More importantly than drafting the players you want on your fantasy baseball team is figuring out the ones you need to avoid. Reasons to avoid players include price, health or regression. No matter the reason, though, it’s important to cross some names off your draft list. Below is one player I’m avoiding at each position.
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Fantasy Baseball Hitters to Avoid
Catcher: Cal Raleigh (C – SEA)
Cal Raleigh is coming off a historic season for a catcher, and it is almost impossible for him to repeat it. Unfortunately, his average draft position (ADP) is so high that he needs to repeat most of it to return value. I love Raleigh, but his ADP is too costly, and the downside isn’t reflected in his price.
First Base: Nick Kurtz (1B – ATH)
Nick Kurtz was fantastic in his rookie season, recording a .290/.383/.619 triple slash line with 36 home runs in just 489 plate appearances. However, he was definitely lucky.
The power is legitimate, but Kurtz’s underlying contact skills are not. His xBA was just .245, and his Z-Contact was well below league average. His batting average floor is very low. Kurtz will hit for a ton of power, but if he hits .220, that would hurt his value.
Second Base: Luke Keaschall (2B – MIN)
Luke Keaschall is a very promising and interesting prospect who debuted last season. He recorded a triple slash line of .302/.382/.455 with four home runs and 14 stolen bases in 207 plate appearances. So, why am I fading him? It is purely due to price.
Keaschall is going inside the top 150, and that is largely due to the lack of depth at second base. He profiles as a speedy accumulator, but he struggled with injury last year, and the lack of pop lowers his ceiling. While second base is dismal at the top of the draft, there are lots of fun value picks later. There is no reason to reach on Keaschall.
Shortstop: Geraldo Perdomo (SS – ARI)
Geraldo Perdomo is coming off a breakout season where he hit 20 home runs and stole 27 bases with a .290/.389/.462 triple slash in 720 plate appearances. However, projecting that many plate appearances is difficult, especially considering Perdomo’s injury history before 2025.
Perdomo will also likely regress in the power department. The stolen bases and batting average should be there, but take a small step back. You’re paying for last year’s production at his fantasy baseball ADP. That’s a mistake.
Third Base: Jazz Chisholm Jr. (3B – NYY)
The upside of Jazz Chisholm Jr. is why he is getting drafted so high. In just 531 plate appearances, he recorded a 31/31 season for the Yankees. The problem is his long history of injuries.
If Chisholm does get to 500+ plate appearances again, he will be a star. However, he is just as likely to get 250-300 plate appearances. That’s too risky in the second round.
Outfield: Pete Crow-Armstrong (OF – CHC)
Pete Crow-Armstrong hit 25 home runs and stole 27 bases with a .265 average in the first half of last season before falling apart in the second half, hitting six home runs and stealing eight bases with a .216 average.
The problem is that Crow-Armstrong has terrible plate discipline, and that will lead to prolonged slumps. His O-Swing% was the third-worst in baseball. Until he fixes that, he won’t return the type of value his ADP suggests.
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