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One of the most common alterations to the standard 5x5 Roto scoring categories is replacing batting average with on-base percentage. It may seem like a minor change, but there are some players who see a massive boost in value under this new format.
One way to find these types of players is to use ATC projections and compare their overall projected value between the two formats. The two players that see the largest boost in value in OBP leagues are Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, although their ADP is already so high that you can't specifically target them.
Others who gain a lot of value include Ian Happ, Lars Nootbaar, Christian Yelich, Brandon Nimmo, and Jurickson Profar, which Andy Smith describes in-depth here. However, there are five more outfielders who should be moving up your rankings in this format who may not seem obvious at first. The ADP referenced in this piece is from NFBC.
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Jorge Soler, Los Angeles Angels
ADP: 219.6
Jorge Soler is another player who isn't going to deliver an elite OBP but will get on-base at a way higher clip than his batting average. In 2024, he slashed .241/.338/.442 with 21 home runs, 64 RBI, and 84 runs in 142 games.
He still has great power, as evidenced by his 12.6 percent barrel rate (86th percentile), and his ability to draw walks is even better. His 11.8 percent walk rate ranked in the 92nd percentile.
He also spent the first half of the season in San Francisco, playing in one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in the league. He got traded to the Braves at the trade deadline and instantly saw a huge increase in production.
Jorge Soler is a nice target for cheap power.
2024:
SF:
12 HR in 392 PA
112 wRC+ / .179 ISOATL:
9 HR in 182 PA
135 wRC+ / .250 ISODidn'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
ATC is projecting him to slash .234/.326/.458 with 27 home runs, 71 RBI, and 70 runs in 2025, making him one of the best power options outside of the top 200 in ADP. Like Arozarena, he jumps up more than 10 spots in the outfield projected values for OBP leagues, going from 45th to 34th.
JJ Bleday, Athletics
ADP: 268.0
JJ Bleday was solid in 2024, slashing .243/.324/.437 with 20 home runs, 60 RBI, and 74 runs in 159 games. As you might expect, he has a poor batting average but an above-average OBP.
His stat line isn't the most exciting, which is why he's being drafted outside of the top 250. Getting 20 homers and 135 combined runs and RBI aren't worth tanking your batting average for. But in OBP leagues, he will actually be a slight help in that final category.
He is also only 27 years old, and a step forward for the youngster can't be ruled out, especially with the Athletics moving out of Oakland, which is notoriously pitcher-friendly. They'll be playing their games in a minor league stadium in Sacramento instead, where his power can hopefully shine through even more.
JJ Bleday - Sacramento Athletics (1)* pic.twitter.com/XObfdMmykh
— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) March 9, 2025
The most appealing part of Bleday's profile for deeper leagues is his guaranteed playing time. He is locked in as the A's center fielder and will be batting in the top third of their lineup every day. The A's have a reputation of having a very bad team as of late, but their offense looks surprisingly promising for 2025.
Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker are both coming off huge breakout seasons, and Shea Langeliers, Zack Gelof, and Tyler Soderstrom are promising young players, too. There should be plenty of run and RBI opportunities for Bleday, who has been hitting second and third so far this spring.
Matt Wallner, Minnesota Twins
ADP: 274.6
Matt Wallner is different from the last few players mentioned, as he did deliver an elite OBP of .372 last season. Overall, he slashed .259/.372/.523 with 13 home runs, 37 RBI, and 26 runs in 75 games.
He had a disastrous first two weeks of the season that resulted in a demotion to the minors, but he slashed .282/.386/.559 in the 62 games following his return to the majors in July. His power is among the best in the game, with a 116.8 mph max exit velocity and 16.7 percent barrel rate that both ranked in the 98th percentile.
Matt Wallner's 3-run homer chases Gerrit Cole from the game after a 5-run inning
(via @Twins)pic.twitter.com/vRV04hTZ8H
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 6, 2025
The major downside to the slugger is that he will likely be the strong side of a platoon. The Twins have let him get chances against lefties in the past, but he will probably not get consistent playing time against them unless he takes another step forward in 2025.
Still, he is a huge value in leagues where you set your lineup daily. He can provide near-elite production when in the lineup, and you can substitute someone from your bench on days when he doesn't play. On top of that, he figures to see more at-bats per game than he has in the past, as he has been a staple in the leadoff spot during Spring Training.
Another high-OBP slugger who bats leadoff, Kyle Schwarber, represents the best-case scenario for Wallner if everything breaks right. That's a chance worth taking, especially at a draft cost all the way down at 274.
Randy Arozarena, Seattle Mariners
ADP: 130.1
Randy Arozarena doesn't immediately stand out as a target in OBP leagues, putting up a .332 mark in 2024. It's certainly a good OBP but not elite, ranking in the 74th percentile. However, the value comes in the discrepancy between that and his .219 batting average that ranked in the 18th percentile.
He is a dynamic power-speed threat who went 20/20 last season, and without his batting average dragging down his value, he becomes a much more well-rounded player.
Three hitters have 50+ HR and 50+ SB over the last three seasons and currently have an ADP outside of the Top 100 picks...
(ADP from NFBC, last 30 days)
Randy Arozarena (134.7)
Lane Thomas (176.2)
George Springer (245.9)#FantasyBaseball— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) January 24, 2025
He becomes a true four-category standout in OBP leagues, with no real downside to all the runs, home runs, and steals he will give you. ATC projects him as the 31st best outfielder in normal 5x5 leagues, but as the 20th best in OBP leagues. He should be valued about the same as Michael Harris II in that format, who takes a major hit due to his great average but bad OBP.
Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
ADP: 118.3
The biggest dilemma when drafting Mike Trout is figuring out how many games he is going to play. He's only topped 100 games in a season once since 2019, so he's routinely burned anyone brave enough to draft him.
In his prime, Trout was a true five-category standout, delivering over 20 steals and hitting as high as the .330s in his best seasons. However, he isn't a threat to steal anymore, and his batting average was just .220 in 2024 and .263 in 2023. This makes him more of a three-category standout, but in OBP leagues, he can still excel. He maintained a .325 OBP in 2024 and a .367 OBP in 2023, which rates out much better than his batting average counterparts.
Mike Trout lasers one out the other way for his second #SpringTraining long ball 😎 pic.twitter.com/gLsjyTY7cV
— MLB (@MLB) March 5, 2025
It's been a while since he's been able to stay on the field, but this is still one of the best hitters in MLB history whom we are talking about here. At 33 years old, he still has a lot left in the tank. The Angels are moving him to right field this season, hoping that leaving center field will reduce the wear and tear on his body. Trout is being drafted in the 10th round on average but could easily be a top 20 fantasy contributor if he does finally play a full season. He hit 10 home runs in just 29 games last year, so his monstrous power is still there.
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