Spring Coaching has began, which implies many fantasy leagues are gearing up for the season to begin. Sure, some leagues have already had their drafts, however many haven’t.
As fantasy house owners put together for his or her upcoming league drafts or auctions or no matter course of you employ so as to add gamers, this week the Prime 400 Dynasty Gamers for 2025 options the gamers ranked Fiftieth-Twenty sixth. We’re within the backstretch as subsequent week we conclude the sequence.
Once you take a look at the place and age breakdowns for this group, it shouldn’t be stunning to see 19 of the 25 gamers are underneath the age of 29 with 5 gamers underneath the age of 24. And you actually shouldn’t be shocked to see so many pitchers. After the primary two rounds of a draft, I’ll hunt for the highest pitchers on the board, particularly as increasingly leagues regulate their classes to make beginning pitching extra significant aside from accumulating strikeouts or posting a 4.50 ERA but get credited with a top quality begin.
Age of Gamers
Age 20-24 – 5
Age 25-29 – 14
Age 30+ – 6
Place Breakdown
SP – 11
1B – 2
SS – 2
3B – 2
OF –7
IF/OF – 1
Anyway, sufficient small speak. Let’s get to the rankings.
50-46
*Age as of April 1, 2025
**Minimal 10 video games performed at every place listed. If lower than 10, then place most performed
***Till the Athletics are literally in Las Vegas, gamers on the crew will likely be listed as OAK
****2024 Rank is the place I ranked gamers forward of the 2024 season.
RANK
PLAYER
TEAM
POSITION
AGE
2024 RANK
50
Zack Wheeler
PHI
SP
34
100
49
Gerrit Cole
NYY
SP
33
27
48
Willy Adames
MIL
SS
29
215
47
Parker Meadows
DET
CF
25
241
46
Riley Greene
DET
LF/CF
24
105
I’m A Believer Now
For no matter motive, I’ve by no means seen Zach Wheeler as a prime pitcher. I saved telling myself that he was simply fortunate that season or one thing. Nicely, he positive should be getting fortunate loads, as a result of in his 10 seasons he has a 3.34 ERA, a 1.156 WHIP and a 9.3 Ok/9 ratio with a 103-70 report. For the reason that 2020 season, he’s 59-32 with a 2.94 ERA, 1.031 WHIP, a 9.8 Ok/9 ratio and he has an ERA+ of 142. One thing tells me that Wheeler is a fairly good pitcher. And age doesn’t appear to issue into his success because the 2020 season was his age 30 season.
A Slight Bump Down
For the primary time since debuting with the Pirates in 2013, the 2024 season was the primary time Gerrit Cole didn’t pitch 100 innings exterior of the shortened 2020 season. In any other case, Cole has been a mannequin of consistency, taking the ball each fifth or sixth day and throwing between 180 and 200+ innings. Since 2018, Cole has completed fifth, 2nd, 4th, 2nd, ninth and 1st within the Cy Younger voting. The 2024 season was the primary time he didn’t end within the prime 9 since 2017. However are cracks beginning to seem in his sport? I’m not saying to steer clear of him however simply know that his Ok/9 ratio has decreased from 12.1 in 2021 to 9.4 final yr whereas his BB/9 ratio has elevated from 2.0 to 2.7.
Highly effective Shortstop
Once you discuss Willy Adames, the very first thing you consider is energy. Due to his potential to slug homers, Adames has been on the radar display of dynasty gamers for years as he was a former prime 100 prospect when he was with Tampa Bay. In each full season since 2019, Adames has hit at the very least 20 homers, and in two of the previous three seasons he has topped 30 homers. And this previous season he added the stolen base to his sport. After by no means having greater than eight steals in a season, Adames swiped 21 bases this previous season and was solely caught 4 occasions.
Adames isn’t good. He sports activities a profession batting common of .248 and his OBP is a pedestrian .322. He additionally has a profession strikeout charge of 27.2%. Nevertheless, he has a superb understanding of the zone as he has a profession stroll charge of 9.6% and his stroll charge has been at 10.8% or larger in three of the final 4 seasons.
A Pair of Tigers
Placing Riley Greene and Parker Meadows is sort of dishonest since they’re separate gamers. However I like them equally as each are nice up-and-coming studs. Greene at the moment qualifies as a middle fielder due to the very fact Meadows missed time attributable to a stint within the minors after which on the IL. However a wholesome Meadows pushes Greene to a nook outfield spot. However I might guess that Greene nonetheless will get time in middle area in 2025 and subsequent years when Meadows just isn’t within the lineup.
Greene lastly had his breakout season in 2024 as he slashed .262/.348/.479 with 24 homers and 82 RBI in 137 video games. Since debuting in 2022, Inexperienced’s OPS+ has gone from 97 to 119 to 133 this season. He could not attain 30 homers per season throughout his profession, however he will get on base at a .350 clip and offers a strong, regular bat in your lineup.
In 119 profession MLB video games, Meadows has 12 homers, 58 RBI, and 17 steals. Meadows ought to improve his energy numbers, even enjoying in Detroit, and the steals will proceed to pile up as effectively to make him a 20-20 man. Some might imagine I could also be a little bit aggressive with Meadows’ rating, however I’m all aboard the Meadows prepare.
45-41
RANK
PLAYER
TEAM
POSITION
AGE
2024 RANK
45
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
LAD
SP
25
59
44
Spencer Strider
ATL
SP
25
12
43
Freddie Freeman
LAD
1B
35
11
42
Jazz Chisholm
NYY
3B/CF
27
53
41
Bryce Harper
PHI
1B
32
14
Solely A Peak Preview
We actually didn’t get to see what Yoshinobu Yamamoto can do on the mound final yr as he was restricted to 18 begins. However what we did see when wholesome was a pitcher who can get main league hitters out. Yamamoto went 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP to go together with a ten.5 Ok/9 charge. He had a 129 ERA+ and a 2.61 FIP. That provides as much as an excellent pitcher. The Dodgers have such a deep employees, Yamamoto will possible take the ball solely as soon as per week. However that’s advantageous with me. The three pitches he featured probably the most in 2024 – a 4 seamer, break up finger and curve – featured a batting common towards of solely .221
A Transfer For The Future
Regardless of lacking nearly all of the 2024 season, Spencer Strider is available in at No. 44. Strider will hopefully return at midseason, so going after him is a transfer principally with the long run in thoughts. When Strider is wholesome he’s merely the most effective pitchers on the market. When you don’t seize Strider and stash him, another person will. Everybody needs fast returns on their funding, however generally the lengthy sport is the higher one to take.
Age Not A Issue
All of us just like the younger gamers, however one place the place I don’t fret about age an excessive amount of is first base. It’s the place the place the older gamers can nonetheless thrive. And Freddie Freeman is an ideal instance of that as he’s only a machine on the plate. An ankle damage hobbled Freeman this previous season, however he nonetheless hit 22 homers, drove in 89 runs, and slashed .282/.378/.476. Freeman is nice for almost 25 homers and 100 RBI each season to associate with a profession slash line of .300/.387/.512.
A Transfer To Second
Jazz Chisholm stepped in at third base for the Yankees and did a advantageous job in 2024, however Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone has mentioned Chisholm is penciled in to be the second baseman this season. For fantasy house owners, that is nice information. For this season Chisholm is eligible at third and middle area, so changing into 2B eligible makes him much more useful. Sooner or later, being a second baseman makes Chisholm the most effective at that place when it comes to fantasy worth attributable to his velocity and energy mixture. He’s coming off a 24 homer, 40 steal season and I see no motive for him to not match these numbers for the subsequent a number of years.
Confirmed Producer
Bryce Harper is solely the most effective hitters within the sport, it doesn’t matter what place participant you’re evaluating him to. Want energy and run manufacturing? Harper has a profession 162-game common of 33 homers and 96 RBI. Want a strong slash line? Harper’s profession line is .281/.389/.522. Twice in his profession he has topped 1.000 in OPS and his profession OPS is .911. He’ll add a number of steals as effectively, although he managed solely seven this yr, his lowest complete since 2017. However you don’t need Harper due to steals. You need Harper due to every thing else he does.
40-36
RANK
PLAYER
TEAM
POSITION
AGE
2024 RANK
40
Manny Machado
SD
3B
32
45
39
Garrett Crochet
BOS
SP
25
105
38
George Kirby
SEA
SP
26
54
37
Logan Gilbert
SEA
SP
27
81
36
Cole Ragans
KC
SP
26
97
Nonetheless Producing
From 2021 to 2023, Manny Machado averaged 30 homers and 100 RBI in 147 video games with a .278/.345/.495 and completed 18th within the MVP voting in 2022 and second in 2023. This previous season he slashed .275/.325/.472 with 29 homers and 105 RBI whereas additionally swiping 11 bases. I see nothing to counsel that Machado is immediately going to lose it on the plate, making him a terrific participant to park at third base for a number of extra years.
Proved Me Fallacious
Garrett Crochet is a pitcher I used to be unsure was actually good. OK, I believed he was good, however not somebody to be ranked within the prime 100 final yr as I wasn’t positive about how he would pitch as a fulltime starter. All Crochet did in 2024 was show that he was higher than I believed he was. Used completely as a reliever since his debut in 2020, Crochet was inserted into the beginning rotation in 2024 and flourished. On a horrid White Sox crew, he had a 3.58 WRA and 1.068 WHIP whereas posting a 12.9 Ok/9 charge. He has great stuff, and now that he’s on an actual MLB crew, think about what he can do when he has an opportunity to win each time he takes the mound.
A Pair of Mariners, Once more
Seattle has a ridiculous variety of gifted pitchers. I already talked about Miller and Castillo final week. This week I’m right here to place the highlight on teammates George Kirby and Logan Gilbert. Kirby completed sixth in Rookie of the Yr voting in 2022 when he had a 3.39 ERA and 1.208 WHIP. Within the two years since Kirby has posted ERAs of three.35 and three.53 and WHIPs of 1.038 and 1.068. Kirby doesn’t rack up excessive strikeout totals. However he additionally doesn’t stroll anybody (profession 1.1 BB/9 charge) and permits solely 8.7 H/9.
Gilbert is the higher model of Kirby. Like Kirby, Gilbert doesn’t enable baserunners as he has a profession WHIP of 1.063 going again to 2021. This season his WHIP was an impressive 0.887 due to permitting only one.6 BB/9 and 6.4 H/9. Gilbert, whose profession ERA is 3.60 in 4 seasons, additionally racks up the strikeouts. His Ok/9 charge this season was 9.5 and for his profession, it’s 9.1. IF these are numbers you don’t prefer to see in a pitcher, then I don’t know what else you may need.
Future Cy Younger Winner
Cole Ragans has been excellent for the Royals since they acquired him from Texas for Aroldis Chapman on June 30, 2023. Since arriving in Kansas Metropolis, Ragans has been a mainstay within the rotation. In 12 begins for the Royals in 2023 he went 5-2 with a 2.64 ERA, 1.074 WHIP, and 11.2 Ok/9 charge. This season he was 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.143 WHIP whereas notching a ten.8 Ok/9 charge. Ragans can reduce down on his walks, however that’s quibbling when he does every thing else so effectively. Ragans has the flexibility to be a Cy Younger winner, and since he pitches for Kansas Metropolis, he could also be missed by folks in your league. When you want a pitcher, Ragans is a superb one to go after.
35-31
RANK
PLAYER
TEAM
POSITION
AGE
2024 RANK
35
Austin Riley
ATL
3B
27
17
34
Kerry Carpenter
DET
RF
27
96
33
Dylan Crews
WSH
RF
23
NR
32
Hunter Greene
CIN
SP
24
116
31
Corbin Burnes
ARI
SP
29
30
Prepared To Rebound
Accidents harm Austin Riley’s manufacturing this previous season (19 homers, 56 RBI in 110 video games). However from 2021 via 2023 (to check him to Machado) Riley’s common season was 36 homers and 99 RBI with a .286/.354/.525 slash line whereas averaging 159 video games. Throughout these three years he completed seventh, sixth, and seventh within the MVP voting. There is no such thing as a motive to assume Riley just isn’t going to return to that stage of manufacturing subsequent yr and past.
Able to Bust Out
Kerry Carpenter has one downside – he has not been in a position to keep wholesome. He was restricted to 87 video games this previous season attributable to a lumbar stress fracture in his again. A shoulder sprain attributable to operating into the wall whereas making a catch in 2023 restricted Carpenter to 118 video games. However when he’s wholesome, he’s an thrilling participant to observe. In his 87 video games final yr he slashed .284/.345/.587 with 18 homers and 57 RBI. He has struggled to hit lefties, leaving him to face principally right-handed pitchers to date. However his 162-game common within the majors is 30 house runs and 90 RBI. If Carpenter can keep wholesome, he ought to have the ability to attain these numbers in 2025 and future seasons – even when he sits most of the time towards lefties.
Getting Prepared for Prime Time
Guess What? Dylan Crews proved he’s human after a tremendous faculty profession at LSU. Throughout his 31 video games with the Nationals this previous season as he slashed .218/.288/.353. However he did present why he’s thought-about one of many prime younger gamers within the sport. He hit three homers and stole 12 bases. It’s his power-speed combo that has everybody so enthusiastic about his future. Crews had a .275/.351/.455 slash line with 18 homers, 97 RBI, and 29 steals in solely 135 profession minor league video games earlier than being recalled by the Nationals. It could be shocking if Crews doesn’t go 20-20 this season and solely get higher over time.
Neglected Ace
Maybe it’s the market he performs in, however Hunter Greene ought to get extra publicity about simply how good he’s. In the case of Greene, I can perceive why some folks could also be late to the sport with regards to expertise. His first two seasons with the Reds produced ERAs of 4.44 and 4.82 and WHIPs of 1.210 and 1.420. Walks (profession BB/9 charge of three.5) coupled with premature hits all the time haunted Greene. However he has all the time been in a position to blow the ball previous hitters as proven by a Ok/9 charge of 11.7 and 12.2 his first two seasons.
Greene lastly put every thing collectively in 2024. He had a 2.75 ERA and 1.018 WHIP. He nonetheless walked 3.4 batters per 9 innings, however he allowed solely 5.37 hits per 9. In the meantime, he nonetheless maintained a wonderful Ok/9 charge of 10.1. Greene simply turned 25 this previous August, which means he’s simply now reaching his prime and barely touching his ceiling.
Now In The Desert
When in search of a pitcher to steer your employees, Corbin Burnes is a superb place to begin. His highest ERA since changing into a full-time starter in 2020 is 3.39 in 2023 with Milwaukee. His highest WHIP throughout that span is 1.096 which occurred in 2024. Corbin takes the ball each 5 days and produces nice numbers. His strikeout charge has fallen every of the final 4 seasons since recording a 13.3 Ok/9 charge in 2020, however he nonetheless had an 8.4 charge this yr. I ranked Burns forward of Greene as a result of truth he has confirmed himself for a number of years. However in case you seize Greene earlier than Burns, that makes quite a lot of sense to me.
30-26
RANK
PLAYER
TEAM
POSITION
AGE
2024 RANK
30
Dylan Stop
SDP
SP
28
148
29
Michael Harris
ATL
CF
24
23
28
Pete Crow-Armstrong
CHC
CF
23
89
27
Colton Cowser
BAL
LF/CF/RF
25
88
26
Francisco Lindor
NYM
SS
31
31
A Padre For Now
Dylan Stop of the Padres has not been as constant as Burnes, however he’s an impressive pitcher who, like Burnes, takes the ball each 5 days and produces. He has a profession Ok/9 charge of 10.8 with a profession ERA of three.75 and ERA+ of 114. He can get harm by issuing too many walks, and it appears he balances an impressive season with a median season the next yr, and that could be a massive motive why I ranked him 148th final yr. However when judging Stop on pure expertise, he is likely one of the greatest on the market.
Harris and Crow-Armstrong
Michael Harris has been unable to remain on the sector for a whole season, showing in 114, 138, and 110 video games in every of the final three seasons. However when he’s wholesome, he has the flexibility to hit for energy, steal bases, and assist your slash line. For his profession, he’s a .285/.325/.469 hitter with a 162-game common of 24 homers, 76 RBI, and 22 steals. Regardless of a considerably down yr on the plate in 2024, his xBA ranked within the 94th percentile and his Laborious Hit% ranked within the 82nd percentile.
It is just a matter of time earlier than Pete Crow-Armstrong is likely one of the prime gamers within the sport. As a rookie with the Cubs he slashed .237/.286/.384 with 10 homers, 47 RBI, and 27 steals in 123 video games. His power-speed combo is simply too good to go up. As a 21-year-old in 2023 enjoying on the Double-A and Triple-A ranges, Crow-Armstrong had 20 homers, 82 RBI, and 37 steals in 107 video games whereas slashing .283/.365/.511. He could not have as a lot energy as another outfielders, however the steals he’ll present will make up for the less homers.
Multi-Positional Expertise
Colton Cowser completed second within the AL ROY voting this season after hitting 24 homers and driving in 69 runs whereas stealing 9 bases and slashing .242/.321/.447. His energy is actual and his slash line ought to creep towards his minor league profession numbers of .298/.420/.489. I believe what he did this previous season is his ground and the ability ought to improve over the subsequent few years. And I like the very fact I can plug him right into a slot within the outfield, which is a big bonus in leagues that get away the outfield positions.
The Previous Man
Such as you, me, and the remainder of the folks on the earth who’re nonetheless alive, Francisco Lindor is getting older every single day. However that’s about the one dangerous factor you may say concerning the Mets shortstop. I simply don’t see him slowing down anytime quickly on the sector. He hit 33 homers final season with 91 RBI and 29 steals whereas slashing .273/.344/.500. These numbers are in keeping with his profession 162-game common of 29 homers, 91 RBI, and 22 steals to go together with a .274/.342/.476 slash line.
Come Again Subsequent Week
As soon as once more, thanks for studying. Be sure that to return subsequent week when the ultimate group of gamers as these ranked 25-1 are unveiled within the ultimate Prime 400 Dynasty Gamers for 2025.
Earlier Prime 400 Dynasty Gamers for 2025 Rankings:
Prime 400 Dynasty Gamers for 2025: 400-301Top 400 Dynasty Gamers for 2025: 300-201Top 400 Dynasty Gamers for 2025: 200-176Top 400 Dynasty Gamers for 2025: 175-151Top 400 Dynasty Gamers for 2025: 150-126Top 400 Dynasty Gamers for 2025: 125-101Top 400 Dynasty Gamers for 2025: 100-76Top 400 Dynasty Gamers for 2025: 75-51
