Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
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14.
Julio Rodriguez
CF
Julio Rodriguez's performance across the months is a rollercoaster worth noting. From April through October, his batting averages fluctuated as follows: .256, .274, .206, .375, .234, and .328. J-Rod possesses undeniable five-category potential; however, his production in 2024 showed some decline compared to the previous year. His home runs dropped from 32 to 20, while his runs and RBIs dipped to 76 and 68, respectively. Fantasy managers were also let down by a reduction in stolen bases, going from 37 to 24. Rodriguez's approach at the plate left room for improvement, as evidenced by a 25.4% strikeout rate, a mere 6.2% walk rate, and an alarming 37.4% chase rate. On the bright side, his slash line-.273/.325/.409-was consistent with his 2023 numbers. While Rodriguez might spark debates on draft day, his immense upside keeps him firmly in OF1 territory. Just brace yourself for the potential highs and lows throughout the season.
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28.
Logan Gilbert
SP
Logan Gilbert led all of MLB in innings pitched with 208 2/3 in 2024. He struck out 220 batters on his way to a 3.23 ERA and a microscopic 0.89 WHIP. His xERA and xFIP suggest these numbers could have been even better. Gilbert simply doesn't walk people, evidenced by his 4.6% walk rate. He pitches in a pitcher-friendly ballpark and averaged over six innings per appearance last season, making him even more valuable in leagues that feature Quality Starts over wins. Gilbert should be one of the top five or six pitchers off the board in 2025 and is an excellent choice for a fantasy team's SP1.
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75.
Bryce Miller
SP
Bryce Miller took another leap forward in 2024, lowering his ERA an entire point and a half down to 2.94. He made 18 quality starts and developed an impressive splitter that kept left-handed batters off-balance for the entire season. While the 18 QS only led to 12 wins, his independent stats suggest that Miller could take another jump in 2025. He has great value in the seventh round or so of 12-team drafts.
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89.
Luis Castillo
SP
Luis Castillo is trending the wrong way. Now 32, the righty saw his ERA and WHIP climb for the third straight season, and his 24.3% strikeout rate was the lowest since his last full season in Cincinnati. Castillo stopped throwing his changeup with as much efficacy as he has throughout his career, and he suffered a 41.9% hard-hit percentage while giving up 25 home runs. Seattle's offense does not offer much in the way of run support, so the win equity also isn't there. Red flags abound for Castillo; plenty of pitchers being drafted around him are much safer options.
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90.
Andres Munoz
RP
Andres Munoz delivered a strong fantasy season in 2024, recording 22 saves, a 2.12 ERA, and 77 strikeouts over 59.1 innings. His impressive 0.96 WHIP and 33.2% strikeout rate underscore his dominance on the mound. Munoz's fastball velocity remained elite, averaging 98.6 mph, complemented by a slider that limited hitters to a .200 batting average. However, his 11.2% walk rate indicates some control issues that could impact his WHIP and ERA if not addressed. At 26, Munoz is entering his prime, and with the Mariners' bullpen roles solidifying, he is poised to maintain his closer role. Fantasy managers should consider him a second-tier reliever with the potential for 30+ saves in 2025, provided he continues to harness his control.
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98.
George Kirby
SP
George Kirby has a fascinating fantasy player profile insofar as the good is REALLY good, but it's not necessarily the thing you want a player to be the best at. Kirby led the league in walk percentage again (3.0), giving up a paltry 23 free passes in 191 innings. This makes your WHIP happy in the vast majority of outings. However, Kirby's strikeout percentage sits in the 50th percentile at 23% and has not improved in his three years in the league. His ERA (3.53) was nothing special, but he did provide 20 quality starts. Essentially, Kirby's value depends on your league and if he's serving as your SP1 or SP2. He is a ratio protector, but you're going to need a strikeout artist elsewhere.
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110.
Cal Raleigh
C
Cal Raleigh holds down most of the power at the catcher position on his own. He hit 34 home runs last season and has 91 over the past three years, far and away the most among backstops. He is a batting average liability (.220), and his .312 OBP leaves much to be desired. However, he collected 100 RBI, scored 73 runs, and even stole six bases. If you can find a way to offset his ratios, Raleigh offers plenty of upside in 2025 at the most difficult position to fill.
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118.
Randy Arozarena
LF
Randy Arozarena's 20/20 season last year was far from inspiring. His strikeout rate, already high at 23.9%, climbed to 26.1%, while his walk rate dipped from 11.3%. On top of that, his Barrel % fell significantly from 12.3% to 8.3%, contributing to a disappointing .219/.332/.388 slash line. His overall production suffered as well, with just 77 runs scored and 60 RBIs. To make matters worse for fantasy managers, Arozarena now plays in Seattle-a team with one of the league's weakest lineups and a notoriously pitcher-friendly ballpark. Don't let his name recognition push you into drafting him too early; he profiles more realistically as a low-end OF3 or even an OF4.
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122.
Bryan Woo
SP
Bryan Woo emerged with the Mariners in 2024, posting a 9-3 record with a 2.89 ERA over 22 starts, totaling 121.1 innings pitched. His exceptional 0.90 WHIP and 2.6% walk rate underscored his remarkable control. Woo's Statcast metrics further highlighted his dominance, with an average exit velocity of 87.7 mph and a hard-hit rate of 34.4%, both improvements from his rookie season. Notably, his expected batting average (xBA) remained steady at .220, while his expected slugging percentage (xSLG) decreased to .317. Despite dealing with early-season injuries, Woo's ability to limit walks and hard contact positions him as a good SP3 in fantasy leagues for 2025. However, managers should monitor his health closely, as his injury history could impact his availability and performance.
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189.
Victor Robles
LF,CF,RF
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294.
Luke Raley
1B,LF,RF
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379.
Jorge Polanco
2B,DH
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407.
Dylan Moore
2B,3B,SS,LF
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416.
Leody Taveras
CF
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441.
J.P. Crawford
SS
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468.
Mitch Garver
C,DH
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495.
Trent Thornton
RP
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538.
Ryan Bliss
2B
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544.
Gregory Santos
RP
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600.
Matt Brash
RP
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611.
Troy Taylor
RP
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655.
Emerson Hancock
SP
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717.
Gabe Speier
RP
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761.
Donovan Solano
1B,3B,DH
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763.
Jurrangelo Cijntje
SP
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772.
Tayler Saucedo
RP
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829.
Austin Shenton
1B
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927.
Eduard Bazardo
RP
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931.
Rowdy Tellez
1B
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944.
Harry Ford
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987.
Collin Snider
RP
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1118.
Tyler Locklear
1B
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1153.
Brandyn Garcia
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1173.
Miles Mastrobuoni
3B
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1196.
Trevor Gott
RP
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1220.
Cole Young
2B,SS
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1254.
Logan Evans
SP,RP
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1319.
Josh Fleming
RP
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1343.
Shintaro Fujinami
RP
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1358.
Blas Castano
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1359.
Jhonathan Diaz
SP
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1369.
Casey Legumina
RP
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1393.
Casey Lawrence
SP,RP
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1452.
Jackson Kowar
RP
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1472.
Will Klein
RP
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1493.
Bryan Shaw
RP
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1552.
Blake Hunt
C
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1575.
Dominic Canzone
LF,RF
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1625.
Jack Lopez
2B,SS
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1633.
Samad Taylor
2B,SS,LF,CF,RF
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1669.
Cade Marlowe
CF,RF
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