Fantasy Baseball Player Notes

Mike Trout has firmly landed in the "What if?" category for both fantasy and real-life baseball. He started the 2024 season looking like his old self, tearing through the first 29 games with 10 home runs and six stolen bases. Then, just like that, his season ended due to a knee injury, leaving fantasy managers who took a mid-round chance on him wondering what could have been. Now, he carries nearly every durability concern possible heading into 2025. Before drafting him, consider that he hasn't reached 500 plate appearances in a season since 2019. While his production when healthy remains elite, in head-to-head leagues, missing significant time can sink your chances. The move to RF should help him stay healthy, but that's a heavy dice to roll. There's still a point where he becomes worth the gamble, but for the first time in his career, that might not come until the double-digit rounds.

Logan O'Hoppe delivered a solid fantasy season in 2024, hitting 20 home runs, driving in 56 runs, scoring 64 times, and adding two stolen bases, with a .244/.303/.409 slash line. O'Hoppe's power appears sustainable, supported by a 12% barrel rate and a 90.4 mph average exit velocity, both of which are above league average. However, his 29.7% strikeout rate is a concern. At 25 years old, there's room for improvement in plate discipline. If he can reduce his strikeouts, O'Hoppe has the potential to increase his batting average and become a more valuable fantasy player, but at the catching position, he is a Top 10 choice.

Taylor Ward has the potential to hit 25 home runs in 2025 if he stays healthy, offering solid counting stats depending on how often he gets to bat alongside Mike Trout. The challenge with Ward is his streaky production-he'll go on a tear for a month (March/April: 7 HR, 19 R, 23 RBI, .273 BA-coincidentally, the same time Trout was healthy) before hitting a rough patch, only to rebound later. If you're willing to weather the ups and downs, he's a viable OF4 option.

Zach Neto emerged as a dynamic fantasy asset in 2024, showcasing a rare blend of power and speed. Over 155 games, he posted a .249/.318/.443 slash line, with 23 home runs, 77 RBIs, 70 runs scored, and an impressive 30 stolen bases. Notably, Neto became only the third player in Angels history to achieve at least 20 home runs, 30 doubles, and 30 stolen bases in a single season. While his .249 batting average aligns with his career mark of .241, his underlying metrics suggest room for growth. Neto's average exit velocity stood at 89.2 mph, and his barrel rate was 8.9%, both indicating solid contact quality. However, his 24.7% strikeout rate, coupled with a modest 5.1% walk rate, highlights areas for potential improvement in plate discipline. Fantasy managers should note that Neto underwent right shoulder surgery in early November 2024, following an injury sustained on September 26. As a result, he is expected to miss the start of the 2025 season, with a return anticipated between one week to a month after Opening Day. Once he returns to full health, Neto's combination of power and speed, along with his everyday role in the Angels' lineup, should make him a valuable contributor in fantasy formats.

Jorge Soler signed a three-year deal with the Angels in the offseason where he will continue doing what he does: Hitting between 20-30 home runs and going 75/75 in the other counting stats.

Nolan Schanuel maintained a .250 batting average, hitting 13 home runs, driving in 54 runs, scoring 62 times, and adding 10 stolen bases. His .343 on-base percentage and .362 slugging percentage resulted in a .705 OPS, aligning closely with his expected metrics, as indicated by a .321 xwOBA. Schanuel's disciplined approach at the plate was evident with an 17.0% strikeout rate and a 11.2% walk rate. However, his power numbers were modest, reflected by a 3.5% barrel rate and an average exit velocity of 86.1 mph. As he enters his age-23 season, Schanuel's consistent contact skills and plate discipline suggest room for growth, particularly in developing his power, making him a player to watch in 2025.​