Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
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2.
Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani silenced any skeptics questioning his value after he was ruled out as a pitcher for 2024. The 30-year-old phenom delivered an unforgettable season, making a strong case as the top fantasy asset for managers who used him in their UTIL slot. Ohtani introduced the unprecedented 50/50 club, racking up 134 runs scored, 130 RBIs, and an extraordinary slash line of .311/.391/1.039. His .336 ISO and 9.1 WAR further highlighted his dominance. As a key piece of the Dodgers' lineup, he played a pivotal role in their championship run, earning his first World Series title. Expected to resume pitching in 2025, Ohtani offers an added bonus to his already unmatched fantasy value. Drafting him at 1.1 is a no-brainer, as his upside is unparalleled barring any unexpected injury.
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13.
Mookie Betts
2B,SS,RF
Mookie Betts got off to a torrid start in 2024 before a hand injury took out a chunk of his season and left him with only 116 games played. As hand injuries are wont to do, it sapped a bit of his power (19 HR), but he still reached 75 runs and RBIs while stealing 16 bases, his highest total since 2019. Betts's Statcast profile is one of a player who is simply really good at hitting baseballs. He is in the 90th percentile or higher in xwOBA, xBA, squared-up percentage, chase rate, whiff rate, strikeout percentage, and walk percentage. His 11% strikeout rate stands out in particular. Betts will have shortstop and outfield eligibility in all leagues and, depending on the format, may carry 2B as well. One of the most solid draft strategies in 2024 was "just draft all the Dodgers," and 2025 doesn't look much different. Betts is the table setter and a star in all fantasy formats.
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20.
Freddie Freeman
1B
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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37.
Teoscar Hernandez
LF,RF
Teoscar Hernández capitalized on his contract year with an impressive season. The 32-year-old joined the Dodgers and filled their need for a right-handed power bat to complement the top of their lineup. He delivered 33 home runs, 99 RBIs, 84 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases while slashing .272/.339/.501. Hernández continued to dominate left-handed pitching, hitting .290 against southpaws. However, his strikeout rate remained elevated at 28.8%, though his power mitigates some of the downside. Now that he is returning to L.A. to continue batting in the middle of the best order in baseball, Hernandez offers a solid return as an OF2/OF3 in fantasy.
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74.
Will Smith
C
Will Smith delivered a decent fantasy performance in 2024, playing in 128 games and posting a .248/.327/.433 slash line with 20 home runs, 75 RBIs, and 77 runs scored. While his batting average dipped below his career mark of .258, his power remained consistent, supported by a 10.8% barrel rate and a .334 expected wOBA (xwOBA). While his strikeout rate and walk rate both went in the wrong direction, Smith fits in the "Draft the Dodgers" philosophy and is still a top-catching option.
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118.
Tommy Edman
2B,SS,CF
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141.
Max Muncy
3B
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170.
Michael Conforto
LF
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210.
Andy Pages
CF,RF
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254.
Hyeseong Kim
2B,SS
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287.
Dalton Rushing
C,LF
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294.
Enrique Hernandez
1B,2B,3B,SS,LF,CF
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315.
James Outman
CF
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404.
Eddie Rosario
LF,CF,RF
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406.
Esteury Ruiz
LF,CF
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424.
Hunter Feduccia
C
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522.
Austin Barnes
C
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523.
Chris Taylor
2B,3B,LF
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534.
Alex Freeland
SS
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563.
Miguel Rojas
2B,3B,SS
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723.
David Bote
3B
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