Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
|
2.
Shohei Ohtani
DH,SP
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.
|
|
13.
Mookie Betts
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.
|
|
24.
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.
|
|
40.
Blake Snell
SP
The story is often the same with Blake Snell. He can be absolutely brilliant on the mound, as he was in the second half of last season following a return from injury. He had a 114:30 K:BB ratio in that time and looked like the Cy Young Award winner he is. However, early in the season, he was atrocious and caused many fantasy managers to question whether to throw him on the waiver wire versus riding the roller coaster. Snell will have games that single-handedly ruin your ratios in a weekly H2H matchup, and then he will turn around and win you the next three. His underlying metrics are brilliant, but minus the walks, which have always been problematic. And now that he is playing in Los Angeles, he should get a boost in win totals and plenty of run support. Keep in mind that Snell has only pitched 180 innings twice in his career, so drafting him most likely means an IL stint or two, but if you get the "Good" version, it'll be worth the tradeoff.
|
|
48.
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.
|
|
49.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
SP
Yoshinobu Yamamoto struggled mightily in his first start in 2024, but then he settled in to be the ace-like pitcher the Dodgers expected him to be. Unfortunately, he only managed 18 starts as he dealt with a rotator cuff strain. His numbers were solid, however. In 90 innings, he struck out 105 batters and maintained a 3.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. Pitching for the Dodgers never hurt anyone and provides fantasy managers with the potential for more wins than with other ballclubs. The question with Yamamoto is how durable he will be and how many innings he will throw in 2025. The underlying stats say he could be an SP1, but he is best considered an SP2 on draft day.
|
|
71.
Tyler Glasnow
SP
Tyler Glasnow delivered a strong performance in 2024, his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, achieving career highs in starts (22), innings pitched (134), and strikeouts (168). He posted a 9-6 record with a 3.49 ERA and an impressive 0.95 WHIP. Notably, Glasnow's strikeout rate of 11.3 K/9 and walk rate of 2.4 BB/9 underscore his dominant presence on the mound. His Statcast metrics further highlight his effectiveness, with opponents recording an average exit velocity of 89 mph and a hard-hit rate of 40.1%. However, durability remains a concern for Glasnow. He did not pitch after August 11 due to a strained elbow that prematurely ended his season. Despite these concerns, Glasnow's elite strikeout potential and ability to limit hard contact make him a valuable asset for fantasy managers, provided his health is closely monitored.
|
|
113.
Roki Sasaki
SP
Roki Sasaki continued to impress in the 2024 season with the Chiba Lotte Marines, posting a 10-5 record, a 2.35 ERA, and 129 strikeouts over 111 innings. Known for his blazing fastball, which has touched 102.5 mph, and a devastating splitter that induced a remarkable 57.1% whiff rate in 2024, Sasaki's arsenal is such that fantasy managers cannot wait for his arrival. At 23, Sasaki's trajectory points toward further growth and adaptation as he transitions to Major League Baseball. However, it will be important to note what the Dodgers plan to do with their extremely formidable rotation and whether they will limit Sasaki's innings in his first year. It will be hard to avoid reaching for him in drafts because the upside may be just too enticing.
|
|
120.
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.
|
|
124.
Tanner Scott
RP
|
|
187.
Tommy Edman
SS,CF,2B
|
|
228.
Max Muncy
3B
|
|
257.
Kirby Yates
RP
Kirby Yates delivered an exceptional fantasy season in 2024, recording a 7-2 win-loss record, 33 saves, and a stellar 1.17 ERA over 61 appearances. His impressive 12.4 K/9 rate and 0.83 WHIP underscore his dominance on the mound. While his 4.1 BB/9 rate is slightly higher than ideal, it aligns with his career average, suggesting it may persist in 2025. At 37, Yates' performance defies age-related decline, though it's prudent to consider potential regression. His recent one-year, $13 million contract with the Dodgers positions him as a key late-inning option in a strong bullpen. Fantasy managers should monitor his role closely, as Yates' proven ability to accumulate saves and strikeouts makes him a valuable asset, but the presence of Tanner Scott will threaten his ninth inning appearances.
|
|
268.
Michael Conforto
LF,DH
|
|
313.
Dustin May
SP
|
|
348.
Andy Pages
CF,RF
|
|
381.
Michael Kopech
RP
|
|
421.
Blake Treinen
RP
|
|
422.
Evan Phillips
RP
|
|
446.
Alex Vesia
RP
|
|
480.
James Outman
CF
|
|
482.
Landon Knack
SP
|
|
499.
Hyeseong Kim
2B
|
|
530.
Enrique Hernandez
3B,1B
|
|
594.
Dalton Rushing
C,LF
|
|
597.
Tony Gonsolin
SP
|
|
632.
Luis Garcia
RP
|
|
646.
Bobby Miller
SP
|
|
670.
Jack Dreyer
RP
|
|
687.
Edgardo Henriquez
RP
|
|
697.
Clayton Kershaw
SP
|
|
738.
Eddie Rosario
LF,RF
|
|
791.
Hunter Feduccia
C
|
|
797.
Michael Grove
RP
|
|
837.
Gavin Stone
SP
|
|
907.
Brusdar Graterol
RP
|
|
911.
Esteury Ruiz
LF,CF
|
|
954.
Ben Casparius
SP,RP
|
|
1001.
Anthony Banda
RP
|
|
1076.
Chris Taylor
2B,3B,LF
|
|
1108.
Miguel Rojas
SS
|
|
1155.
Emmet Sheehan
SP
|
|
1163.
Justin Wrobleski
SP,RP
|
|
|
1209.
Alex Freeland
SS
|
|
1221.
Giovanny Gallegos
RP
|
|
1248.
Austin Barnes
C
|
|
1256.
Nick Frasso
SP
|
|
|
1283.
Jackson Ferris
SP
|
|
1363.
Jose Hernandez
RP
|
|
|
1387.
Joe Jacques
RP
|
|
1479.
Matt Sauer
RP
|
|
1486.
Noah Davis
RP
|
|
1650.
David Bote
3B
|
