Fantasy Baseball Draft Prep-February 19, 2025
Eloy Jiménez DH TAM
Jimenez misplaced 25 kilos over the offseason, Adam Berry of MLB.com experiences, although no phrase on if he is shed the burden of expectation that he get immediately injured. Jimenez performed solely 89 video games per season since 2021. He hit the IL simply 4 occasions lower than he went deep in 2024, as soon as with a left adductor pressure and once more with a left hamstring pressure, revealed with a meager.238/.289/.336 with six house runs and 23 RBIs in 98 video games. Jiménez exit velocity remained actual at 92 MPH on common, and his Exhausting Hit was an ample 49%. He’s solely 28 years previous, and he swatted 31 homers as a rookie in 2019, had an .891 OPS in 2020 and 141 OPS+ in ’22. Draft late, if fortunate be a woman…the abilities to hit are seemingly someplace inside that injured body: “It is nonetheless there. I all the time consider in me,” Jiménez stated, “You guys are going to see.” Love is blind, certainly.
Jose Altuve 2B (OF?) HOU
The can nonetheless bangs for Altuve at age 34, who could play each second base and left area this spring, Chandler Rome of The Athletic experiences. HOU Supervisor Espada shared that Altuve had been figuring out in left area regardless that Bregman left to the Crimson Sox. Espada stated that he is made no everlasting choices on the place Altuve will play this season. No matter his place, Altuve will hit the ball, not strike out a lot (17%) and infrequently stroll (7%). the drill. Draft for BA, stable counting numbers with a excessive flooring throughout the board for all classes.
Kevin Gausman SP TOR
Gausman’s gaunt body options added heft in 2025: “I’ve by no means actually pitched a complete season at over 200 kilos,” Gausman stated. “I often all the time lose quantity of weight through the season, in order that’s why I attempt to achieve as a lot as I can, understanding I will lose a few of it.” Talking of dropping it, Gausman’s 2024 confirmed a drop in each ERA (3.83) and strikeout charge (21.4 p.c) versus 2022-23 (3.25 ERA, 29.7 Okay%). He might slip in drafts, which makes him a pleasant bounceback SP decide within the center rounds.
Evan Carter OF TEX
(Sung to Depeche Mode “Private Jesus”)
Evan’s personal private prognosis
Managers keep away from this participant
In case your Somebody who cares
Evan’s personal private prognosis
Managers keep away from this participant
Draft Another person there
Draft an unknown
And also you’re by yourself
Damaged bone
Evan will not let you understand
Decide up a reliever
Evan’s Carter’s a deceiver
Evan will not hear your prayers, for managers who care. Here is what he says about his flesh and bones (main again damage): “It is private to me and we’ll preserve it that manner. I am unable to change it. It is part of me now, however we have got a plan.” His elite chase charge of 18% ought to maintain up, particularly if he cannot swing resulting from his private prognosis. Stash away in dynasty however for those who’re hoping for the 2023 playoff phenom, wait to see what the precise again drawback is earlier than you attain out and contact religion.
Junior Caminero 3B TAM
Caminero made a quick cameo down the stretch in 2023, and accidents in Triple-A final yr restricted him to 43 video games with Tampa Bay. He is proven flashes of his elite means on the plate, launching seven homers and driving in 25 runs with a 100 OPS+ in 50 video games. His bat pace is a near-elite 77 MPH, he barreled at 12% and exhausting hit 46% in his age 20-21 season. Caminero reported to camp on Sunday and arrived with what Money known as “a bit of little bit of a modified physique,” the results of offseason conditioning. He is a pleasant thought at 3B, however youth and accidents say do not attain too far for Junior.
Closing Time in Milwaukee (Publish-Airbender)
Trevor Megill RP MIL has the within monitor on Nearer duties in Brew Metropolis. He was 18-for-20 in save probabilities with a 2.05 ERA. Regardless of two journeys to the injured listing, Megill excelled, with ERA (2.72), appearances (48), innings (46 1/3) and adjusted ERA (155). His strikeout stuff is actual: 30% Whiff Fee, 33% Chase Fee and rattling close to 100% High Velocity on his fastball. The Brewers are vulnerable to odd stuff, so do not anticipate him to get 30 Saves, however 10-15 is stable likelihood, if well being holds. Bryan Hudson RP MIL was peak Andrew Miller in restricted time for 2024, highlighted by .198 XBA, 27% Okay Fee and elite extension on his 6 foot 8 body. If he returns to type, he is nice Holds materials and will even sniff some Saves if Megill strikes on or falters. If Hudson is wholesome, he is definitely worth the late-late decide for his ratios and hit suppressing stuff. Nick Mears RP MIL stays a aid possibility in Cream Metropolis because the brass swooned for him final commerce deadline resulting from a crimson explosion of pink on his StatCast web page, 29% Okay Fee and suppressed 33% Exhausting Hit charge. He lingers within the Holds/Save image for the Crew because the entrance workplace worth him and should wish to spike his worth for 2025 commerce deadline or just trip a scorching streak, ought to he discover one. Late flier in NL Solely.
Damage Returns
Christian Yelich OF/DH MIL Brewers supervisor Pat Murphy stated he does not anticipate Yelich (again) to be 100% at first of spring coaching, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel experiences. Yelich lastly confronted the inevitable microdiscectomy in August of 2024. He will probably be introduced alongside slowly in camp. Yelich was nice in 2024 previous to the damage with Exhausting Hit 47% and 92 MPH common exit velocity resulting in .315/.406/.504 with 11 house runs and 21 steals in lower than half a season. Monitor his progress, however even when he is trying nice, Yelich is prone to miss large chunks of video games in 2025 as his physique continues to interrupt down. Draft for those who’re able to have a alternative prepared at OF/UT and do not anticipate 2024 pre-surgical process numbers.
Mike Trout OF LAA is 33 and sliding to RF for 2025. He is performed 266 of 648 attainable common season video games the previous few years. Trout’s eaten on the all you’ll be able to eat damage buffett: calf pressure, again irritation, hamate, and a torn meniscus. If he can get wholesome, he by no means hits the ball tender, all the time displaying elite energy and pop. His peripherals are HOF (16% Barrel and 53% Exhausting Hit Fee in 2023) and if he can restrict his time on IL, he’ll strike for 30 HR. Trout’s value reaching for in case your league sleeps on him. Sandy Alcántara SP MIA would be the Marlins’ Opening Day starter Christina De Nicola of MLB.com experiences. The Marlins are positive to restrict him in his first motion again from Tommy John. Alcantara (elbow) threw his first stay BP on Feb 11, Kevin Barral of FishonFirst.com experiences. Alcantara has lots to show as 2022’s dominance was a very long time and a significant surgical procedure in the past. He was hit pretty exhausting in 2023 41% Exhausting Hit with 89 MPH Common Exit Velocity. It might be greatest to deal with him as a #3-4 SP in drafts. Shane McClanahan SP TAM McClanahan will begin Opening Day, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Occasions. McClanahan missed the entire 2024 season whereas recovering from a Tommy John process in August 2023, the second of his profession. McClanahan stated that he will not have any type of restrictions throughout spring coaching, but it surely’s chancey to consider he’ll instantly return to his 34% Whiff and 32% Chase charge of 2023, which was a season by which his 2022 elite numbers throughout the board diminished demonstrably. Draft with warning however optimism…not too early, not too late…I do know, it is convoluted…he is a #3 SP with #1 upside. Kodai Senga SP NYM stated Tuesday that he is felt totally wholesome because the starting of January, Tim Healey of Newsday experiences. Senga made simply 4 appearances in 2024 between the common season and playoffs resulting from shoulder and calf issues. He spent the primary half of the offseason rehabbing however has gone by way of his regular throwing development since then and will not have any restrictions at first of camp. The 32-year-old had a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts within the 2023 common season and could possibly be in line for a giant bounce-back season in 2025 if he can keep off the injured listing. Ronald Acuña Jr. OF ATL Acuna (knee) stated he is planning to “take it straightforward” on the basepaths, David O’Brien of The Athletic experiences. Acuna stated that he is working at “90 to 95 p.c” and stated his surgically repaired left knee feels rather more steady than his proper knee did following a previous ACL surgical procedure. Proceed with warning, as Atlanta will certainly do. Even in restricted ABs, he is a prime 5 participant on the planet. Draft early however with an eye fixed on 120 video games performed, give or take, with 20 SB as flooring.
