Preseason Prep – March 14, 2025
Bobby Witt Jr, SS, RoyalsBobby Witt was just lately hit within the forearm with a pitch in Spring Coaching and left the sport. After getting examined, it was decided it was nothing critical, only a bruise. It is a reduction for any fantasy supervisor who has already drafted, as they probably had to make use of a top-three general decide on him. He’s coming off of a 32 house run, 31 stolen base season whereas hitting for a .332 common. He’s a real five-category famous person, and all the things about his underlying profile backs that up. His .557 xSLG ranked within the 98th percentile, and there are actually no worries about any a part of his recreation at this level. At solely 24 years previous, it is laborious to view anybody however him as one of the best participant in fantasy for dynasty codecs, with solely Ohtani and Choose presumably forward of him in redraft codecs.
George Kirby, SP, Mariners George Kirby has been shut down from throwing and can start the season on the IL with shoulder irritation. There weren’t any extra critical points discovered, so this should not be one thing that sidelines him for a majority of the season, nevertheless it’s but to be seen if he’ll miss solely a few weeks or your entire month of April. He had one other wonderful season in 2024, posting a 3.53 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 179 strikeouts and 23 walks in 191 innings. He was being drafted as a top-12 pitcher earlier than the damage, however it will certainly ship him plummeting down draft boards. He should not be thought of now till the entire different aces and near-aces are off the board, which might put him within the 25-30 vary of beginning pitchers.
Spencer Strider, SP, BravesSpencer Strider is reportedly on observe to make a late-April debut. That is enormous information for the flamethrower, and it means he most likely hasn’t been being drafted excessive sufficient in drafts. It is vital to acknowledge the chance in drafting pitchers making an attempt to get well from accidents, nevertheless it’s laborious to overstate simply how a lot of a difference-maker Strider was on the place when wholesome. In 2023, he posted a 3.86 ERA and 1.09 WHIP whereas putting out 281 batters in 186.2 innings pitched. That could be a strikeout charge that’s merely unmatched, and he was drafted because the consensus primary general pitcher in 2024 drafts. He has had loads of time to get well from his process and is trying good in his progress throughout spring. It’s best to begin fascinated by drafting Strider after the primary 20 beginning pitchers are off the board, and he may very well be a league winner if he returns to being one of the best pitcher within the sport.
Ronald Acuna, OF, BravesRonald Acuna hopes to debut in early-to-mid-Might. He’s coming off of an ACL tear, the second of his profession. The truth that lacking the primary month and a half is the best-case situation is not encouraging to listen to, as any delay may have him abruptly pushed again to overlook a lot of the first half. He was one of the best hitter in fantasy when he was wholesome in 2023, batting .338 with 41 house runs and 73 stolen bases. The fear with Acuna in 2025 is that he might not try and steal in any respect, even when he does come again. A number of ACL tears are laborious to return again from as it’s, and I am positive the Braves would slightly have his bat within the lineup than have him steal and danger injuring his legs once more. In deeper leagues, the place there is not a lot alternative worth on the waiver wire, it is laborious to decide to Acuna as a third-round decide.
Grayson Rodriguez, SP, OriolesGrayson Rodriguez has been shut down with elbow irritation for 7 to 10 days and is receiving injections to deal with it. This damage occurred 5 days in the past, so there ought to be an replace on his standing within the subsequent 3 to five days. Something involving the elbow is frightening for pitchers, particularly earlier than the season even begins. Rodriguez posted a 3.86 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 130 strikeouts in 116.2 innings final season. The previous prime prospect was being drafted across the thirtieth SP off the board, however this damage actually adjustments issues. There’s all the time the worry that the elbow continues to be having issues after the week off, and it may spiral right into a months-long and even season-long absence. It is best to attend to think about Rodriguez till the highest 50 pitchers are off the board.
Gerrit Cole, SP, YankeesGerrit Cole was experiencing elbow points in Spring Coaching, which sadly required Tommy John surgical procedure. He underwent the process earlier this week and is slated to overlook your entire 2025 season. His surgical procedure reportedly included inner bracing, which ends up in a shorter restoration time than what you usually see in pitchers who get Tommy John. Nonetheless, this can be a huge blow to Cole, who skilled some decline in 2024 and can be 35 years previous by the point subsequent season rolls round. There is not any hurt in holding him in an IL spot in dynasty leagues, however it will likely be attention-grabbing to see if he is ready to come again in 2026 and nonetheless carry out on the similar stage as we’re used to seeing from him.
Sean Manaea, SP, MetsSean Manaea will start the season on the injured listing with an indirect pressure. He’s already starting his throwing progressions as soon as once more and will very nicely make his debut in April. Manaea loved a resurgent 2024, the place he posted a 3.47 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 184 strikeouts in 181.2 innings. His season was an attention-grabbing one, with a sudden resolution to alter his arm slot fueling an elite 12-start stretch to finish the season. In these last 12 begins, he put a 3.09 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 83 strikeouts in 75.2 innings. He gained inspiration for the change by watching Chris Sale pitch, and he’ll be hoping to hold over that success into 2025. He was a preferred breakout decide earlier than the damage however ought to nonetheless be thought of within the 50-60 vary of beginning pitchers, contemplating that the damage is fairly minor.
Ryan Jeffers, C, TwinsRyan Jeffers had an excellent season in 2024, slashing .226/.300/.432 with 56 runs, 21 house runs, and 64 RBI. The difficulty is that he was one of many streakiest gamers within the majors, as he had a number of months of an OPS over .900, but in addition a number of months with an OPS beneath .500. This up-and-down manufacturing clearly left a foul style in fantasy managers’ mouths, as he is presently being drafted because the 18th catcher off the board based on ADP. Nothing jumps off the web page about Jeffers’ underlying metrics, as his 86.9 mph common exit velocity and 33.8% hard-hir charge each rank within the backside fifth of the league. Nonetheless, he did not hit 21 house runs by pure luck, and that is a talent many catchers do not have. He’s a really stable possibility in two-catcher leagues in the event you’re in search of a stable flooring with upside as your second catcher.
Robert Garcia, RP, RangersRobert Garcia was some of the trusted members of the Nationals’ bullpen in 2024, posting a 4.22 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 75 strikeouts in 59.2 innings. These do not appear to be probably the most dominating stats, however his underlying metrics are significantly better. His 2.53 xERA was 1.69 decrease than his precise ERA, and it ranked within the 97th percentile. He additionally posted a 29.9% strikeout charge (ninetieth percentile), 3.1% barrel charge (98th), 30.2% hard-hit charge (98th), and 33.6% chase charge (94th). These are all actually elite numbers, and paint him to be the most effective relievers in all of baseball. He was traded to the Rangers this offseason, the place he figures to be within the combine for saves. His primary competitors is 38-year-old Chris Martin, so his path to saves will not precisely be robust. The principle factor working towards him is that he’s a lefty and could also be referred to as into different high-leverage conditions earlier within the recreation. He’s nonetheless value a really late-round speculative decide in leagues which are very scarce for saves as a result of he has top-10 potential on the place if he wins the closing job outright ultimately.
Ryan Weathers, SP, MarlinsRyan Weathers did not have an particularly notable 2024, posting a 3.63 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 80 strikeouts in 86.2 innings. He handled a finger damage that stored him out for half the season and din’t look overpowering when he was wholesome. Nevertheless, he appears to be like like a brand new pitcher this spring. He reportedly has misplaced 20 kilos over the winter, and is throwing tougher than he ever has earlier than. He’s averaging over two mph quicker on his fastball and over 1 mph quicker on all of his different pitches. He additionally has new mechanics, which not solely contributed to the elevated velocity but in addition to totally different pitch shapes. His fastball is averaging virtually three further inches of vertical break, making it look way more like an elite pitch. If he can proceed these tendencies into the common season, he could also be on the verge of an enormous breakout.
Jacob Wilson, SS, AthleticsJacob Wilson made his main league debut in 2024, slashing .250/.314/.315 in 28 video games. That is actually not an encouraging stat line, however he has room for enchancment in 2025. Whereas he struggled along with his first style of the majors final season, he completely dominated the minors. In 53 minor league video games, he hit for a .433 batting common with a miniscule strikeout charge of 6.6%. He nonetheless stored his strikeouts low within the huge leagues, too, posting a superb 9.7% strikeout charge. He’s locked in because the A’s on a regular basis shortstop and can get the chance to be the low cost model of Luis Arraez. Do not anticipate any energy out of him, but when in extraordinarily deep blended leagues or AL-only leagues, he may function a late supply of batting common.
Luis Arraez, 1B/2B, PadresWe know who Luis Arraez is at this level. He’ll hit for an elite batting common, rating a great quantity of runs, and are available up brief in all places else. That really wasn’t precisely true in 2024, as he did chip in a useful 9 stolen bases. Nevertheless, on account of his thirtieth percentile dash pace, I would not rely on that taking place once more. On prime of the stolen bases, he batted .314 with 83 runs, 46 RBI, and 4 house runs. His whiff charge, strikeout charge, and squared-up charge all ranked within the a hundredth percentile, however he accomplishes this with a 1st percentile bat pace, hard-hit charge, and barrel charge. He’s a advantageous mid-round decide in the event you fell very behind in batting common early within the draft.
Yandy Diaz, 1B, RaysYandy Diaz slashed .281/.341/.414 with 55 runs, 14 house runs, and 65 RBI in 2024. This was an enormous step again from his 2023 season, the place he hit .330 with 95 runs, 22 house runs, and 78 RBI. His batted-ball metrics seemed fairly related between the seasons, along with his floor ball charge, fly ball charge, and pull charge all trying practically similar. The one noticeable lower was his infield fly ball charge spiking to fifteen.2% from simply 5.6% in 2023. This led to a 5 % lower in laborious contact and a 5 % improve in tender contact. Nevertheless, the Rays’ venue change may result in Diaz regaining a few of that energy. They are going to be enjoying their house video games in George M. Steinbrenner Discipline, which is a carbon copy of Yankee Stadium. This implies they’re going to get to benefit from the well-known brief porch in proper subject, and though Diaz is a righty himself, he really hit the ball to the alternative subject on the similar charge as he pulled the ball in 2024. He ought to as soon as once more be a lock for a excessive batting common, making him a really high-floor play for a nook infield spot, with the upside to outperform that.
Jorge Soler, OF, AngelsJorge Soler was traded from the Braves to the Angels this offseason. In 2024, he slashed .241/.338/.442 with 84 runs, 21 house runs, and 64 RBI break up between the Giants and Braves. He drastically improved his energy output after being traded to the Braves midseason, and he’ll now get a full season away from the pitcher-friendly park in San Francisco. He nonetheless has large energy, with a 94th percentile bat pace of 75.4 mph and an 86th percentile barrel charge of 12.6%. He additionally excels at drawing walks, with an 11.8% stroll charge that ranked within the 92nd percentile. This creates an enormous discrepancy between his batting common and on-base share, giving him a definite enhance in worth in any leagues that reward OBP. He’s a stable supply of late energy who’s presently being drafted exterior of the highest 200 general.
J.J. Bleday, OF, AthleticsJ.J. Bleday can be trying to broaden on his stable 2024, the place he slashed .243/.324/.437 with 74 runs, 20 house runs, and 60 RBI. He’s solely 27 years previous and is the on a regular basis heart fielder for the A’s. Enjoying day-after-day and hitting within the prime half of the lineup surrounded by Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker may deliver him much more success in 2025. That is very true because the A’s are enjoying in a brand new stadium that figures to be a lot much less pitcher-friendly than their previous house. With an ADP of 268, he’s a stable late-round decide in deeper leagues the place assured at-bats are an enormous worth in themselves.
