Preseason Prep – February 27, 2025
Bryce Harper, 1B (PHI)
Scary second for the Phillies as Bryce Harper was hit on the arm by a pitch in Wednesday’s Grapefruit League sport in opposition to the Blue Jays. It was his first sport of the spring as he missed time with an sickness. The excellent news is the Phillies coaching employees is categorizing the damage as a triceps contusion and do not intend to ship the slugger for X-rays. Philadelphia will undoubtedly play it very protected with their celebrity first baseman, however he should not miss greater than a pair video games if it certainly is not severe. Harper is coming off his fifth 30-homer season, reaching 550 at bats for the primary time since 2019. Transferring from the outfield to first base has paid dividends in retaining him wholesome and a full season additionally allowed Harper to reveal enhancements in plate self-discipline. He stole the fewest bases of his profession, however he is nonetheless able to double-digit thefts and persistently maintains a excessive batting common. Harper as a second-round choose is a powerful pairing with a five-category stud within the middle-to-end of the primary spherical.
Davis Martin, SP (CWS)
Martin already did sufficient to lock up a spot within the extraordinarily underwhelming White Sox rotation. Supervisor Will Venable stated Martin will be part of Martin Perez and Jonathan Cannon within the beginning 5. The opposite two spots will probably be left to Sean Burke, Jairo Iriarte and Bryse Wilson to battle. Martin made 10 begins in 2024, ending 0-5 with a 4.32 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 50 innings. The 28 yr outdated has a five-pitch combine, led by a slider that is available in 10 miles-per-hour slower than his four-seam fastball. He’s incorporating a kick changeup, too. It wasn’t excellent in 2024, however a full offseason may show higher. Martin walked too many batters in his return from Tommy John Surgical procedure, however that wasn’t a significant drawback all through his minor league profession, and so extra time faraway from the surgical procedure will most likely reveal improved management. Look, the White Sox are horrible and Martin would not have extraordinary upside, however he might be a succesful pitcher that might provide Okay/9 statistics and he may be chosen deep in drafts.
Matt McLain, 2B (CIN)
McLain had three extra-base hits on Wednesday, together with his first spring coaching house run. It is encouraging to see following final yr’s accidents that compelled the proficient younger slugger to overlook your complete season. McLain had a ten.8% barrel price as a rookie in 2023 en path to a incredible season the place he slashed .290/.357/.507 with 14 stolen bases. He ought to be proper close to the highest of a proficient Reds lineup the place he can rating quite a lot of runs and probably steal a bunch of bases. The standing of his reconstructed shoulder is turning into much less of a priority as McLain performs his manner again into an on a regular basis position. There’s some threat right here, however at a place with questionable depth, McLain may flip right into a draft-day steal.
Davis Martin, SP (CWS)
Martin already did sufficient to lock up a spot within the extraordinarily underwhelming White Sox rotation. Supervisor Will Venable stated Martin will be part of Martin Perez and Jonathan Cannon within the beginning 5. The opposite two spots will probably be left to Sean Burke, Jairo Iriarte and Bryse Wilson to battle. Martin made 10 begins in 2024, ending 0-5 with a 4.32 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 50 innings. The 28 yr outdated has a five-pitch combine, led by a slider that is available in 10 miles-per-hour slower than his four-seam fastball. He’s incorporating a kick changeup, too. It wasn’t excellent in 2024, however a full offseason may show higher. Martin walked too many batters in his return from Tommy John Surgical procedure, however that wasn’t a significant drawback all through his minor league profession, and so extra time faraway from the surgical procedure will most likely reveal improved management. Look, the White Sox are horrible and Martin would not have extraordinary upside, however he might be a succesful pitcher that might provide Okay/9 statistics and he may be chosen deep in drafts.
Tony Gonsolin, P (LAD)
Gonsolin made his second spring coaching look, following up a one-inning scoreless look with a two-inning outing on Wednesday. He gave up one hit and struck out one batter within the two innings. Gonsolin is coming back from Tommy John surgical procedure, however he was among the best pitchers in baseball in 2022. He may begin within the Dodgers rotation, however he will not be there lengthy with Shohei Ohtani ultimately sliding in and Clayton Kershaw coming again. Dustin Might, Bobby Miller and Justin Wrobleski are all choices to begin, too. Gonsolin might discover himself in a non-fantasy related position, just because he is on the deepest roster in baseball. Nevertheless, there may be nonetheless loads of upside right here if he may nail down a extra outlined position.Â
Noah Schultz, SP (CWS)
Schultz tossed a scoreless inning in aid in his spring coaching debut on Wednesday. The 2022 first-round choose is very unlikely to make the White Sox’ Opening Day roster, however there’s a distinct risk he may get the big-league callup sooner or later this season. Schultz touches the high-90’s together with his sinker, however it’s his low-to-mid 80’s slider that has him ranked among the many greatest prospects in baseball. He is a gigantic human being at 6’9″, harking back to Randy Johnson, and he has finished a great job of limiting walks within the early a part of his professional profession. There’s nonetheless loads of growth crucial for Schultz to develop into a significant league prepared pitcher, however the potential is as huge as his attain. Schultz ought to be a prime goal for these in dynasty drafts and will even develop into an affect participant in 2025.
Masataka Yoshida, UT (BOS)
Yoshida was cleared to take stay batting apply because the veteran remains to be dedicated to being out there for Opening Day. Yoshida is coming off offseason shoulder surgical procedure and his means to play the outfield is doubtful. There’s seemingly a gap at designated hitter, though the Crimson Sox would most likely choose Rafael Devers strikes into that place. Yoshida has offered a good ground as an on a regular basis participant, contributing a great batting common with above-average run contributions in among the best lineups and ballparks within the league. He is not going to supply many house runs or stolen bases, however he’s a strong depth possibility in five-outfielder leagues.
Cory Lewis, SP (MIN)
Lewis was sturdy in a spring coaching aid look on Wednesday, tossing two scoreless innings, permitting successful and a stroll whereas placing out two. The Twins prospect encompasses a exhausting knuckleball, which he threw 13 occasions on Wednesday, producing 5 whiffs. As a result of he missed a couple of months final season following shoulder surgical procedure, Lewis solely appeared in a single sport at AAA and the Twins reportedly need him to get extra expertise at that stage earlier than making the leap to the majors. How a lot expertise is required is an open query, and it means the large right-hander might be pitching for Minnesota someday this summer time. Due to his distinctive arsenal, Lewis is the kind of rookie that might flummox main league hitters and is value a dart throw in AL-only or deeper combined leagues when he ultimately makes his MLB debut.
Owen Caissie, OF (CHC)
As anticipated, Caissie will open the season within the minor leagues. The Cubs prospect was optioned to AAA-Iowa after coping with a groin damage to begin the preseason. He did not actually have a path to a job with the Cubs anyway so he’ll proceed to get at bats in Des Moines earlier than probably transferring to the large league membership someday this summer time, both if there’s an damage or he forces the group’s hand by enjoying effectively. He’s coming off two glorious seasons the place he hit for a excessive batting common and demonstrated first rate energy. He’s a powerful athlete with quite a lot of uncooked energy, however it hasn’t actually translated to elite sport energy, and there is not any certainty it ever will. He is not an important fielder and would not make excellent contact so his greatest wager for taking part in day-after-day is probably going the power to develop his first rate energy into elite energy. Till then, Caissie is nothing greater than a dynasty wild card.
Trey Sweeney, SS (DET)
The Tigers are making it sound like Sweeney remains to be competing for the beginning shortstop job with Javier Baez. It is exhausting to think about Baez has an opportunity to get an everyday position after two of the worst seasons amongst main league regulars. Sweeney earned a spot with Detroit late final season, and whereas he did not essentially tear the quilt off the ball, he confirmed upside. Specifically, he hit the ball exhausting with a good spray chart. Sweeney would not provide a lot when it comes to batting common however he has 20/20 energy/velocity potential, which is what the Tigers hoped they had been getting from Baez. Neither Sweeney nor Baez is a excessive worth fantasy draft choose, however Sweeney affords the largest likelihood to overperform his slot.
Lucas Erceg, RP (KC)
Erceg allowed one run on two hits and a stroll in his spring debut on Wednesday, though he did strike out a pair of batters in an inning of labor. The 29 yr outdated seemed like the favourite to win the nearer’s job in Kansas Metropolis earlier than the Royals signed Carlos Estevez to a free agent contract. Estevez has extra closing expertise than Erceg and likewise has a much bigger contract. Estevez is a flyball pitcher and advantages from enjoying in additional spacious stadiums, which he’ll get in KC. Erceg, alternatively, would not surrender quite a lot of fly balls and depends totally on grounders and strikeouts. It units up the place the Royals will use Erceg in high-leverage conditions after they want a double play or strikeout and reserve Estevez for the ninth inning. Erceg may nonetheless nab a couple of saves, however his pre-Estevez fantasy outlook is just not as rosy.
Victor Robles, OF (SEA)
Robles was hitless in three at-bats on Wednesday, however he stays the probably candidate to steer off for the Mariners this season. The 27 yr outdated was spectacular in half a season with the Mariners after getting lower by the Nationals final June. He managed to chop his strikeouts down and capitalized on a .388 BABIP. Robles all the time had good velocity, however he demonstrated his stolen base upside by nabbing 30 bases in solely 229 at-bats with Seattle. He’s unlikely to duplicate the BABIP, however he ought to get loads of stolen base alternatives on the prime of a Mariners offense that might want to manufacture runs. The Fantistics Draft Software program tasks Robles for a .270 batting common with 11 house runs and 35 stolen bases. These are stats that may undoubtedly find yourself on quite a lot of successful fantasy groups contemplating his late-round ADP.
Rays at Steinbrenner Area
Josh Lowe hit three house runs in 21 at-bats at Yankee Stadium in 2023. Yandy Diaz has a 118 wRC+ in 177 plate appearances within the Bronx. Danny Jansen’s slash line at Yankee Stadium? .299/.396/.519! Why take note of what Rays gamers do at Yankee Stadium? Properly, it’s a poor manner of making an attempt to decipher how the transfer from Tropicana Area to Steinbrenner Area will affect the Tampa Bay offense. The Rays momentary 2025 house has the very same dimensions as Yankee Stadium. Nevertheless, the local weather is clearly manner totally different in Tampa than New York and the intangibles surrounding their 2025 abode give little purpose to learn into these splits. Nevertheless, transferring from the Trop shouldn’t be dismissed. The Trop was by almost all metrics, a pitcher’s stadium. Whereas Yankee Stadium is not the offensive bandbox usually attributed to it, it’s higher than Tropicana Area and it’s definitely a lift to energy, notably for left-handed hitters.Â
Framber Valdez, SP (HOU)Valdez threw two hitless innings on Wednesday, strolling one batter. Valdez has been probably the most constant starters over the previous 5 years, and but he would not get talked about among the many tier of SP1s. The veteran lefthander is usually drafted within the mid-teens amongst beginning pitchers regardless of some gaudy numbers since 2021: 55-30 document, 3.08 ERA, 8.72 Okay/9. That strikeout price might be why different pitchers go earlier than him, however his incredible ratios and excessive win totals have develop into so dependable that they should not be dismissed. He is not going to strike out 200 batters, however he’s all the time going to induce a excessive price of floor balls, he would not stroll too many batters and he always retains his staff within the sport. Beginning a fantasy pitching rotation with Valdez and one other high-strikeout starter is a powerful technique.Â
Henry Davis, C (PIT)
Davis is an intriguing post-hype sleeper. He bombed as a rookie in 2023 and did not provide a lot in simply over 100 main league at-bats as a sophomore in 2024, however he constantly dominates minor league pitching and remains to be solely 25 years outdated. The previous No.1 general choose was 2-for-2 on Wednesday and has a pair of doubles in his first 4 spring at-bats. The Pirates have a logjam on the catcher place after bringing in Joey Bart final yr and Endy Rodriguez coming back from damage, however Rodriguez will most likely see quite a lot of time at first base and Davis has already demonstrated he can play the outfield, and if he can lastly develop some offensive consistency within the massive leagues, the Bucs will discover a solution to get him into the lineup, even when at designated hitter. Pittsburgh wants an offensive increase. There’s loads of threat, though that’s largely baked into his ADP and the reward remains to be fairly excessive.
AJ Smith-Shawver, SP (ATL)
Smith-Shawver seemed good in his spring coaching debut on Wednesday, holding the Pirates scoreless for 2 innings whereas placing out three. He allowed two hits and did not stroll a batter. Nonetheless solely 22 years outdated, Smith-Shawver made one look with the Braves in 2024, however he may see a much bigger position within the majors this season. Atlanta has quite a lot of depth however quite a lot of inexperience on the backend of its rotation. Ian Anderson and Grant Holmes are removed from certainties and Spencer Schwellenbach has just one season underneath his belt. Smith-Shawver affords among the most fantasy intrigue as a result of a excessive strikeout price, though he’s dangerous primarily based on an elevated stroll price. The Braves will definitely hope for improved management. If that occurs, he’s value an aggressive FAAB bid when known as up.
