Fantasy Baseball Player Notes

Aaron Judge roared back to form in 2024, reclaiming his spot as one of fantasy baseball's most dominant hitters. He topped MLB with 58 home runs and 144 RBIs while posting a phenomenal .322/.458/.701 slash line. Judge also showed improved plate discipline, reduced strikeouts, and remained healthy through 704 plate appearances. Along the way, he scored 122 runs and even chipped in 10 stolen bases. While Juan Soto's presence in the Yankees lineup provided some support, Judge's production should remain elite even without him in 2025. At 32 years old, durability is a minor concern, but the Yankees have effectively managed his workload by balancing his time between the outfield and designated hitter. Leading the league with an 11.2 WAR, Judge is a lock to dominate four of the five offensive categories in standard 5x5 leagues, making him a no-doubt top-three pick in drafts.

Cody Bellinger experienced the expected regression in 2024 following his stellar 2023 campaign. The 29-year-old outfielder finished with 18 home runs, 78 RBIs, 72 runs scored, and nine stolen bases while slashing .266/.325/.426. Injuries limited him to 130 games, impacting his overall production. Despite the dip in numbers, he opted into his player option to stay with the Cubs and was promptly traded to the Yankees, which could offer a boost to his home run total. The biggest concern is whether he reverts to his 2021-2022 form, when he struggled significantly. Viewing him as an OF3/OF4 in fantasy drafts is reasonable, but there's still the risk that he falls below replacement level.