Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
|
61.
Pablo Lopez
SP
For much of 2024, Pablo Lopez struggled while his underlying metrics all suggested he was getting snakebit left and right. He pitched 185 1/3 innings, striking out 198 batters on his way to a 4.08 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. His xERA, though, was 3.67. While this isn't an ace-like number, it is perfectly in line with the two years before. Fantasy managers can count on Lopez to take the ball every fifth day, as he's started exactly 32 games since 2022. He set a career-high in wins at 15, though that can't be counted on in 2025. Basically, Lopez is who you want as your SP2 or SP3, and you can wait to get him til the sixth round or so.
|
|
98.
Bailey Ober
SP
Bailey Ober delivered a solid performance for the Twins in 2024, posting a 12-9 record with a 3.98 ERA over 178.2 innings pitched. He tallied 191 strikeouts against just 43 walks resulted in a 1.00 WHIP, which was a career best. Ober's advanced metrics further underscore his improvement; he maintained an average exit velocity of 87.5 mph and a hard-hit rate of 34.3%, both improvements over previous seasons. Notably, his expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA) stood at .279, indicating that his actual performance aligns closely with underlying metrics. While his 8.3% barrel rate suggests occasional susceptibility to hard contact, Ober's consistent ability to limit baserunners and generate strikeouts positions him as a solid SP3 in 2025.
|
|
99.
Joe Ryan
SP
Joe Ryan delivered a decent fantasy season in 2024, posting a 7-7 record with a 3.60 ERA over 23 starts, striking out 147 batters in 135 innings, and maintaining an impressive 0.99 WHIP. Ryan's 5.1% walk rate reflects excellent control, contributing to his strong WHIP. However, his 1.3 HR/9 rate indicates a susceptibility to the long ball, which could impact his ERA if not addressed. Despite a shoulder strain that ended his 2024 season prematurely, Ryan is expected to be fully healthy for 2025. Given his strong strikeout potential and control, Ryan remains a valuable pitcher in fantasy leagues, though monitoring his home run rate and health will be crucial for the upcoming season.
|
|
100.
Jhoan Duran
RP
Jhoan Duran's 2024 season with the Minnesota Twins saw him appear in 58 games, recording a 6-9 win-loss record, a 3.64 ERA, and 23 saves over 54.1 innings pitched. While his strikeout rate declined to 28.9% from previous seasons, his walk rate remained stable at 6.6%. Notably, his average fastball velocity decreased from 101.8 mph in 2023 to 100.3 mph in 2024. Despite these changes, Duran's ability to induce ground balls remained strong, with a 60.9% ground ball rate. His xwOBA increased to .297, suggesting that opposing hitters made more effective contact compared to previous seasons. As Duran enters his age-27 season, maintaining his elite velocity and refining his secondary pitches will be crucial for reclaiming his dominant form and continuing to be a valuable asset in high-leverage situations.
|
|
121.
Royce Lewis
3B,DH
Royce Lewis is the starting third baseman for Team Imagine If They'd Stay Healthy. He started Opening Day and went 2/2 with a double, home run, and pulled hamstring. Fifty-eight missed games later, he returned and tore up opposing pitching for 23 games before returning to the IL with an adductor strain. From there, he became a below-average hitter, forcing many fantasy managers to decide whether to hold or drop him. The allure of what he could do is too much for most. Chances are good Lewis will move to second base in 2025, which could reduce the wear and tear on him in the field. The power and speed are there (if he's allowed to attempt steals), but you MUST bake in missed time when you draft him. If the price drops far enough (say 9th or 10th round), he is an easy player to risk rostering, but it's hard to justify a cost much higher than that at this point.
|
|
195.
Carlos Correa
SS
|
|
208.
Byron Buxton
CF
Fantasy managers are well aware of the "Byron Buxton dilemma"-draft him for his talent but be prepared for frequent IL stints. In 2024, he managed to play 102 games, surpassing 100 for the first time since 2017. He posted a solid .279/.335/.524 slash line with 18 home runs. While his walk rate remained low at 5.2%, he showed improvement by cutting his strikeout rate from 31.4% to 25.5%. Despite these positives, he remains a high-risk option best suited as an OF4 or OF5, and he shouldn't be drafted before the 20th round in standard leagues.
|
|
253.
Ryan Jeffers
C,DH
|
|
264.
Matt Wallner
LF,RF
|
|
271.
Willi Castro
2B,3B,SS,LF,CF
|
|
313.
David Festa
SP
|
|
318.
Griffin Jax
RP
|
|
337.
Trevor Larnach
LF,RF,DH
|
|
409.
Jose Miranda
1B,3B,DH
|
|
|
425.
Brooks Lee
2B,3B,SS
|
|
|
434.
Emmanuel Rodriguez
CF
|
|
453.
Cole Sands
RP
|
|
|
481.
Zebby Matthews
SP
|
|
483.
Edouard Julien
2B
|
|
497.
Ty France
1B
|
|
527.
Danny Coulombe
RP
|
|
541.
Brock Stewart
RP
|
|
590.
Harrison Bader
CF
|
|
600.
Chris Paddack
SP
|
|
601.
Simeon Woods Richardson
SP
|
|
658.
Jorge Alcala
RP
|
|
684.
Christian Vazquez
C
|
|
746.
Justin Topa
RP
|
|
783.
Michael Tonkin
RP
|
|
865.
Louis Varland
SP,RP
|
|
|
912.
Luke Keaschall
1B,2B,CF
|
|
|
962.
Payton Eeles
2B,SS
|
|
|
963.
Eiberson Castellano
SP,RP
|
|
974.
Kody Funderburk
RP
|
|
1033.
Anthony Misiewicz
RP
|
|
|
1034.
Andrew Morris
SP
|
|
1052.
Huascar Ynoa
SP,RP
|
|
|
1078.
Cory Lewis
SP
|
|
|
1092.
Marco Raya
SP
|
|
1101.
Matt Canterino
SP
|
|
1112.
Scott Blewett
RP
|
|
1176.
Alex Speas
RP
|
|
1190.
Randy Dobnak
SP,RP
|
|
|
1203.
Travis Adams
SP
|
|
1371.
Darren McCaughan
SP,RP
|
|
|
1420.
Jair Camargo
C
|
|
1428.
Austin Martin
2B,LF,CF
|
|
|
1487.
DaShawn Keirsey
CF
|
|
|
1550.
Mickey Gasper
1B,2B
|
|
1611.
Armando Alvarez
1B,3B
|
