baldwin is no slouch at the plate.
Badlwin’s walks equal his strikeout totals and he possesses decent pop as well. The rookie catcher finished last year with a .298/.407./.484 triple slash line in Triple-A. He’s also off to an excellent start in Spring this year, registering a .467 on-base percentage (OBP) in six games. Expect his current ADP to drop as the season draws nearer, but you can get him at the very end of deep drafts for now.
Chandler Simpson (OF – TB) | ADP: 610
Chandler Simpson likely won’t be given a start for some time but the Rays are hardly a powerhouse in the outfield. The blazingly fast lefty is arguably the fastest man in baseball and could offer a massive boost to your stolen base total.
A slap hitter who regularly hits over .300 in the Minors, Simpson stole a whopping 104 bases last year. If given a starting role, he deserves a roster spot, even in medium-sized leagues, for his stolen base prowess alone. If your league drafts over 350 selections and your team lacks speed, Simpson is worth a look.
Honorable Mentions
- Jeimer Candelario (1B, 3B, DH – CIN): A bounce-back candidate after suffering a hand injury last season.
- Nolan Schanuel (1B – LAA): Should be in store for a big second year in RBI and batting average.
- Dustin May (SP – LAD): Innings might be limited but could dominate.
- Joc Pederson (OF, DH – TEX): Should be a masher in Texas in daily leagues.
- Shane Bieber (SP – CLE): Should make 15-20 starts, making him worth stashing, even with innings limitations.
- Jordan Lawlar (2B – ARI): Still a year away in my book for fantasy purposes but he could make a splash.
- Chase Dollander (SP – COL): Future ace of the Rockies could earn a spot on Opening Day.
- Bryce Eldridge (1B – SF): Massive first baseman for the Giants. Needs to cut down on strikeouts but has upside.
- Wilyer Abreu (OF – BOS): A decent five-category target.
- Justin Verlander (SP – SF): Could be good in Oracle Park.
- Otto Lopez (2B, SS – MIA): Target him for steals and batting average.
- Luisangel Acuna (SS – NYM): Had an impressive Winter League; has upside and is the brother of Ronald Acuna.
- Jonah Bride (1B, 3B – MIA): Not a great option but should hit cleanup and capped his season with a 480-foot homer last year. Put up nice Minor League numbers.
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Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.
