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Scott Engel's 7 fantasy baseball bold predictions for the 2025 MLB season, including predictions for Bubba Chandler, Julio Rodriguez, Gleyber Torres and more.
Drafting your fantasy baseball team is only the beginning of the 2025 journey. In real life, baseball is a constant game of adjustments, and you will always have to make your own adjustments as a fantasy player because rosters are so large and there is more work to be done in this game than in other fantasy sports.
Some players, however, are naturally going to overcome expectations, and that is the theme here. Whether it’s guys that will soar far past projections or simply take their games to new heights, I feature them here.
Even if you have drafted already, keep the players listed here as trade targets throughout the season. It’s obviously going to be a long year, but it won’t be long before most of these impact performers show they are ready to hit their statistical ceilings in 2025. If you want further bold predictions, you can read them from RotoBaller's MLB team as part of our yearly Bold Predictions series.
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Three Mets Combine For 115 Home Runs
The New York Mets might have the most loaded lineup in Major League Baseball this season. Some may say the Dodgers look better, but Mookie Betts’ health is suddenly a big concern, and we could start to see a moderate decline from Freddie Freeman.
Meanwhile, New York boasts the best hitter in the game, ready to seize the spotlight, a prime power hitter looking to reconfirm his worth, and one of the more underrated young HR sources in the league.
Juan Soto is going to generate so much excitement in his first year as a Met because he will welcome all the pressure and hoopla and thrive on it. Additionally, last season, he had the third highest ISO in MLB (.281), and his 41 HRs weren’t a pure result of hitting in Yankee Stadium. The new King of Queens hit 21 HRs on the road in 2024.
Pete Alonso’s ISO dipped to a career-low .219, and he still hit 34 homers. The Mets’ signature power hitter is coming off a frustrating offseason in which he didn’t get the kind of contract he wanted. Alonso will want to show he is worth more and still a very integral part of the lineup.
Vientos hit 27 HRs in 111 games last season and confirmed his arrival as an important bat with key moments in the playoffs. There may be some bumps over a full season this year as the league adjusts more to him, which could impact the batting average, but we should not doubt the pure power.
The xBA was .246 last season, yet Vientos has been a promising HR source since he hit his stride in the minors in 2021. Vientos was a good value in NFBC drafts at an ADP of 92.9. If he slumps early or at any time, trade for the New York third baseman. I will project 40 HRs each for Soto and Alonso and 35 for Vientos.
Bubba Chandler Emerges As A Fantasy SP2
While Paul Skenes is widely regarded as the top starting pitcher in fantasy baseball, Pittsburgh’s top prospect, Bubba Chandler, may also end up as an early-round pick next year after a breakout campaign in 2025. Chandler will begin the season in the minors. But with the Jared Jones injury, it might just be a matter of a shorter time before he sees the opportunity to become an effective second starter for the Pirates.
Top @Pirates prospect Bubba Chandler picks up his fourth strikeout of the day on a 100 MPH pitch 🔥 #SpringBreakout pic.twitter.com/18Odh7YPkK
— MLB (@MLB) March 14, 2025
The No. 15 overall prospect on MLB Pipeline already has a potent four-pitch mix, with a changeup that he seems comfortable with in key situations. He looked very promising late in the 2024 season when making seven starts at Triple-A, fashioning a 34 percent K rate with a 1.83 ERA. His walk rates have continually dropped with more experience in the minors.
There might be a few bumpy outings early, as often is the case for young players in their first MLB seasons, but Chandler has improved at every level of the minors and might fully blossom when he arrives in the bigs. He can be one of your top fantasy pitchers during the second half of the season.
Julio Rodriguez Logs A 40/40 Season
Injuries hindered Julio Rodriguez during a disappointing 2024 campaign, but he is heading into the new season aiming to bounce back in a big way. He has spent significant time working with Mariners Senior Director of Hitting Strategy Edgar Martinez to fine-tune his swing and mechanics. This spring, J-Rod is providing previews of a big year to come. He hit two grand slams with five homers through 16 games.
Rodriguez stole 37 bases two years ago, so 40 is definitely reachable again. Last year, the ISO dropped from .209 to .136, which seems like an aberration. The HR/FB rate also tumbled from 19.6 to 13.8 percent. That slippage also seems correctable.
Last September, Rodriguez finished the season strong with seven HRs and six stolen bases. You will see that version as he delivers his best season yet. Those who drafted him in the second round this year will get a big payoff.
Zack Wheeler Wins The NL Cy Young Award
The National League East is stacked at the top, yet it is the Phillies who have the best starting pitching in the division when everyone is healthy. Wheeler finished second in the NL Cy Young voting in two of the past four years and now will easily win it outright. If that doesn’t seem “bold” enough of a prediction, consider that I believe he will be the best pitcher in fantasy baseball this season.
Those who passed on Skenes and Tarik Skubal to pick Wheeler at his NFBC ADP of 23.2 will be rewarded. He is coming off the best season of his career and there is a lot of pressure on the Phillies to not fail again in the playoffs while staying ahead of the Mets and Braves. Wheeler will demonstrate leadership by poised example, as he often does.
Last season, Wheeler used his cutter less, and opponents hit just .143 against his sweeper. The sinker also functioned as a more effective put-away pitch, as noted by Baseball Savant. With a six-pitch mix and showing no signs of a fall-off yet, Wheeler could be a big reason why the Phillies repeat as NL East champions.
While on the subject of the Phillies, a bonus bold prediction is that Jesus Luzardo will enjoy a healthy breakout season in a winning environment.
Triston Casas Will Rebound As Red Sox Win AL East
The 2024 season was a frustrating one for Triston Casas, who missed significant time with a rib issue and played in 63 games, hitting 13 homers. I expect him to bounce back in a big way in 2025 and hit 30-plus home runs. He has continued to work on his swing and it was recently confirmed that he will play against left-handers regularly this season.
Sign me up for a 35 homer, 120 RBI season for Triston Casas. pic.twitter.com/LpCdn1kBGI
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) March 15, 2025
Casas celebrated his full-time guaranteed role by homering off Chris Sale. He has a discerning eye at the plate, as evidenced by his career .374 OBP in five minor league seasons. I believe he will hit for a higher batting average than expected, too, possibly around .270. Casas will prove to be a terrific value for those who drafted him outside the top 10 at 1B.
Led by AL Cy Young Winner Garrett Crochet and plenty of young talent in the lineup, Boston will also surprisingly win the AL East this season. Ceddanne Rafaela is going to come through with a breakthrough season, and Roman Anthony will make a big impact in the second half.
Gleyber Torres Resurfaces
The ex-Yankee was a prime offseason addition for the Tigers, and he is determined to re-establish his worth. Torres reportedly told his agent specifically to seek a one-year deal in the offseason with the motivation to demonstrate that he can still be an All-Star caliber player.
Torres apparently did not leave the Yankees on the best of terms, as he traded shots with the front office through the media during the offseason. Now, published reports have indicated that he feels at home again with Detroit, and I am forecasting that he will hit .270 with 25-plus HRs and double figures in steals. Sometimes getting away from the glare of the New York spotlight is best for a player, and the change of address will be a good one for Torres.
Many times, we break down advanced numbers to make predictions, but there is a very human element to the game, too, and I believe that is the case here. Playing under less pressure in a welcoming environment can spur Torres to outperform his NFBC ADP of 222.3
Victor Scott II Steals 50-Plus Bases
After fizzling out last season when given an opportunity to play for the Cardinals last season, the outlook is much brighter for Scott in 2025. He is coming off a strong spring and won the center field job outright, surging late in exhibition play. Scott showed off power, improved defense, and naturally, his trademark speed.
Victor Scott II Has Had An Impressive Spring
4 HR I 7 RBI I .366 AVG l .469 OBP I 1.225 OPS
The 24 year old looks a lot more comfortable in the box and is looking to be the starting CF out of camp!pic.twitter.com/pmWZeR7L3R
— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) March 22, 2025
After going undrafted in many leagues this season, Scott should be a preferred early-season waiver add, and he is a nifty later-round target for stolen base upside for those who still plan to draft. The St. Louis blazer stole 94 bases in the minors in 2023 and had a .344 OBP in three seasons.
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