Preseason Prep – March 6, 2025 – Fantasy Baseball 2025

Preseason Prep – March 6, 2025

Luken Baker, 1B (STL)

Baker’s prodigious energy has been on show this spring. The 27-year-old hit his third house run on Wednesday, enhancing his OPS to 1.233 in 17 Grapefruit League at-bats. Energy is Baker’s sport. He hit 33 house runs in 314 AAA at-bats in 2023 and 32 homers in 376 AAA at-bats in ’24. Nonetheless, the remainder of his sport is missing. He’s a basic Three True Outcomes batter, putting out about one-quarter of the time, strolling 14% of the time and hitting a house run a lot of the situations he makes contact. There is a purpose the Cardinals have hesitated to offer him significant MLB at-bats, regardless of his superior age for a minor leaguer. This may very well be the yr for him to get an opportunity, nonetheless, because the Cardinals are leaning into their youth and counting on Willson Contreras and Alec Burleson to man the designated hitter and first base positions. If Baker finds his manner into extra taking part in time, he gives loads of low cost energy albeit with a sluggish batting common.

Grayson Rodriguez, SP (BAL)

Let’s preface this by taking a deep breath and reminding ourselves to not overreact about spring coaching. Okay? Did you breathe? Now PANIC!!!! Okay, it is a minimum of just a little worrisome that Grayson Rodriguez was pulled from Wednesday’s begin with decreased velocity. Afterward the Orioles righty was quoted as saying, “at this time was just a little troublesome simply making an attempt to get within the strike zone.” He regarded nice in his earlier begin so this is not one thing to learn an excessive amount of into. He did not see an innings soar in 2024 so there should not be a priority about being overworked. Keep watch over his standing shifting ahead and count on Rodriguez’s innings to leap to the 150’s this yr.

Ezequiel Tovar, SS (COL)

Tovar was pressured to depart Wednesday’s sport after getting hit by a pitch on the arm. The Rockies are calling it a left triceps contusion and do not count on him to overlook a lot, if any, time. Tovar has been quiet this spring with 4 hits in 17 at-bats, however three of these knocks are doubles. What’s encouraging to see is that the younger shortstop has walked 4 instances already. For comparability, he walked solely 23 instances in 695 plate appearances final season. More likely to hit in the course of the Rockies lineup, endurance on the plate is the following step in his improvement. He demonstrated energy upside with 26 house runs final yr and managed to hit a strong .269, though his xBA is .233 (taking part in at Coors Discipline helps). The disadvantage is his poor batting EYE. If the early spring pattern is any indication of offseason features, Tovar might provide cut price worth at his present ADP. 

Andrew Kittredge, RP (BAL)

Kittredge is coping with a sore knee, and the Orioles mentioned he’ll search a second opinion, which is never excellent news. The veteran reliever signed a one-year contract with Baltimore after a wonderful season in St. Louis. He’s a minimum of one step away from the nearer’s function so his standing is not of an excessive amount of concern for fantasy homeowners in customary leagues, however these in codecs that reward holds ought to be taking note of this ailment. Kittredge has a very good slider together with a sinking fastball. He limits walks and residential runs and strikes out a adequate variety of hitters, offering loads of worth as a high-leverage reliever. Seranthony Dominguez and Yennier Cano will doubtless see extra alternatives to immediately arrange Felix Bautista if Kittredge misses time.

Garrett Crochet, SP (BOS)

Crochet is not giving fantasy homeowners many causes to query the hype. He polished off his third scoreless look this spring with seven strikeouts in three innings in opposition to the Rays. Crochet has 14 strikeouts in 6.1 innings this spring, constructing off his unbelievable breakout season with the White Sox final yr. Now in Boston, Crochet is sure to enhance 2024’s 6-12 document. He had an incredible 209/33 strikeout-to-walk ratio final yr together with a excessive floor ball price and mediocre high quality of contact. The walks might improve a bit in Boston, however he ought to nonetheless provide insane upside with the opposite metrics. The largest query is what number of innings he throws. Final season was Crochet’s first as a starter and he completed with 146 innings. If he can keep wholesome, he ought to surpass that whole this yr, which suggests his strikeout numbers may very well be among the many league’s finest. It is all the time troublesome to gauge the influence of an enormous innings soar as Crochet noticed from 2023 to 2024. What is clear proper now, on the very least, is he’s wholesome and dominating.

Accidents Hit Brewers Pitching

The Brewers pitching employees is coping with lots of modifications. DL Corridor was positioned on the 60-day injured checklist with a lat pressure. Corridor appeared more likely to open the season in Milwaukee’s rotation, however he now will not be eligible to return till late Could. Additional complicating points is an indirect damage that’s hampering Aaron Ashby. Ashby was faraway from Monday’s begin and is now in search of a second opinion on his damage. Now the Brewers rotation seems to be composed of Freddy Peralta, Tobias Myers, Nestor Cortes, Aaron Civale and the recently-signed Jose Quintana, who inked a one-year take care of the Brew Crew this week. Brandon Woodruff’s impending return from shoulder surgical procedure will bump a type of pitchers, doubtless Civale, from the beginning 5, however the standing of Corridor and Ashby are at stake as nicely.

Jordan Walker, OF (STL)

Walker is reportedly coping with knee irritation after leaving Tuesday’s sport. It’s not a great omen for a participant that’s making an attempt to offer somebody a purpose to imagine in a turnaround from what has been a disastrous begin to his main league profession. Walker has solely two hits in his first 14 at-bats this spring and now the knee damage creates sufficient uncertainty to drop his draft worth barely. They in all probability will not name it a ‘rebuild,’ however the Cardinals are clearly on the lookout for a brand new technology of gamers following the retirements of Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright, the departures of Paul Goldschmidt and Tommy Edman and the doubtless eventual commerce of Nolan Arenado. That will seemingly open the door for a former high prospect like Walker, who continues to be solely 22 years outdated. Sadly he continues to battle on the main league degree. His contact price hovered proper round 70% final yr and his stroll price dropped under six %. He wants to enhance his plate self-discipline to be able to capitalize on his above-average uncooked energy. Till then, he is nothing greater than a reserve participant in most fantasy codecs.

Christian Walker, 1B (HOU)

Walker was scratched from Wednesday’s lineup for what was revealed as a sore indirect. The Astros did not categorical severe concern concerning the damage, however obliques can notoriously linger, significantly in energy hitters like Walker so this can be a state of affairs to observe. Walker has solely appeared in 4 video games this spring however has 4 hits, together with three doubles, in eight at-bats. The 33-year-old has hit a minimum of 26 house runs in every of the previous three seasons, and the Astros are hoping he covers for the lack of Alex Bregman. Like Bregman, Walker hits the ball within the air and pulls it to the fitting aspect. Not like Bregman, Walker hits with much more energy. That ought to provide loads of photographs into the Crawford Bins and lots of manufacturing for fantasy homeowners.

Marco Luciano, SS (SF)

Luciano, who has performed primarily within the outfield this spring, was optioned to AAA-Sacramento on Wednesday, that means he’ll want an damage or underperformance from others within the group to be able to get a possibility with the Giants. The one-time high prospect has struggled mightily, each within the subject and on the plate, however he’s nonetheless solely 23 years outdated and has demonstrated energy upside all through the minor leagues. What continues to carry him again is an elevated swinging strike price and an underwhelming barrel price. He ought to be prevented in redraft leagues, however it’s nonetheless too early to shut the door on his long-term potential.

Jose Iglesias, SS (SD)

Iglesias signed a minor-league take care of the Padres on Wednesday, a late add to the spring roster. For all non-Mets followers, the veteran infielder is nothing greater than a high quality utility participant with little to no fantasy worth. For Mets followers, Iglesias is an MVP candidate. I am writing from the previous’s perspective so we’ll deal with him for what he’s: below-average energy and velocity with an honest hit software and a fantastic glove. Now at 35 years outdated with no clear path to taking part in time, do not let these energetic Mets followers deceive you: Iglesias has no fantasy choices.

Adolis Garcia, OF (TEX)

Garcia’s damage is not thought of severe after he was pressured to sit down out the previous two video games with indirect discomfort. An MRI on Wednesday confirmed a gentle pressure, however the Rangers count on him to be prepared for Opening Day. They want him to return to his pre-2024 self when he demonstrated glorious energy and first rate velocity. Final yr his high quality of contact declined, as did his plate self-discipline. The decrease hard-hit price contributed to a decrease HR/FB price and subsequently the bottom house run whole of his profession. It is attainable the muscular Garcia is already demonstrating some early age regression, though it is also attainable final yr was an outlier and he rebounds in 2025. The Fantistics Draft Software program is optimistic, projecting Garcia for 32 house runs and 11 stolen bases. 

Jesus Luzardo, SP (PHI)

Luzardo was hammered on Wednesday, giving up six runs in two innings, together with three house runs allowed on three consecutive pitches. The primary homer was a grand slam. The road seems scary, however it should not transfer the fantasy needle. His velocity was reportedly nice and he did not permit a baserunner in his first spring look. The danger with Luzardo is excessive because the 27-year-old is coming off a number of accidents limiting him to 12 begins and subpar numbers in 2024. Nonetheless, he was glorious over 50 begins between 2022-2023 and he lastly strikes to a contender the place his win totals might see a lift. Luzardo is fairly safe in Philadelphia’s rotation to start the season, however his leash is not infinite. The Phillies have a reasonable quantity of depth and will choose to interchange him if he falters. Therefore, the danger and reward.

Sandy Alcantara, SP (MIA)

Alcantara continued his stellar spring, sprucing off one other scoreless look on Wednesday in opposition to the Nationals. Alcantara walked a pair of hitters in 2.2 innings, however did not permit successful whereas putting out one. His fastball continues to sit down between 99-100-mph, he’s producing loads of floor balls and appears wholesome as will be after lacking everything of the 2024 season following Tommy John surgical procedure. Issues over Alcantara’s well being are waning, which is inflicting his ADP to rise. Take benefit when you nonetheless can. 

Antonio Senzatela, SP (COL)

Senzatela prolonged his spring scoreless streak to eight innings with three strong frames on Wednesday. He allowed one hit and one stroll and struck out two. The 30-year-old sandwiched an prolonged absence for Tommy John surgical procedure with 20 whole innings pitched over the previous two seasons mixed. Whereas he’s entrenched within the weak Rockies rotation, his innings whole will definitely be restricted this yr. Senzatela does not strike batters out, however he additionally limits walks and will get lots of floor balls. That is actually one of many solely strategies to success in Colorado. If you happen to’re somebody who can abdomen untalented pitchers who begin half their video games at Coors Discipline, Senzatela ought to a minimum of be in your radar within the deepest of NL-Solely leagues. 

Mitchell Parker, SP (WSH)

Parker is coping with neck stiffness which pressured the Nationals to skip his begin scheduled for Wednesday. This problem follows an unpleasant efficiency in opposition to the Mets final week, wherein he allowed two runs on 5 hits in 2.1 innings. Neck stiffness should not be an excessive amount of of a priority for Parker’s availability to start the season, however it’s definitely an damage value monitoring. The Nationals do not have the strongest rotation, however they do have depth. If Parker is pressured to overlook time, Japanese rookie Shinnosuke Ogasawara might get a possibility, as might intriguing lefty DJ Herz. Parker is coming off a formidable rookie season, ending 7-10 with a 4.29 ERA and superior statistics that again up his strong numbers. He is not more likely to win lots of video games or strike out a unprecedented quantity of batters, however he’s a legitimate depth choice in NL-Solely or deeper blended leagues.