League-Winning Hitters: Later-Round Targets

Frank's league-winning hitters and fantasy baseball sleepers for the later rounds of 2025 drafts. His hitter value picks with big fantasy upside.

While "league-winners" is more of a fantasy football term since one player can make an impact on their own -- similar to Brian Thomas Jr. last year -- you can still find late-round players who put your team over the top in fantasy baseball.

On this page, the focus is either on hitters who can be elite in power or speed, as well as those who provide a bit of production in both categories. One good example of a league-winning hitter from last year is Brent Rooker, who hit 39 home runs with 11 stolen bases for the Athletics. We'll try to find similar impact players available past pick 150 in NFBC ADP (since March 13).

The goal here is to swing for the fences, so we're prioritizing upside over floor. This does not mean that I'm predicting the players on this list to return top three round value. Instead, I'm focusing on league-winning upside in specific categories. Each position is represented here, including catcher. With that in mind, let's dive into my 10 league-winning hitters for the 2025 fantasy baseball season. You can check out my 10 league-winning pitchers article as well.

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Xavier Edwards, SS, Miami Marlins

NFBC ADP: 150.67

Xavier Edwards' magnificent spring continues.

He's now slashing .341/.449/.488 with six extra-base hits and nine RBI. pic.twitter.com/b10JP3f4m3

— Isaac Azout (@IsaacAzout) March 18, 2025

Xavier Edwards can make a major impact in speed for your fantasy baseball teams. The Marlins shortstop stole 31 bases in only 303 plate appearances last season. This is a middle infielder with a strong track record as a prolific base-runner, totaling 32 steals in 433 plate appearances in Triple-A in 2023.

You also have to like how Edwards can be an asset in batting average as well. The strikeout rate (17.2 K%) and walk rate (10.9 BB%) were both strong last year, resulting in a .328 BA. While there's virtually zero power here (1.8% barrel rate), the elite contributions in speed and batting average can be huge.

Victor Robles, OF, Seattle Mariners

NFBC ADP: 170.07

There were 3 hitters that put up 140+ wRC+ and 20+ SBs in the 2nd half last season:

Shohei Ohtani: 180 wRC+ / 36 SB
Jose Ramirez: 153 wRC+ / 23 SB
Victor Robles: 147 wRC+ / 26 SB 🙀

— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) February 19, 2025

Victor Robles seems to have found a home in Seattle after years of disappointment as a former top prospect with the Nationals. The 27-year-old outfielder hit four homers with 30 steals in only 262 plate appearances with the Mariners last season. While this is a small sample, that type of impact in speed is massive.

What's great about Robles is that he's not a complete zero in power, offering 10+ homer upside. There's a legit chance that Robles can put up 10 HR with 50 SB this season, especially when you consider that he was at a 60+ SB pace last season. If you need an infusion of speed, Robles can swing your league for you.

Eugenio Suarez, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks

NFBC ADP: 186.33

Eugenio Suarez is a great ADP value around pick 180 and a great trade target in dynasty for contending teams.

Surarez ranks 6th in HR and 6th in RBI since 2018 OD.
Last 7 Full Seasons average: 80 R, 32 HR, 93 RBI#FantasyBaseball pic.twitter.com/n1hkwCyBVI

— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) February 17, 2025

Eugenio Suarez put up 30 home runs and 101 RBI with a .256 BA thanks to a monstrous second half last season. The veteran slashed .307/.341/.602 with 20 homers in only 273 plate appearances after the All-Star Break. Despite the strong production, the 33-year-old third baseman has been a terrific value pick all offseason.

Perhaps fantasy baseball players are deterred by Suarez's underwhelming years in Seattle, which included consecutive years with a sub-.240 BA. But we have to remember that T-Mobile Park is the most pitcher-friendly environment in baseball. Suarez looks comfortable in Arizona, where he can continue to provide a massive power boost at a thin position.

Jorge Soler, OF, Los Angeles Angels

NFBC ADP: 188.38

Jorge Soler is a nice target for cheap power.

2024:

SF:
12 HR in 392 PA
112 wRC+ / .179 ISO

ATL:
9 HR in 182 PA
135 wRC+ / .250 ISO

Didn't fit in that pitcher's park.

One year removed from .250-77-36-75-1.

Playing time is safe with LAA.

Likely to hit behind Mike Trout.

— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) February 9, 2025

Jorge Soler is another hitter who can provide a league-winning boost to your power at a value price. Let's not forget that this is a veteran only one year removed from 36 homers in 580 plate appearances with the Marlins. It's also worth noting that Soler has a 48-homer season under his belt, back in 2019 with the Royals.

Now playing in a lineup that includes Mike Trout, we could see Soler get back to 100+ RBI this season. The 33-year-old slugger has also been mashing this spring training, putting up a 192 wRC+ with four homers in 47 plate appearances. Add in the ballpark upgrade from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and you can see why Soler has a chance to get back to elite power production.

Zack Gelof, 2B, Athletics

NFBC ADP: 233.13

Update 3/23: Gelof has a broken hand and will be out indefinitely. Expect him to be out for at least one month.

Zack Gelof and his new stance (slighty open, hands higher, bat waggle) is having a very nice spring, hitting .308 with two long balls in 26 at-batspic.twitter.com/TV2jLAQaRD

— J.O. (@jo_dynasty3) March 12, 2025

Zack Gelof has legit 30-30 upside at second base. We've seen the A's middle infielder put up 17 HR and 25 SB in 547 plate appearances last season. Gelof was even better as a rookie with 14 HR and 14 SB in only 300 plate appearances. The problem is that this is a hitter who can be a major drain on your batting average (34.4 K% last season).

There are reasons for optimism, however. For one, the A's are playing in a much more hitter-friendly environment in Sacramento this season. On top of that, Gelof has a new batting stance, which has resulted in a .297 BA in spring training, albeit with a 37.2 K%. With that said, if he can get to a .250 BA, he can make a league-winning impact due to his power-speed profile.

Trevor Story, SS, Boston Red Sox

NFBC ADP: 235.60

Trevor Story still had 70th percentile Sprint Speed last year.

He stole 6 bases in only 106 plate appearances.

We're likely to see a 30-steal pace for Story.

— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) March 2, 2025

Trevor Story is fully healthy right now, slashing .361/.368/.667 with two homers in spring training. This is a veteran with two 30+ HR/20+ SB seasons under his belt. Despite dealing with injury-riddled seasons from 2022-2024, Story is still only 32 years old, so it's not like we can completely rule out a bounce-back.

This is a middle infielder with a good glove, which will help him get volume in an intriguing lineup that includes Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman with stud prospect Roman Anthony on the way. If Story can stay healthy, we could see a 25/25 type of season. There's even upside for more stolen bases, as he still has 70th-percentile sprint speed.

Joey Ortiz, 3B/SS, Milwaukee Brewers

NFBC ADP: 258.73

I'm starting to really like Joey Ortiz as a sleeper MI in deeper leagues.

Moving to SS this year, which means more playing time, since teams are less likely to mix and match there.

.239-58-11-60-11 in 511 PA last year.

Good walk rate (11.0 BB%), strikeouts in check (20.2 K%).… pic.twitter.com/2BoN72SqnP

— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) February 11, 2025

Joey Ortiz can be a league-winner because he's a potential multi-category contributor available outside the top 250 in fantasy baseball drafts. The former Orioles prospect has 20-20 upside at shortstop with the option to be deployed at third base as well. With a polished profile that includes an 11.0 BB% and 20.2 K%, there's a lot to like here.

The 26-year-old middle infielder hit .239 last season, but he was clearly affected by a neck injury sustained on June 10. Ortiz had a 136 wRC+ before the injury and 83 wRC+ after. Being able to get a player who provides an impact in every category is valuable at such a low price, which can help you win your league.

Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers

NFBC ADP: 250.54

With his SIXTH home run, @rhyshoskins has raised his spring OPS to 1.473 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/ep9zCKEqeQ

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) March 15, 2025

Rhys Hoskins is a cheap buy on 35+ power upside. This is a 32-year-old first baseman with two 30+ homer seasons under his belt. The results in spring training are encouraging, as the veteran has homered six times in only 38 plate appearances. If you wait on CI, Hoskins can give you a much-needed power boost to put your team over the top.

This is even more of an appealing target if you play in OBP formats, as Hoskins has posted double-digit walk rates in every season of his career, including three years with a 15+ BB%. This is the classic case of a player with a track record who has been written off due to a season-ending injury in 2023 and poor season in 2024. Now fully healthy, look for Hoskins to get back on track.

Drake Baldwin, C, Atlanta Braves

NFBC ADP: 358.20

always believed Drake Baldwin was going to hit his way to substantial MLB playing time at some point in 2025 no matter what but this could expedite things

via @TJStats, Baldwin truly demolished AAA pitching last year and he's 24 -- they gotta make room for him soon regardless https://t.co/bO9Japo97k pic.twitter.com/2UPfon11CE

— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) March 3, 2025

Here we have our first top prospect on this list. Each position is represented in this league-winning list, so let's ride with Drake Baldwin. The 23-year-old backstop put up 16 homers with a 13.1 BB% and 17.2 K% in 551 plate appearances across the minors last season. With Sean Murphy dealing with a ribs injury, Baldwin has a chance to take over as catcher.

Imagine a scenario where Baldwin is mashing in a stacked Braves lineup. As a polished hitter with strong plate discipline, this is in the realm of possibilities. In this event, it's likely that Atlanta would stick with Baldwin as starting catcher, even when Murphy comes back. With that said, Baldwin is more of an upside target in 2-C formats or in OBP, where his high walk rate means more.

Jerar Encarnacion, OF, San Francisco Giants

NFBC ADP: 394.67

Update 3/21: Jerar Encarnacion sustained a fractured left hand in spring training on March 21. It's a shame to see for a young hitter who seemed to be finally putting it together. Let's hope for a recovery ahead of schedule.

Jerar Encarnacion is not only a sleeper breakout candidate, but could be the one to break San Francisco’s 30-HR drought

In 2024, Jerar demolished AAA pitching:

(Percentiles)
.448 wOBA (100th)
.411 xwOBA (100th)
94.7 Avg EV (100th)
108.9 90th% EV (100th)
57.1% HardHit (99th) pic.twitter.com/qm3lZXtBso

— Kick Dirt Baseball (@KickDirtBB) February 25, 2025

Jerar Encarnacion can provide a late-round power boost that puts your team over the top for championship contention. This is a hitter who slashed .352/.438/.616 with 10 homers in 146 plate appearances at Triple-A last season. We've seen good results in spring training this year, including a 112 wRC+ in 55 PA.

Encarnacion hits the ball hard, as highlighted by an elite 15.0% barrel rate. The Giants badly need some thump in the middle of their lineup, so it makes sense for them to allow Encarnacion to get most of the DH at-bats. Let's remember that at one point, Brent Rooker was a quad-A type who couldn't get it going in the big leagues. He eventually turned into a 30+ homer hitter -- don't rule that out for Encarnacion.

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