Hitter Fantasy Baseball Breakouts - Risers to Watch and Waiver Wire Outlooks (Week 25)

Jarod's hitter fantasy baseball breakouts, sleepers, and risers to watch for Week 25 of 2025. His list includes waiver wire outlooks and underachieving hitters so far.

Welcome back to my Fantasy Baseball Breakout Hitters article for Week 25 of the 2025 MLB season. The focus of this article is to highlight players who could be on the verge of a breakout, citing current active hitting streaks along with recent leaders in batting average, stolen bases, and isolated power (ISO).

This week, we'll check in on some hot names like Daylen Lile, Luke Keaschall, and Ivan Herrera. We'll also take a look at a guy who has been hitting well as of late, but who could regress in the coming weeks.

Who should fantasy managers look to grab off the waiver wire or even plug into their DFS lineup this week? Let's check it out below!

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Hit Streak Leaders

Data through 9/10

You can disregard Gio Urshela (free agent) and Trea Turner (injured list), but this list is filled with intriguing waiver wire names. And after having a down year for much of the season (94 wRC+ in first half), Mookie Betts has come on, registering a 115 wRC+ in August and now riding a seven-game hit streak with a 235 wRC+ in September. Just in time for the impending fantasy baseball playoffs!

Romy Gonzalez (12 games)

Romy Gonzalez popped up in this article back in Week 16 due to his hot hitting, and there were concerns about his chase rate, whiff rate, and BABIP, which were justified after he went 1-for-26 (.038) following that piece.

He's hit .343 in the 32 games since that cold spell, though, and he's back to knocking the cover off the ball lately, riding a 12-game hit streak during which time he's gone 20-for-44 (.455), including a home run in his latest game.

BOS - Romy Gonzalez Solo HR (9)

📏 426 ft | 💨 106.8 mph | 📐 34°
⚾️ 84.2 mph slider (ATH - LHP Jeffrey Springs)
🏟️ Out in 30/30 MLB parks

BOS (1) @ ATH (0)
🔺 1st#DirtyWater pic.twitter.com/17tB3KvnaF

— MLB Home Runs🚀 (@MLBHRs_) September 10, 2025

The 29-year-old was removed from his last game due to knee soreness, however, manager Alex Cora believes it is not a major injury, and it is possible that the veteran will be back in the lineup on Friday against the Yankees. He's just 16 percent rostered and is eligible at 1B, 2B, 3B, and SS in Yahoo! leagues.

Daylen Lile (10 games)

Daylen Lile was also in that same Week 16 article as a result of a hot stretch, and he's back at it, in the midst of a 10-game hit streak that has seen him collect eight multi-hit efforts in that span.

One thing I mentioned in that Week 16 article was that Lile had yet to show off the speed he had displayed in the minors, and now he's done so. During the hit streak, the 22-year-old has tallied an astounding five triples, along with a double and two home runs.

WSH - Daylen Lile Solo HR (5)

📏 410 ft | 💨 108 mph | 📐 26°
⚾️ 92.5 mph four-seam fastball (MIA - RHP Adam Mazur)
🏟️ Out in 30/30 MLB parks

WSH (6) @ MIA (1)
🔺 5th#Natitude pic.twitter.com/YneEm8g7QJ

— MLB Home Runs🚀 (@MLBHRs_) September 10, 2025

He recently even stole three bases and got caught stealing once over a span of nine games, so it shows he has the ability to swipe bags, and if he hadn't been standing on third base with triples instead of first base with singles so many times lately, that amount of steals would likely be higher.

The former second-round draft pick is just 35 percent rostered, and DFS managers should also note that he's hit out of the cleanup spot in five of his last six contests.

Highest Batting Average Last Seven Days

Data through 9/10, minimum 13 at-bats

Chase Meidroth (.500 BA)

Chase Meidroth may have a .500 batting average over the last week, but he's been hitting well since mid-July. The 24-year-old is hitting .320 since July 19, collecting at least one hit in 26 of his last 33 games.

Managers in season-long leagues looking for batting average help should consider picking up the right-handed hitter, who has been able to provide some run-scoring production as well, racking up 17 runs scored over that span. He's also eligible at 2B, 3B, or SS in Yahoo! leagues.

He hasn't provided much in the way of extra base hits, RBI, or steals, though, so he may not be a great DFS option, especially since he's been hitting either eighth or ninth since the beginning of August.

Highest ISO Last Seven Days

Data through 9/10, minimum 13 at-bats

Josh Bell (.619 ISO)

Josh Bell's second half has probably flown under the radar up until recently, when he began hitting home runs in bunches. In the first half, the 6-foot-3 slugger put up a .219/.307/.372 slash line with a .300 wOBA and 91 wRC+, but in the second half he's authored a .266/.362/.489 slash with a .367 wOBA and 137 wRC+.

Even so, the switch-hitter has been dreadful from the right side of the plate this season, hitting .156 with a .323 SLG from that side compared to .257  and a .435 SLG from the left side.

Josh Bell has 4 HR and 12 RBI over his last 3 games 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TG0HBGguZ0

— MLB (@MLB) September 9, 2025

As a result, despite being able to hit from either side of the plate, the 33-year-old has been in more of a platoon situation of late, frequently sitting against left-handed pitchers. That can be frustrating in season-long fantasy, but he can be used in DFS, just make sure he's in the lineup and going against a righty.

Carson Kelly (.563 ISO)

Carson Kelly's recent power surge is reminiscent of his early-season surge when he hit eight home runs in his first 20 games. Now he's got four home runs in his last six games, meaning 12 of his 17 home runs came in those 26 games alone.

Beware, though, that this recent six-game outburst contained three multi-hit efforts and three zero-hit efforts, and was also preceded by a 28-game stretch in which the 31-year-old did not hit any homers and hit just one double.

Use the veteran backstop now while he's hot, because once his bat goes cold, it could be 2026 before we see it get going again.

Most Steals Last Seven Days

Data through 9/10

Luke Keaschall (4 SBs)

We know Luke Keaschall can steal bases, as he swiped five bases in his first five games this year before going on the injured list a couple of days later. Since he's returned from the IL, the 23-year-old is hitting .310 with an .838 OPS, but now he's back to stealing bases again as well, with four thefts in the last seven games.

The Arizona State product is slashing .318/.399/.473 with a .382 wOBA and 146 wRC+ in 39 games this year. Sure, it is a small sample, but the former second-round draft pick is striking out at just a 12.5 percent rate, making contact at an 84.0 percent rate, and also has a low chase rate, which has backed up his 10.1 percent walk rate.

It all points to continued production from the right-handed slugger, who is still available in 35 percent of leagues and can be slotted into 1B, 2B, or OF.

xwOBA Underachiever Aug. 1 - Sept. 10

Ivan Herrera (.330 vs. .395)

Ivan Herrera displayed some nice pop earlier this year, including a three-homer game way back in April. But from late July to late August, the power dried up, notching just one home run (and just three doubles) in a 30-game stretch.

However, over his last 12 games, the 25-year-old has belted five home runs, bringing his season total to 15 in 333 at-bats. He even ranks as the ninth-best fantasy option at catcher despite two separate injured list stints.

The outfielder didn't even move on this Iván Herrera home run! pic.twitter.com/LNW5DuRAzJ

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 11, 2025

What's more is that based on his wOBA from the beginning of August up through the present, he should be doing even better! Even if he's not going to keep hitting home runs, his expected batting average (xBA) says he could be doing even better, with a .301 xBA compared to an actual BA of .250.

Managers looking for a catcher for the stretch run and fantasy playoffs should consider Herrera, who is available in over 40 percent of leagues.

xwOBA Overachiever Aug. 1 - Sept. 10

Bryson Stott (.388 vs. .313)

Bryson Stott is 23-for-68 (.338) with five doubles and three home runs since August 18, and has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games. Looking at his expected stats, however, it appears that perhaps he's got a bit out over his skis.

With the largest difference between actual wOBA and xwOBA from August 1 through the present, the 27-year-old could be due for a cold spell. As seen in the table above, the left-handed slugger has the lowest average exit velocity (EV), the lowest barrel rate by a wide margin, and the lowest hard-hit rate by far.

He makes good contact (85.8 percent) and has a low strikeout rate (16.1 percent), so he'll probably keep putting the bat on the ball, but it likely won't produce the same results we've seen over the last month, and the power we've seen from him could be the first thing to go.

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