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No. 25: Jazz Chisholm Jr, 3B/OF, New York Yankees
The 26-year-old has flashed elite five category upsides throughout his career but has struggled to stay on the field. In 2024, Chisholm logged a solid 147 starts but only 97 in 2023 and 60 in 2022.
Last season, he held a strong .256/.324/.436 line with 24 home runs and 40 stolen bases. If he remained healthy, he would have provided first-round production. In addition, his production improved significantly after he was traded to the Yankees. While he carries risk, given his injury history, he could easily find himself as a bona fide top-12 option heading into 2026 if he can play a full season batting in front of Aaron Judge.
No. 24: Ketel Marte, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks
Ketel Marte enjoyed the best season of his career in 2024 as he launched 36 long balls with a stellar .292/.375/.560 line. This was a stark increase compared to the 25 home runs and .276 AVG he posted in 2023.
Under the hood, Marte posted elite metrics (53.8% hard-hit rate, .538 xSLG) that suggest his 2024 season was not a fluke. However, Marte has not stolen double-digit bases in a single season since 2019. Marte is a top source for power and counting stats but will provide minimal speed production.
No. 23: Logan Gilbert, SP, Seattle Mariners
Logan Gilbert is one of the most stable starting pitchers you can target this season. In 2024, Gilbert made at least 30 starts for the third-straight campaign and logged a career-high 208 2/3 innings. Across this heavy workload, the right-hander posted a 3.23 ERA and a stellar 0.89 WHIP.
His elite 4.6% walk rate suggests he will significantly improve your WHIP ratio. In addition, Gilbert was able to post a career-best 27.4% K rate and 31.7% whiff rate, which were both above the average marks.
No. 22: Trea Turner, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
When looking for an all-around bat to add to your team, look no further than Trea Turner. Last season, Turner posted a .295 AVG with 21 HRs and 19 SB. He also added 88 runs batting near the top of the Phillies lineup. However, he lacked in RBI production as he only tallied 62.
His underlying metrics suggest his power could be declining as he posted a 40.7% hard-hit rate and 6.9% barrel rate, which were both his lowest marks since the 2019 campaign. However, given his elite sprint speed (96th percentile), he should be in a good position to return to his typical 25+ SB production.
No. 21: Bryce Harper, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies
The 32-year-old has been a mainstay in fantasy baseball since being drafted with the first overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft. Last season, Harper posted an excellent .285/.373/.525 line with 30 HRs and 87 RBI, both an improvement compared to the 21 HRs and 72 RBI he tallied in 2023.
Under the hood, Harper continued to generate strong metrics, which suggest he is one the safest hitters to target in the second round this offseason. His 48.2% hard-hit rate and .357 xwOBA were both within the 87 percentile among qualified hitters. However, he swiped only seven bags, the first time he fell under double-digits in a full season since 2017.
No. 20: Jackson Chourio, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
The former top prospect spent his entire rookie season in the big leagues but went through some growing pains. During the first half, the young outfielder held a .243/.294/.384 line, with just nine home runs, and swiped ten bags. However, after the All-Star break, the 20-year-old flipped the switch as he posted a .310/.363/.552 line with 12 HRs and 12 SB.
While his underlying power metrics were not elite, seeing him take a significant step forward in the final months of his rookie season is a very promising sign. In addition, given his stellar 97th percentile spring speed, Chourio has 30/30 upside in 2025.
No. 19: Zack Wheeler, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
The 34-year-old carries the highest floor at his position. Last season, Zack Wheeler logged over 190 innings of work for the second-straight campaign and posted a strong 2.57 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. Across 200 innings, Wheeler struck out an impressive 224 batters and held an above-average 6.6% walk rate.
Under the hood, Wheeler generated a 2.80 ERA and a .197 xBA, which were in the 92nd and 93rd percentile, respectively, suggesting he could post even stronger ratios in 2025. Wheeler should provide double-digit wins, average over a strikeout per inning, with elite ratios during his 11th MLB season.
No. 18: Freddie Freeman, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers
The 35-year-old has been an elite first base option throughout his entire MLB career but may be reaching his final years. While that does not mean he will not be a valuable fantasy asset, his ceiling may be capped entering his 16th professional season.
Last season, Freeman posted a .282 AVG with 81 R, 89 RBI, 22 HRs, and 9 SBs, which were all a decline from his 2023 production. His .367 xwOBA suggests he may be in store for some positive regression in 2025; his drop in hard-hit rate shows fantasy managers should not expect a power surge. Instead, if you want to add 175+ R+RBI to your team, target Freeman confidently.
No. 17: Francisco Lindor, SS, New York Mets
Francisco Lindor enjoyed an MVP-caliber campaign in 2024, posting a strong .273/.344/.500 line with 33 HRs and 29 SBs. He added an impressive 107 R and 91 RBI.
This was his best season as a New York Met, and Lindor could see further improvement this summer. The Mets added Juan Soto to their lineup, which should provide Lindor elite protection in the batting order. Given his elite on-base skills and power and speed combination, Lindor is an excellent target at the 1-2 turn.
No. 16: Julio Rodriguez, OF, Seattle Mariners
Julio Rodriguez has been the victim of slow starts throughout his career. Before the All-Star break, Rodriguez posted a modest .267/.318/.372 line but following the mid-summer classic, the 24-year-old caught fire as he held a .285/..336/.482 line. In 2023, he posted a .249 AVG in the first half with an impressive .308 AVG in the back half.
While his slow starts could be frustrating, there is no doubting his upside. Despite his poor play in the early months, Rodriguez as tallied at least 20 HRs and 20 SBs in each of his three seasons. If he can finally put it together across an etire 162-game season, we could be looking at a fantasy MVP.
No. 15: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Toronto Blue Jays
After a somewhat disappointing 2023 season, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. silenced any doubters in 2024 as he posted an impressive .323/.396/.544 slash line with 30 long balls, 98 runs, and 103 RBI. This was only the second-time in his career he tallied at least 100+ RBI. This was also his third season reaching the 30-HR mark.
His underlying metrics are among the top hitters in the sport and suggest his production could even improve in 2025. His 13.7% barrel rate and 54.9% hard-hit rate are both within the 90th percentile. In addition, his .321 xBA was the highest mark among qualified hitters.
No. 14: Yordan Alvarez, OF, Houston Astros
Yordan Alvarez is one of the best pure hitters in the sport. Last summer, the 27-year-old slugger posted a stellar .308/.392/.567 slash line with 35 HRs, 88 R, and 81 RBI. This was his fourth straight season, hitting at least 30+ HRs.
While he does not provide any speed production, if you target that category with your first pick in someone like Bobby Witt Jr., Alvarez is a great player to pair him with. Given his elite 14.5% barrel rate, 49.7% hard-hit rate, and .595 xSLG, Alvarez is a top target for power in the second round.
No. 13: Corbin Carroll, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Corbin Carroll was a consensus top-5 pick in drafts heading into 2024 but had a rough start to the season. Before the mid-summer classic, Carroll carried a disappointing .212/.301/.334 line with just five long balls and 18 stolen bases. However, Carroll was able to return to form and was one of the most valuable hitters down the stretch.
In the second half, the 24-year-old held a .258/.351/.368 line with 17 HRs and 17 SBs. Over the past two seasons, Caroll has stolen an incredible 89 bags and scored 237 runs. While his power may be hard to trust consistently, he is an elite pick when targeting speed and run production. His run total should only continue to improve with Josh Naylor joining the Arizona lineup.
No. 12: Fernando Tatis Jr., OF, San Diego Padres
Fernando Tatis missed 60 games last season due to a quadriceps injury but was performing at an elite level when on the diamond. Across 102 contests, the 26-year-old posted a .276/.340/.492 line with 21 round-trippers and 11 stolen bases. Across a full season, Tatis would have hit 33 home runs and swiped 17 bags.
While his speed production would have been the lowest since his rookie campaign (excluding the shortened 2020 season), his bat was among the top hitters in the sport. According to Statcast, Tatis placed in the 96th percentile in xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, average-exit velocity, and hard-hit rate.
No. 11: Mookie Betts, 2B/SS/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Mookie Betts missed time with a wrist injury, which caused him to play his lowest total of games (in an entire 162-game season) since his rookie campaign. However, the 32-year-old still provided elite production with a .289/.372/.491 line with 19 HRs (27 over a 162-game pace) with 16 swiped bags. This was the highest steal total since 2019.
While Betts will continue to provide elite counting stats playing in the Dodger lineup, his real value comes with his positional flexibility. Betts is slated to start at shortstop in 2025 and already has second base and outfield eligibility on most platforms. When taking Betts in the late first round, you add a stable 5-category producer that provides you lineup flexibility, which is immensely valuable, especially if injuries begin to pile up.
No. 10: Kyle Tucker, OF, Chicago Cubs
Kyle Tucker had a disappointing 2024 campaign as he made just 78 starts and missed over two months of play with a shin injury. However, through his limited sample size, the 28-year-old was one of the most valuable players in fantasy. Tucker posted a .289/.408/.585 line with 23 long balls and 11 stolen bases.
While his power may drop slightly moving to Wrigley Field, Fantasy managers should confidently draft Tucker. During the 2023 season, Tucker was one home run shy of joining the 30/30 club. During that season, he held a .284 AVG with 97 runs and 112 RBI. He should continue to provide elite 5-category production.
No. 9: Paul Skenes, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates
The No.1 overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft surpassed all expectations during his rookie season. The LSU product posted an incredible 1.96 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP across 133 innings. He struck out batters at an elite 33.1% rate while holding a strong 6.2% walk rate.
The talent is unquestioned. The only concern with Skenes is that it is still yet to be seen if his arm can throw over 150+ major league innings in a single season. The Pirates limited his workload late in the season, ensuring he would enter his sophomore campaign at full strength. If he can stay on the mound through an entire season, he could be in contention for the No.1 pick next offseason.
No. 8: Tarik Skubal, SP, Detroit Tigers
The other pitcher to consider with an early pick is the AL Cy Young winner, Tarik Skubal. The southpaw logged a career 192 2/3 innings and posted a stellar 2.39 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP. He struck out 228 batters while holding a near-perfect 4.6% walk rate.
Under the hood, he generated elite metrics in every Statcast statistic, suggesting he not only carries a high floor but an elite ceiling. Skubal is the best starting pitcher in the sport and worthy of a first-round selection.
No. 7: Juan Soto, OF, New York Mets
After spending the 2024 season in the Bronx, Soto moved across the city and signed the largest contract in MLB history with the New York Mets, where he will likely spend the next decade. Last season, Soto posted an incredible .288/.419/.569 line with 41 home runs, 128 runs, and 109 RBI.
While Soto’s skill set is designed for points formats (given his remarkable 18.1% walk rate), his elite power and contact still carry immense value in category formats. While his power will likely drop playing in Citi Field, given his on-base skills, another 125+ run season should be expected with 30+ HR upside.
No. 6: Gunnar Henderson, SS, Baltimore Orioles
The former top prospect enjoyed a breakout season in 2024. Last summer, Henderson launched a career-best 37 HRs and swiped 21 bags with a strong .281/.364/.529 line. He added 118 runs and 92 RBI batting in a potent Baltimore lineup.
His metrics suggest his breakout was not a fluke. Under the hood, the 23-year-old generated a 53.9% hard-hit rate (97th percentile) and was placed in the 94th percentile in xwOBA, xBA, and xSLG. Henderson is a true five-category contributor in one of the best lineups in baseball that continues to improve each season.
No. 5: Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland Guardians
The 32-year-old had one of the best seasons of his career in 2024. Last summer, Ramirez hit 39 round-trippers, which tied a career-high, and swiped 41 bags, which marked a new career-high. He carried a .279/.335/.537 line and added 114 runs and 118 RBI.
While his power metrics were not overly impressive and likely suggest his power is due for regression, there is no doubt that Ramirez should continue to provide elite 5-category production batting at the top of the Cleveland lineup. Outside of Jazz Chisholm Jr. (and potentially Vladimir Guerrero Jr., depending on your platform), he is the clear top option at the hot corner and worthy of an early first-round pick.
No. 4: Elly De La Cruz, SS, Cincinnati Reds
Elly De La Cruz carries the highest upside of all hitters on this list. During his sophomore season, the 23-year-old posted a .259/.339/.471 line with 25 home runs and a remarkable 67 stolen bases. During his rookie season in 2023, he swiped 35 bags with 15 long balls across 98 contests.
De La Cruz can provide you with such a significant advantage in stolen base production, given that he placed in the 100th percentile in sprint speed last season. However, his risk comes with his bat. While he has also flashed elite power upside (12.7% barrel rate), he holds a hefty 33.4% whiff and 31.3% K rates, which are by far the highest out of the top 25. If he slumps at the plate, he may only provide you with SB production. However, if he takes the next step, he can win your league.
No. 3: Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees
When targeting power, look no further than Aaron Judge. Last season, Judge launched 58 long balls with a .322/.458/.701 SLG. He swiped 10 bags, with a remarkable 122 runs and 144 RBI. In 2022, he broke the AL home run record with 62 round-trippers.
While Judge’s power production is the best in the sport, his lack of speed palaces him at No.3 in our ranking. In addition, fantasy managers should expect a slight drop in RBI production with Juan Soto out of the lineup. Despite this, given Judge’s 26.9% barrel rate and 61.0% hard-hit rate (100th percentile in each statistic), he is the clear favorite to lead major leagues in HRs.
No. 2: Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Kansas City Royals
The former second-overall pick has seen steady improvement in his three MLB seasons. Last summer, Witt posted a career-best .332/.389/.588 slash line with 32 long balls (career-high) with 31 swiped bags. He also eclipsed the century mark in runs and RBI for the first time in his career.
Witt is the definition of a 5-category contributor. He will provide a strong foundation for your team and check off every box. Given his steady improvement each season, take Witt with confidence, knowing he may even progress further in his fourth season.
No. 1: Shohei Ohtani, DH/SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani focused entirely on hitting during the 2024 season after recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in 2023. This did not stop him as the 30-year-old established the 50-50 club, becoming the first player in MLB history to hit 50 HRs and swipe 50 bags.
Overall, he posted an incredible .310/.396/.646 line with 134 R, 130 RBI, 54 HR, and 59 SB. He placed in the 99th percentile in almost every hitting static, according to Statcast. In 2025, Ohtani is expected to return to the mound, adding more fantasy value to his resume. With him expected to pitch, fantasy managers should expect his stolen base output to drop, but not enough to remove him from the top spot on this ranking.
