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Lauren analyzes top fantasy baseball prospects risers, fallers, sleepers and busts for 2025. Her MLB rookies report for Week 13 and recently promoted prospects.
Welcome to Week 13 of RotoBaller's Rookie Report, where we continue tracking the most exciting newcomers making waves across Major League Baseball. In Week 12, we took a closer look at the progress of Roman Anthony, Kyle Teel, and Ronny Mauricio as they worked to establish long-term roles with their respective clubs.
This week, the spotlight shifts to four breakout stars named among MLB’s top five Rookie of the Year candidates in both the American League and National League. These rising talents -- Jacob Wilson, Carlos Narvaez, Hyeseong Kim, and Chad Patrick -- have each made compelling cases for the coveted ROTY honor, thanks to their standout performances, poise under pressure, and consistent production.
We’ll dive into what’s driving their success, how they've impacted their teams, and what fantasy managers can expect moving forward as the race for Rookie of the Year heats up.
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Jacob Wilson, SS, Athletics
Wilson is currently the frontrunner for American League Rookie of the Year, as his 99 hits and .359 batting average rank second in MLB, behind New York Yankees' Aaron Judge. He's only 23 and has been the catalyst for the Athletics' offense, leading the team in OBP (.399), SLG (.500), and OPS (.899).
Track Record:
A first-round pick (sixth overall) and son of former big leaguer Jack Wilson, Jacob Wilson needed just two seasons in the minor leagues before getting promoted. The Los Angeles native dominated at every level, ending his minor league career with a .401/.446/.606 slash line and just 26 strikeouts in 337 plate appearances.
Wilson made his debut on July 19, 2024, but strained his hamstring a few days later and appeared in just 28 games. However, Wilson began the year with the major league club after fully recovering from his injury and having a strong showing in spring training.
Outlook:
While hitting in a minor league ballpark for your home games certainly helps, Wilson possesses elite bat-to-ball skills and utilizes the entire field. He also rarely strikes out, with just 19 strikeouts in nearly 300 PA this season.
Jacob Wilson's first career two-homer game 🫨 pic.twitter.com/px9DrgkEdL
— Athletics (@Athletics) May 14, 2025
It wouldn't be surprising if Wilson were to take home the AL ROTY Award, but he may have to compete with his teammate Nick Kurtz for the honor. Both are having impressive rookie campaigns, hopefully paving the way for a bright future for the A's as they prepare for their move to Sacramento.
Carlos Narvaez, C, Boston Red Sox
Also in the race for AL ROTY is Red Sox emerging backstop Narvaez, who's been a godsend at catcher amid Connor Wong's offensive woes. Narvaez joined Boston in a rare trade among division rivals when the Yankees dealt him in December for RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and future considerations.
So far, he's crushed his former team -- belting this three-run homer off Carlos Rodon on June 9, and walking them off on June 14 -- both Red Sox wins.
Carlos Narváez puts the @RedSox in front with a 3-run blast! 💥 pic.twitter.com/uN5HmAyjvU
— MLB (@MLB) June 9, 2025
Track Record:
Narvaez signed with the Yankees as a 16-year-old in 2015 out of Venezuela. He appeared in six games for New York after debuting in July 2024, following a nine-season minor league career. During that time, Narvaez developed into a plus defender with excellent framing skills. His hit tool was a bit inconsistent, but he still managed a .746 OPS and 47 home runs in almost 500 minor league games.
The Red Sox awarded him with a spot on the MLB roster entering the 2025 campaign.
Outlook:
Unsurprisingly, Narvaez has shown he's an above-average defender and can call a good game. What's been surprising, though, is his offensive production. While he was projected to add some power and on-base skills at the plate, he's exceeded those expectations. Narvaez has batted .277/.364/.450 with 15 doubles, six homers, and 23 RBI in 57 games thus far for Boston.
Originally planned to be Wong's backup, Narvaez has played his way into more opportunities.
Hyeseong Kim, 2B/SS/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers signed Kim in January after nine seasons in the KBO League in South Korea. While he may not have garnered as much attention as Roki Sasaki as an international free agent, Kim has fared much better than his Dodgers teammate. The 26-year-old began the season in the minor leagues, was promoted on May 3, and has been producing at the plate since.
Track Record:
Kim produced a .304/.364/.403 slash line across 953 games in the KBO alongside 37 home runs, 386 RBI, 211 stolen bases, and 623 strikeouts to 325 walks. He put his name on the radar of MLB teams after appearing for Korea in the World Baseball Classic in 2024. Less than a year later, he was posted.
Kim's contact skills, speed, and defensive versatility should have made him a more sought-after commodity on the free-agent market. Not to be outbid, the Dodgers once again came away with another talented international prospect.
Outlook:
Through 31 games in Los Angeles, Kim has posted a .984 OPS with seven XBH, six stolen bases, and 11 RBI. He's currently swinging a hot bat, slashing .333/.400/.556 in his last seven games. Moreover, he's batting .556 with 10 RBI with runners in scoring position.
Retweet this if you want to see Hyeseong Kim get more playing time.
Via @SportsNetLA pic.twitter.com/LpeOiqXIQQ
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) June 19, 2025
MLB.com even named him an "outside-the-box" candidate for the All-Star Game. It's not entirely far-fetched. Although he's appeared in just over 30 games and is still developing his batted-ball profile, the early results have been promising. Plus, he could be playing his way into more starting opportunities in the potent Dodger offense.
Chad Patrick, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
A dark horse candidate for NL ROTY is Patrick, who's put together a compelling case after debuting in March for the Brewers. He's posted a 3.50 ERA in 16 games (15 starts) and struck out 76 batters in 79.2 innings.
The 26-year-old has also walked 26 batters, and opponents are batting .250 against him. It hasn't necessarily been smooth sailing for the righty, but let's take a closer look at Patrick to see what has gone right and wrong for him.
Track Record:
Patrick was a fourth-round selection of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2021 MLB Draft. He spent two seasons in the D-backs' farm system, pitching to a respectable 3.30 ERA across three levels in 2022. Beginning the 2023 campaign in Double-A, he struggled mightily.
Arizona then traded him to the Athletics at the deadline in exchange for Jace Peterson. At Triple-A with the A's, his pitching woes continued, ending his 2023 season with a 5.59 ERA in 26 starts, surrendering 20 home runs, walking 53 batters, and striking out 129 through 124 innings. Patrick was on the move again in November 2023, when the A's dealt him to the Brewers for Abraham Toro.
Since joining Milwaukee, Patrick has looked much better on the mound. In 2024, he was effective again, pitching 136.1 innings to a 2.90 ERA in 26 games (24 starts). He struck out 145 batters and reduced his walks to 39. The Brewers decided to enter the 2025 season with him on the major league roster due to his strong 2024 performance and their limited pitching depth.
Outlook:
Patrick's arsenal consists of a cutter (44.2%), four-seam (24.0%), sinker (20.6%), changeup (6.1%), and slider (5.1%). His solid cutter-changeup combo and good command give him the tools to be a steady middle-of-the-rotation guy, and if he can tighten up his other pitches and get more whiffs, there’s a chance he could take things to the next level.
Chad Patrick's 2Ks in the 2nd. pic.twitter.com/GqPudQClZi
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 7, 2025
Patrick is calm under pressure, wise with his pitch mix, and always working hitters. He’s not blowing anyone away with velocity, but he knows how to get outs. Patrick is a reliable arm who can provide the Brewers with steady innings and hold down a spot in the back of the rotation.
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