Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
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1.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
TOR
Vladimir Guerrero Jr was the top first baseman in 2024 fantasy baseball. If that surprises you, it shouldn't. The 25-year-old has demonstrated an elite ability to hit since he entered the league in 2019. Last year, in an ugly Toronto lineup, Vladdy hit 30 home runs, drove in 103, and scored 98 himself. He slashed an impressive .323/.396/.544. Some of those numbers may have resulted from an abnormally high .342 BABIP, but they're not outrageous compared to his career averages. The bad news for Vladdy is that the Blue Jays have not gotten better so far this offseason. The good news for Vladdy is that he will be a highly coveted free agent after this season. Fantasy managers should jump all over the opportunity to take advantage of the latter and hope that the former doesn't hold him back too much.
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2.
Freddie Freeman
LAD
Freddie Freeman dealt with an ankle injury in 2024 that limited him to 147 games, his lowest total since 2017. He also failed to hit .300 for the first time since 2019. Some of this is attributable to an outlier BABIP of .306, well below his career average. However, the rest of his fantasy profile remained strong as he hit 22 homers, drove in 89, scored 81 times, and stole nine bases. Freeman will be playing his age-35 season, which could scare off some managers on draft day, but he still bats squarely in the middle of the best lineup in baseball and has not shown any indications of serious decline. He remains a safe bet to set-and-forget in your first base slot.
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3.
Bryce Harper
PHI
Bryce Harper stayed relatively healthy in 2024, playing in 145 games, his highest total since 2019. He hit 30 bombs, drove in 87, scored 85, and stole seven bases. His slash line remained an ever-impressive .285/.373/.525, and he has an elite walk rate of 12%. Of note, his strikeout rate has seen a slight increase for three consecutive years, but it remains within his normal career average. His 2025 projections put him back in the 30/100/100 range. The 32-year-old will only have first-base eligibility, but he should be one of the first three off the board at that position.
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4.
Matt Olson
ATL
Matt Olson followed his career year in 2023 with a bit of a dud (especially concerning his draft cost) in 2024. He failed to hit 30 home runs for the first time since 2018, ending with 29 after smacking 54 the year before. He also came up just short of 100 RBIs with 98. Olson's walk rate decreased, and his 12.4 barrel percentage was the lowest in seven years. So, what can we expect from the first baseman this season? Assuming the Atlanta lineup returns to good health, his counting stats should rebound, and chances are he will get to 35 home runs again. If there is a discount on draft day, don't be afraid to scoop him up and assume regression will land him in the range we're used to. Just don't expect 2023 numbers again.
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5.
Pete Alonso
FA
Pete Alonso continued to mash the ball in 2024, hitting 34 home runs, though this was his career-low total and probably not the number fantasy managers were hoping for when they drafted him. Now a free agent at age 30, a lot of Alonso's value will be determined by where he lands and the lineup around him. Projections have him nearing the 40-homer mark, and he should get back to 100 RBIs if he hits that number. Just be aware that his numbers are trending in the wrong direction to be the monster power source he used to be in fantasy.
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6.
Josh Naylor
ARI
Josh Naylor rewarded fantasy managers who drafted him in 2024. He played 152 games for the Guardians, hitting 31 homers with 108 RBIs and scoring 84 runs. Batting behind Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez definitely has its perks. Naylor is now in Arizona to be the slugging first baseman in the order behind Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte. While 30 home runs might be too lofty of an expectation, Naylor should land in the 25/80/90 range in 2025, and he should see some improvement in his .249 batting average, which was suppressed due to an outlier BABIP of .246. He leads the second tier of first basemen that you can have for a cheaper cost in the middle rounds.
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7.
Christian Walker
HOU
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8.
Triston Casas
BOS
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9.
Spencer Steer
CIN
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10.
Cody Bellinger
NYY
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11.
Salvador Perez
KC
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12.
Vinnie Pasquantino
KC
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13.
Jake Burger
TEX
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14.
Paul Goldschmidt
NYY
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15.
Ryan Mountcastle
BAL
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16.
Yandy Diaz
TB
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17.
Luis Arraez
SD
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18.
Nathaniel Lowe
WSH
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19.
Rhys Hoskins
MIL
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20.
Yainer Diaz
HOU
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21.
Alec Bohm
PHI
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22.
Michael Busch
CHC
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23.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand
CIN
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24.
Alec Burleson
STL
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25.
Jake Cronenworth
SD
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26.
Isaac Paredes
HOU
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27.
Michael Toglia
COL
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28.
Nolan Schanuel
LAA
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29.
Andrew Vaughn
CWS
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30.
Brandon Lowe
TB
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31.
Josh Bell
WSH
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32.
Spencer Torkelson
DET
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33.
Tyler Soderstrom
ATH
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34.
Jeimer Candelario
CIN
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35.
Connor Wong
BOS
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36.
Luke Raley
SEA
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37.
Kyle Manzardo
CLE
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38.
Spencer Horwitz
PIT
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39.
Ryan O'Hearn
BAL
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40.
Carlos Santana
CLE
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41.
Deyvison De Los Santos
MIA
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42.
Dylan Moore
SEA
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43.
Pavin Smith
ARI
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44.
David Fry
CLE
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45.
Tyler Black
MIL
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46.
Jonathan Aranda
TB
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47.
Jonah Bride
MIA
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48.
Anthony Rizzo
FA
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49.
Kris Bryant
COL
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50.
LaMonte Wade Jr.
SF
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51.
Garrett Jones
FA
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52.
Jose Abreu
FA
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53.
Jose Miranda
MIN
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54.
Ben Rice
NYY
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55.
Brandon Drury
FA
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56.
Juan Yepez
WSH
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57.
Justin Turner
FA
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58.
Ty France
FA
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59.
Zach Dezenzo
HOU
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60.
Nick Kurtz
ATH
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61.
Seth Brown
ATH
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62.
Rowdy Tellez
FA
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63.
Tyler Locklear
SEA
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64.
Donovan Solano
SEA
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65.
Kennys Vargas
FA
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66.
DJ LeMahieu
NYY
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67.
Xavier Isaac
TB
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68.
CJ Kayfus
CLE
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69.
Tre' Morgan
TB
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