X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Later-Round Fantasy Baseball Prospect Sleepers - Rookies To Stash (2025)

Jackson Jobe - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MLB Prospects, Draft Sleepers

Rookies are a great way to build your fantasy baseball team with some exciting new talent, and there are some exciting young players ready to emerge onto the scene in 2025. Some rookies are being drafted very early in drafts, but others can bring great value late in drafts with one of your last few picks.

Big names like Jasson Dominguez, Roman Anthony, Roki Sasaki, Dylan Crews, and Matt Shaw have been covered in other articles on RotoBaller and bring some exciting upside. In this post, though, I'm going to focus on some of the rookies available later in your drafts who bring nice upside and good potential at a very affordable level of investment.

None of these players are sure things, and rookies bring with them extra risk since this is their first extended run in MLB. Make sure your team is deep enough to handle the risk of adding these players and evaluate your league settings to see if it's possible to stash these players if they begin the year in the minor leagues. If you can carry them on your roster and deal with the additional risk, these five later-round rookies bring very exciting upside.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball draft tools and resources:

 

Caleb Durbin, 2B/3B, Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers acquired Durbin from the Yankees in the Devin Williams deal this offseason. The 25-year-old righty brings lots of defensive versatility and has made a strong case to leave spring training as part of the Brewers' Opening Day roster.

The Brewers lost Willy Adames to free agency and didn't add any infield pieces, meaning Brice Turang or Joey Ortiz will likely play shortstop with the other playing either second or third base. Durbin could fill the other spot, or at least be in the mix with Oliver Dunn and Andruw Monasterio.

Durbin has drawn comparisons to Jose Altuve because he's a small, compact hitter who brings both power and speed potential. Last year, he played 90 games in the minors and finished with 10 home runs and 31 stolen bases while hitting .275 with a .378 wOBA. Durbin also played in the Arizona Fall League, where he set a new league record with 29 stolen bases in 24 games while hitting .312 with five home runs and a .976 OPS.

Throughout his rise to MLB, Durbin has had excellent command of the strike zone, a low strikeout rate, and a good OPS to go with his excellent speed. He may slot in at the top of the order for the Brewers at some point this season, which would give him plenty of value, but he'll likely start lower in the order.

In spring training, he hit two home runs and had two stolen bases in his first nine games.

With some potential positional versatility and good speed production, the floor is fairly high for Durbin once he makes the roster and earns playing time. His power may or may not stick, but either way, he's worth a look at his current ADP well outside the top 300.

 

Tirso Ornelas, OF, San Diego Padres

In the outfield, I laid out some of my top late-round hidden gems earlier this spring training. One of the quickest-rising hitters to target late in drafts is Padres prospect Tirso Ornelas. He could be part of the solution in the corner outfield spot vacated by the departure of Jurickson Profar to the Braves.

The lefty has been in the organization a long time, working his way up the system. Last year, he played 128 games in Triple-A and hit a very solid .297 with 23 home runs, 89 RBI, and a .376 wOBA. He continued his strong year in the Mexican Winter League, hitting .289 with seven home runs and nine stolen bases in 48 games for the Charros de Jalisco.

Ornelas didn't start the year on many top rookies lists, but he's continued mashing in spring training.

Whether he gets the job from Opening Day or has to work his way into playing time, he's one of the most well-rounded prospects available in the late rounds. He's still barely being drafted, so stashing him late is a great way to build outfield depth.

 

Jacob Wilson, SS, Athletics

The A's drafted Wilson No. 6 overall in the 2023 MLB Draft and by the end of 2024, he had arrived in MLB. In 53 games across the minors, he hit an impressive .433 with 28 doubles, seven home runs, and a .504 wOBA.

After all that success, he hit .250 in his first 28 games in MLB. He had two doubles and two triples but only a .281 wOBA. Despite his lack of great quality contact, he did manage just a 9.7 percent strikeout rate, which was the fifth lowest by any hitter with at least 100 plate appearances. Even though he had some growing pains, the Athletics are ready to give Wilson their everyday starting job at shortstop this season.

Wilson has shown more power this spring training:

He and the Athletics get a park upgrade as they play in Sacramento, and since the 23-year-old is locked into a full-time role, he is a good late-round addition. His averages should be good enough to help and not hurt you, and he should have strong counting stats, making him a low-risk, late-round pick who brings good upside.

 

Andrew Painter, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

Painter will still be 21 at the start of this season, but the big righty is coming back from Tommy John surgery, so the Phillies will manage his workload very closely. With the MLB rotation already running five deep, he will likely begin the year in Triple-A, but the Phillies are already planning for a midseason arrival.

In 2022, Painter reached Double-A at just 19 years old and went 6-2 with a 1.56 ERA, 2.02 FIP, and 13.5 K/9 in 103 2/3 innings. He was on all the lists of top prospects and ready to take off, but he missed all of the 2023 and 2024 minor league seasons with Tommy John surgery.

Painter was back on the mound for the first time last year in the Arizona Fall League. He only pitched 15 2/3 innings, but he had an impressive 2.30 ERA while allowing 10 hits and four walks. Even more impressive is that he racked up 18 strikeouts and had a 68 percent strike rate. He looked outstanding and was named Arizona Fall League Player of the Year.

My RotoBaller colleague Eric Cross has Painter ahead of Jobe in his top 10 pitching prospects:

Painter is the better option in the long term, but for redraft leagues, Jobe is a better pick since he has a straighter line to a starting role. Painter will have a huge impact when he arrives, but you'll have to be patient if you draft him, depending on how your league allows you to stash players in the minor leagues or inactive.

He isn't expected in MLB until June at the earliest, but when he arrives, he'll make an immediate impact.

 

Jackson Jobe, SP, Detroit Tigers

The Tigers drafted Jobe with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, and the 22-year-old looks ready to make an impact in 2025. He pitched 21 games in the minors last year, going 5-3 with a 2.36 ERA, 3.41 FIP, and 96 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings. He even made a cameo with four shutout innings in MLB at the end of the regular season, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two.

This season, the Tigers have room for Jobe in their starting rotation, which is headlined by Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and free-agent returnee Jack Flaherty. There are veteran options in the mix, so his spot isn't locked up yet, but it seems to be trending in that direction, especially with the draft pick incentives from putting him on the Opening Day roster.

His stuff is filthy:

His main pitch is a four-seam fastball, which can get to 100 mph, but usually sits around 96 mph. He pitches off that with a split change and a cutter in addition to a sweeper from spring training highlighted above.

Right now, Jobe is going around pick No. 250 in drafts as a depth piece for your rotation. There are about 70 starting pitchers off the board ahead of him, so it doesn't take a huge investment to get in on some of his tantalizing upside. So far in spring training, he has given up some hard contact but also showcased his devastating stuff and a mature approach.

The Tigers will manage his workload, but he has the potential to emerge as one of the top young pitchers in the majors this season. Working at pitcher-friendly Comerica Park all summer could lead to a breakout campaign in which he could even challenge Dominguez for AL Rookie of the Year.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Fantasy Baseball Advice




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Mike Conley8 mins ago

Resting Against Jazz
Kenyon Martin Jr.15 mins ago

Out On Sunday
Keyonte George21 mins ago

On The Shelf For Fourth Straight Game
Cole Anthony25 mins ago

Doesn't Return On Sunday
Jordan Clarkson27 mins ago

Exits Jazz Lineup Sunday
Kris Dunn34 mins ago

Out On Sunday
Norman Powell40 mins ago

Returns To Clippers Lineup Sunday
Igor Shesterkin57 mins ago

Remains In Rangers Crease Sunday
John Gibson1 hour ago

Still Out On Sunday
Nick Bjugstad1 hour ago

Returns For Utah Sunday
Filip Chytil1 hour ago

Questionable For Sunday
Jiri Kulich2 hours ago

In Concussion Protocol
Adam Pelech2 hours ago

Out On Sunday
Zach Hyman2 hours ago

A Game-Time Call Sunday
Bailey Falter2 hours ago

Ready To Go For Monday
Yu Darvish2 hours ago

Dealing With Fatigue
Clarke Schmidt2 hours ago

Won't Start On Monday
Mark Leiter Jr.2 hours ago

Should Be Ready For Opening Day
David Bednar2 hours ago

Not Officially Named Closer
Yoán Moncada3 hours ago

Yoan Moncada Could Land On Injured List
NFL3 hours ago

Keith Taylor Signs With Falcons
NFL3 hours ago

Storm Norton Back With Atlanta
Ronnie Rivers4 hours ago

Re-Ups With Rams
Mason Adams4 hours ago

Diagnosed With Flex Strain
Joey Gallo4 hours ago

White Sox Release Joey Gallo
Sean Burke5 hours ago

Named Opening Day Starter
Jung Hoo Lee5 hours ago

Expected To Remain Sidelined For A Few Days
Max Kepler5 hours ago

Exits Early On Sunday After Collision
Eiberson Castellano5 hours ago

Could Win Bullpen Job
Kyle Freeland5 hours ago

Rockies Name Kyle Freeland Their Starter For Opening Day
Royce Lewis5 hours ago

Exits Early On Sunday
Ramón Urías5 hours ago

Ramon Urias Expected To Return On Thursday
Emmanuel Rivera5 hours ago

Dealing With Sore Shoulder
Ronny Mauricio6 hours ago

Won't Play In Spring Training Games
Nathan Eovaldi6 hours ago

Named Opening Day Starter
Framber Valdez6 hours ago

Will Start For Astros On Opening Day
Spencer Strider6 hours ago

To Make Spring Debut On Monday
Gleyber Torres6 hours ago

Scratched With Quad Contusion
Caleb Martin6 hours ago

Ruled Out On Sunday
De'Andre Hunter6 hours ago

Starting On Sunday Afternoon
Evan Mobley6 hours ago

Won't Face Orlando On Sunday
New York Jets6 hours ago

Derrick Nnadi Signing With Jets
Donovan Mitchell6 hours ago

Returning Versus Orlando
Cole Anthony7 hours ago

Back On Sunday
Washington Commanders7 hours ago

Eddie Goldman Joins Commanders On One-Year Deal
Cooper Rush7 hours ago

Agrees On Two-Year Deal With Ravens
Baltimore Ravens9 hours ago

Ben Cleveland Remaining With Ravens
Seattle Seahawks9 hours ago

Shemar Jean-Charles Signing With Seahawks
Velus Jones Jr.10 hours ago

Signs With Saints
Christopher Bell11 hours ago

Quest For Four Wins In A Row Just Got More Difficult
Kyle Larson11 hours ago

Should Contend For Another Win At Las Vegas
Ryan Blaney11 hours ago

Once Again The Chalk DFS Pick At Las Vegas
Ross Chastain11 hours ago

Fastest In Practice At Las Vegas
Chris Buescher11 hours ago

Has Sneaky Upside This Weekend
Quinton Byfield11 hours ago

Scores In Sixth Straight Contest
Chase Elliott12 hours ago

May Be A Sneaky DFS Option For Las Vegas Lineups
Artemi Panarin12 hours ago

Extends Point Streak To Eight Games
Pyotr Kochetkov12 hours ago

Shuts The Door On Flyers On Saturday
William Byron12 hours ago

Expect William Byron To Compete For The Win At Las Vegas
Tyler Reddick12 hours ago

Is One Of The Top DFS Options For Las Vegas
Anthony Cirelli12 hours ago

Strikes Twice On Saturday
Denny Hamlin12 hours ago

Could Denny Hamlin Be A Quality Driver For DFS At Las Vegas?
Alex Ovechkin12 hours ago

Scores Goal, Adds Assist In Victory
Connor Dewar12 hours ago

Scores Twice On Saturday
NASCAR12 hours ago

Bubba Wallace Could Be A Solid DFS Option For Las Vegas
Brad Keselowski12 hours ago

Qualifies Deep In The Field For Las Vegas
Erik Jones12 hours ago

Is Erik Jones Worth Rostering At Las Vegas This Week?
Daniel Suarez12 hours ago

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Daniel Suarez At Las Vegas?
Carson Hocevar13 hours ago

Showcases Speed And Can Be Worth Rostering At Las Vegas
Ryan Preece13 hours ago

Is Ryan Preece A DFS Fade For Las Vegas Lineups?
Joey Logano14 hours ago

Likely To Lead At Las Vegas, But Will He Lead Enough For DFS Consideration?
Michael McDowell14 hours ago

Wins Spire Motorsports' First Pole At Las Vegas
Austin Cindric14 hours ago

Qualifies Third But Is Almost Guaranteed To Lose Spots
Chase Briscoe14 hours ago

Las Vegas Performance Hard To Predict
Ty Gibbs14 hours ago

A Solid DFS Option In Theory
Shane Van Gisbergen14 hours ago

Too Inexperienced At Las Vegas For DFS Consideration
Jordan Mason20 hours ago

Vikings Acquire Jordan Mason From 49ers, Sign Him To Two-Year Deal
RJ Barrett22 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Sunday
Immanuel Quickley22 hours ago

Won't Play On Sunday
Jerami Grant22 hours ago

Unlikely To Play On Sunday
Marcus Smart22 hours ago

Downgraded To Out
Anfernee Simons22 hours ago

Tagged As Questionable For Sunday
Christian Braun22 hours ago

Available On Saturday
Aaron Gordon22 hours ago

Unavailable On Saturday
Jamal Murray22 hours ago

Will Play On Saturday Night
Nikola Jokić22 hours ago

Nikola Jokic Cleared To Suit Up Versus The Wizards
Dee Eskridge23 hours ago

Sticking With Dolphins
JuJu Smith-Schuster23 hours ago

Returning To Chiefs
Tennessee Titans24 hours ago

Chidobe Awuzie Released By Titans
Parris Campbell24 hours ago

Headed To Dallas
Jiri Kulich24 hours ago

Sustains An Upper-Body Injury Saturday
Tyler Myers1 day ago

Set To Return Against Blackhawks
Nikita Kucherov1 day ago

Good To Go Against Bruins
Yegor Chinakhov1 day ago

Rejoins Blue Jackets Lineup Saturday
Joel Armia1 day ago

Expected To Return On Saturday
Brady Tkachuk1 day ago

Available Saturday
Adam Fox1 day ago

Ready To Rejoin Rangers Lineup
Philadelphia Eagles1 day ago

Patrick Johnson Rejoins Philadelphia
Los Angeles Rams1 day ago

Larrell Murchison Back With The Rams
Kirk Cousins1 day ago

Set To Receive Roster Bonus
Aaron Rodgers1 day ago

Wants To Play In Minnesota
Washington Commanders1 day ago

Clelin Ferrell Returning To Washington
New York Jets1 day ago

Kris Boyd Signs With The Jets
Los Angeles Chargers1 day ago

Mekhi Becton Inks Deal With Chargers
Eeli Tolvanen1 day ago

Scores Twice In Victory
Roman Dolidze2 days ago

Set For A Rematch
Marvin Vettori2 days ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Chidi Njokuani2 days ago

Looks For His Third Win In A Row
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos2 days ago

Looks For His 12th UFC Win
Kurt Holobaugh2 days ago

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 104
Alexander Hernandez2 days ago

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Cody Gibson2 days ago

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Da'Mon Blackshear2 days ago

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 104
Brendson Ribeiro2 days ago

Searching For Second UFC Win On Saturday
Diyar Nurgozhay2 days ago

Set To Make His UFC Debut
MMA2 days ago

Seung Woo Choi In Dire Need Of Victory
Kevin Vallejos3 days ago

Makes Debut At UFC Vegas 104
Jacob Bridgeman4 days ago

Use Caution For Jacob Bridgeman At TPC Sawgrass
Nicolai Hojgaard4 days ago

Looks To Stay Consistent Heading Into PLAYERS Championship
Karl Vilips4 days ago

Makes PLAYERS Championship Debut After First PGA Tour Win
Taylor Pendrith4 days ago

A Sneaky Play At TPC Sawgrass
Sahith Theegala4 days ago

Out Of Form Ahead Of The PLAYERS Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick4 days ago

A Shaky Play Heading Into PLAYERS
Scottie Scheffler4 days ago

Eyeing Three-Peat At TPC Sawgrass
Aldrich Potgieter4 days ago

A Risky Play At TPC Sawgrass
Si Woo Kim4 days ago

Looks To Keep Building Momentum At The PLAYERS
Denny McCarthy4 days ago

Looks To Continue Solid Play At TPC Sawgrass
Collin Morikawa5 days ago

Poised For Another Strong Performance At TPC Sawgrass
Robert MacIntyre5 days ago

A Risky Play With Upside At The PLAYERS Championship
Jordan Spieth5 days ago

Looking To Change Fortunes At TPC Sawgrass
Cameron Young5 days ago

Avoid Cameron Young At The PLAYERS Championship
Michael Kim5 days ago

Continues Incredible Form Ahead Of The PLAYERS Championship
Justin Thomas5 days ago

Looking For More Magic At TPC Sawgrass
Xander Schauffele5 days ago

Continues Competitive Return At The Players Championship
Rory McIlroy5 days ago

Looks To Reverse Recent History At TPC Sawgrass
PGA5 days ago

Victor Hovland Looking To Find Form At The PLAYERS Championship
Brian Harman5 days ago

A Sleeper Pick At The PLAYERS Championship
Min Woo Lee5 days ago

A Hard Name To Trust At The Players Championship
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Albert Haynesworth - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Worst NFL Free Agent Signings Of All Time

With the free agency period for the 2025 NFL season now underway, many big-name players will find new homes as teams compete to sign anyone and everyone they think they need to help their squad. While many signings end up being good moves, or at least help their teams fill holes at certain positions on […]


Cole Kmet - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL injury News

Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets and Avoids: Tight Ends to Buy or Sell (2025)

It's tough to find good tight ends in dynasty fantasy football. Unfortunately, it's also very easy to be stuck with one that sticks around in the doldrums of low production. Such is the case for many TEs, and even those who have good seasons here and there often lack consistency year over year. It's not […]


D'Andre Swift - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injuries

Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets and Avoids: Running Backs to Buy or Sell (2025)

Running back volume and production is highly mercurial in the NFL. It can thus be difficult to know when to trade away and when to trade for tailbacks. There is constant competition for roles in certain backfields, and red-herring situations are abound due to injuries and plain luck. While some RBs are certainly safe in […]


Josh Downs - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News Updates

2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Third-Year Breakouts

Patience can be tough, especially in fantasy football. We want instant production from rookies, but these players often take a while to get going. These youngsters need to adjust to the speed of the NFL and learn from their early struggles to break out fully. The third year in the NFL is oftentimes when things […]


Justin Fields - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

NFL Free Agency Winners and Losers - Fantasy Football Outlooks from Florio

Free Agency is the most fun week of the NFL offseason. Even when it is not the strongest class, there is never a shortage of excitement. Players changing teams at a rapid rate. It is a week filled with hope that your favorite team will add stars and that those under-the-radar players you love will […]


Josh Downs - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News Updates

Josh Downs Fantasy Football Dynasty Outlook (2025)

The 2025 NFL Draft is quickly approaching. For the last few months, dynasty fantasy football gamers have been meticulously studying the incoming rookie class to gain any edge they can on their league mates. While we should be anxiously awaiting our rookie drafts, we must also take time and analyze how veteran players are valued […]


Tyron Smith Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

New York Jets and former long-time Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Tyron Smith was one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL for an extended period of time. He's made five All-Pro teams, two with the first team and two with the second team, been selected to eight Pro Bowls, and earned a spot on […]


Bills Defense - Von Miller IDP Rankings, D/ST Streamers, Fantasy Football Team Defense

Von Miller Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller, one of the greatest pass-rushers in NFL history, was released by his team on March 9, 2025. He had signed a six-year, $120 million deal with the team in 2022, but the soon-to-be 36-year-old wasn't able to make it to the end of that contract, so he's now looking for […]


Aaron Jones - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Staying Put - Impact Players Re-signed: Aaron Jones, Zach Ertz, Jaylen Warren, more

NFL free agency is a frenzy. As football fans, we love to see the movement around the league. It allows us to dream about the possibility of our team signing a fresh player who could make a serious impact. However, one cannot overlook the impact of re-signing significant contributors. While it is not as exciting […]


Tucker Kraft - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends To Buy in 2025

My friend Josh used to make me listen to the Bring Me The Horizon song "Diamonds Aren't Forever," which begins with the line "We will never sleep, cause sleep is for the weak." That sentiment rings true in fantasy football dynasty leagues as well. You can't get complacent. You can't stop thinking about how to […]


Zay Flowers - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Dynasty Fantasy Football WR Buy or Sell: Zay Flowers, Rashee Rice, and Jordan Addison (2025)

The 2024 NFL Draft class had seven first-round wide receivers. Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze were selected in the top 10. Meanwhile, Brian Thomas Jr., Xavier Worthy, Ricky Pearsall, and Xavier Legette were Day 1 selections. More importantly, Nabers and Thomas finished their rookie seasons as top-7 wide receivers in half-point PPR […]


Courtland Sutton - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Sleepers, Draft Targets: Early 2025 Analysis

One of the biggest factors in winning fantasy football teams is finding middle-to-late-round sleepers. With wide receivers typically carrying the most drafted players of any position, it makes sense that taking multiple stabs at the position in search of hitting multiple-round values is the way to set yourself apart in drafts. For 2025, the draft […]


Caleb Williams - Fantasy Football Rankings, QB, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

2025 NFL Free Agency Frenzy: Biggest Winners and Disappointments at Every Fantasy Football Position

NFL franchises will have an opportunity to reshape their rosters before the draft. Fantasy managers will have a chance to read the tea leaves and make measured strikes against their fantasy football opposition ahead of rookie drafts. Savvy managers will use this period to try to get the best return on some previous investments, as […]