Fantasy Baseball Players To Watch For The Week Ahead (April 21 - April 27)

April 21, 2025

Dawn's fantasy baseball watch list -- hitters, pitchers, and relievers she's keeping an eye on for April 21 - April 27 (2025): hot bats, good matchups, pitchers on a roll, and more.

Welcome to RotoBaller's Fantasy Baseball Players to Watch for the Week Ahead series for 2025 as we look ahead to the week of April 21 - April 27. In this article, I'll look at players like Nick Kurtz, Sal Frelick, Craig Yoho, and others.

Here at RotoBaller, we like to take a look around and discuss players who might be under-owned in redraft leagues, potential DFS candidates, players returning from injury, or some names that are just flat-out hot.

Looking ahead to this week's action, we've got some very fantasy-relevant names putting up some eye-opening numbers, a sleeper or two, and a few other tidbits. Let's dig in!

Fantasy Baseball Players to Watch: Hitters

Nick Kurtz, Athletics

What I'm Watching: How will Nick Kurtz perform in his MLB debut?

While many fantasy baseball managers are focused on established players, savvy owners should be watching the Athletics' top prospect, Nick Kurtz, who is set to make his MLB debut this week.

The @Athletics are calling up their No. 1 prospect, Nick Kurtz, for what would be his MLB debut, per @MartinJGallegos.

The 2024 first-rounder has a 1.040 OPS with 7 homers in 20 Triple-A games this season: https://t.co/CKec2S6Cv5 pic.twitter.com/hCE8mIwVLu

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 21, 2025

The A's fourth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft has progressed through the minor league system remarkably quickly. He has been dominating in Triple-A Las Vegas, beginning the 2025 season with a .367 BA, .409 OBP, and seven home runs in just 14 games.

The A's have a recent history of fast-tracking their top prospects, as they did with Jacob Wilson last year, who was called up after the All-Star break in his first full professional season. Kurtz could be an impactful addition to fantasy rosters as soon as he makes his first MLB start.

Sal Frelick, Milwaukee Brewers

What I'm Watching: Contact specialist with elite average and emerging speed threat

I picked Frelick fairly early in my fantasy draft as I thought he might be a sneaky sleeper pick, and thus far, he hasn't disappointed. Frelick has been one of baseball's hottest hitters in April, yet remains woefully under-rostered at just 34 percent in Yahoo fantasy leagues.

Through 19 games, Frelick is batting an impressive .378, tied for seventh in the league, while posting a .912 OPS (35th in the league). Throw in five steals, six RBI, and 11 runs, and you've a batter with multiple weapons in his fantasy arsenal.

Gold Glover Sal Frelick celebrating his 25th birthday with us on Brewers Live.

We chat about the best catch he's ever made, his pregame routine, his favorite guy to watch take batting practice and even some high school football highlights!

Here's the full mic'd up segment… pic.twitter.com/YyyXuqwwLQ

— Stephen Watson (@SWatsonTV) April 20, 2025

Milwaukee tends to be aggressive around the bases, recently swiping six bags in a single inning against the A's, with Frelick contributing one of them. Don't wait to see if Frelick's speed will be further unleashed; pick him up now, while you can.

Fantasy Baseball Players to Watch: Pitchers

Craig Yoho, Milwaukee Brewers

What I'm Watching: A changeup artist arrives to bolster the bullpen

The Brewers called up relief prospect Craig Yoho from Triple-A Nashville on Monday, giving fantasy managers an immediate opportunity to add one of the most dominant minor league arms from the past year.

The @Brewers are reportedly calling up their No. 18 prospect, Craig Yoho, for what would be his MLB debut.

After posting an 0.94 ERA across 48 relief appearances last season, Yoho has allowed no runs in 8 outings this year: https://t.co/HpVGLYoXwq pic.twitter.com/5PEZi3vz2Y

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 21, 2025

What makes Yoho so intriguing is his elite changeup (the "yo-yo"), which drops almost four feet on its way to the plate and breaks a foot and a half horizontally, generating a 45 percent whiff rate in the minors.

With the Brewers' bullpen experiencing some recent instability, Yoho could quickly work his way into high-leverage situations. Fantasy managers in deeper formats and those that reward holds should add him as soon as possible.

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