5 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers to Draft for Home Runs (2025)

Home runs are king in fantasy baseball. Steals are nice and average is important but home runs cover three separate categories and are the most aesthetically appealing. You can always find home runs to varying degrees within the top 250 of average draft position (ADP) but the further down we go, the more harmful a hitter becomes to multiple categories, particularly, batting average.

This article seeks to identify late-round hitters who should contribute significant home run production in 2025 while either not killing your average or producing enough homers you don’t notice.

Fantasy Baseball Sleepers to Draft for Home Runs

Austin Wells (C – NYY) | ADP: 218

The Yankees’ young catcher is a stud hitter in the making. While his 2024 stats may seem mediocre, the underlying numbers are promising:

Average: .229
Expected Average: .242
Slugging: .395
Expected Slugging: .429

Wells underperformed in his first, full MLB season but can break out in 2025. His 11.4% walk rate is complemented by a steady 21% strikeout rate. He plays in the hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium and possessed the seventh-highest xwOBA among eligible catchers last season. Also, Wells has hit leadoff in recent spring training games for the Yankees alongside a majority of starters.

With fellow American League East parks becoming more hitter-friendly as well this season (Baltimore and Tampa Bay), we can ignore Wells’ 13 home runs last year. The former first-round pick hit 20 through 92 Minor League games in 2022 and 17 across 96 games in 2023. If he plays 120+ games in 2025, we could see him crack 20 dingers by season’s end.

Christopher Morel (2B, 3B – TB) | ADP: 265

We know the Rays super-utility-man has power thanks to his 47 home runs across the past two seasons. However, his fantasy baseball ADP is suppressing how much power he possesses. Morel only hit 21 home runs last season but he was on pace for 36 homers in 600 plate appearances in 2023. He struggled last season, especially after the move from Chicago to Tampa Bay but is in a prime spot to bounce back.

As mentioned earlier, the Tampa Bay Rays will be playing in a more hitter-friendly environment this season thanks to the confines of George M. Steinbrenner Field. Also, moving there from Tropicana includes the boost of leaving a weather-controlled indoor environment to an open-air field. Tampa’s weather could become a huge factor for their bats.

Morel hit 18 home runs in 103 games with the Cubs but just three in 49 games with the Rays last year. Midseason trades can go either way for players. Unfortunately, for Morel, his playing time dwindled and so did his efficiency as he struck out more and walked less than in Chicago. A full offseason in Tampa Bay with the new park factors and a likely everyday role should boost him back to an impact fantasy bat.

Tyler Soderstrom (1B – ATH) | ADP: 317

Like Christopher Morel, Tyler Soderstrom will benefit from improved home park factors in 2025. The Athletics’ move from Oakland to Sacramento is huge for hitters. The dimensions are more favorable and they no longer play near the San Francisco Bay.

The massive foul ground of Oakland Coliseum is gone. Hitters will have more opportunities to make quality contact as they avoid flimsy outs. Also, the right field wall is five feet closer. Lefties like Soderstrom will have an easier time pulling the ball out compared to the league’s worst home run park in Oakland, according to FanGraphs.

Soderstrom underperformed his expected stats significantly last season like the aforementioned Austin Wells. His .322 wOBA is well behind a .348 xwOBA. With regular playing and new park factors for the young first baseman, we could see a solid breakout season with 25 home runs as a reasonable outcome.

Kyle Manzardo (UTIL – CLE) | ADP: 361

Kyle Manzardo will finally be unleashed this season. The former top-50 prospect’s shine dimmed in recent years as he was traded from the team that drafted him (Tampa Bay) and had his Major League career delayed. Nevertheless, Manzardo will have an opportunity to make some noise all season.

At 21 years old between High-A and Double-A in 2022, Manzardo hit 22 homers in 93 games. He could not replicate that level of production in 2023 but did hit 20 home runs in 83 Triple-A games last season. Manzardo only has five homers in the Majors through 53 games. He appeared in seven postseason games for the Guardians last season. With the departure of Josh Naylor and no additions beyond the veteran Carlos Santana, Manzardo can play almost every day in 2025 with a potential top-four slot in the lineup.

Pavin Smith (1B – ARI) | ADP: 478

Speaking of Josh Naylor, his new teammate, Pavin Smith, may complement him this season. Smith should hold down the designated hitter spot against right-handed pitching and attempt to replace Joc Pederson‘s massive production last season. While 37 home runs in 361 career MLB games are not eye-popping, we should always check what is under a hitter’s hood.

Smith was ninth in wxOBA among all batters with at least 100 balls in play last season behind Kyle Tucker and ahead of teammate Ketel Marte (quality company). While this alone does not indicate a breakout season is incoming, it does help that he did somewhat underperform the expected stats and should be due for regression.

Smith is 29 and improving. His .277 ISO in 2024 was the highest of his career and the sixth-highest among hitters with at least 150 plate appearances. Chase Field is not kind to left-handed power. With regular playing time, though, Smith should crack 20 home runs for the first time in his career.

Articles MLB Sleepers Austin Wells Christopher Morel Tyler Soderstrom Kyle Manzardo Josh Naylor Carlos Santana Pavin Smith Joc Pederson Kyle Tucker Ketel Marte