X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Top 5 Fantasy Baseball Prospect Breakout Candidates for 2025

Dylan Crews - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Prospects, Draft Sleepers

Joey's top 5 fantasy baseball prospects, breakout candidates and draft targets for 2025. His favorite MLB prospects and fantasy baseball sleepers with big upside.

Every season, we see MLB prospects come in and make an immediate impact in the majors. In 2023, Gunnar Henderson and Corbin Carroll made their mark in the league. Both players won Rookie of the Year unanimously in their respective leagues that season. Then, last year, players like Paul Skenes, Jackson Merrill, Jackson Chourio, and Shota Imanaga all had strong rookie campaigns.

Therefore, it's fair to assume that several MLB prospects will make an impact in 2025. It happens every year, and this season will be no different. Most of these players also wind up emerging as solid fantasy options for managers throughout the year. 

So, which five fantasy baseball prospects should fantasy managers know about entering 2025 fantasy baseball drafts? Let's dive in and find out. 

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Roki Sasaki, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers 

It's no surprise that Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki is someone fantasy managers should know for their drafts. He is the favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award and is currently MLB Pipeline's No. 1 overall prospect heading into the season. Given what Sasaki was able to do in the Japan Pacific League (JPPL) over the past four years, he should definitely make an impact in Year 1. 

He had a career 2.02 ERA, 0.883 WHIP, and 524 strikeouts across 69 games in the JPPL. Sasaki is also coming off a 2024 campaign in which he finished with a 10-5 record, a 2.35 ERA, and 129 strikeouts in 111 innings pitched. As a result, the Dodgers are getting an absolute stud on the mound. 

Now, there are some question marks surrounding Sasaki entering the year, which could make some fantasy managers hesitant to draft him. The Dodgers could be rolling with a six-man rotation, and the rookie will likely be under an innings limit. The 23-year-old has never thrown more than 130 innings in a season. Still, his potential in this Dodgers rotation should allow him to be a consistent fantasy option in 2025. 

Nick Mariano's CUTTER projections: 10-6 record, 3.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 167 K, 135 IP

 

Dylan Crews, OF, Washington Nationals

Right behind Sasaki in the National League Rookie of the Year odds is Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews. MLB Pipeline has Crews ranked as the fourth-best prospect in baseball, and there's a good chance that he will make a strong impact in his first full season in the majors. So he could be a great value pick for fantasy managers at his 131.2 ADP. 

There's no doubt that Crews has a unique skill set, and that was put on display all throughout his 2024 minor league season. He hit a combined .270 at the plate with 13 home runs, 21 doubles, six triples, 68 RBI, and 25 stolen bases across Double-A and Triple-A before being called up to the majors in late August.

Although Crews didn't put up the best numbers in the majors to end the season, there are reasons to believe he can put it all together in 2025. In those 31 games, he had a 44.7% hard-hit rate, a 26.6% chase rate, and a 19.7% strikeout rate. The 23-year-old also ranked in the 93rd percentile in sprint speed (29.3 ft/sec). Therefore, he has the chance to be an all-around contributor for fantasy managers in 2025. 

Nick Mariano's CUTTER projections: .252 BA, 16 HR, 81 R, 70 RBI, 35 SB 

 

Jackson Jobe, SP, Detroit Tigers 

Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe might have the biggest upside of any prospect in baseball. His fastball reaches 98-99 mph consistently, and he has a lethal slider to go with it. So, it's not a shock to see him ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 5 overall prospect entering the season. Jobe is also coming off a fantastic minor league season in 2024, where he had a 2.36 ERA and 96 strikeouts across 91 2/3 innings pitched. 

Those strong numbers combined in High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A earned him a promotion to the big league roster at the end of September. Even though Jobe was excellent in his two regular season appearances behind four scoreless innings, the right-hander struggled a bit in the postseason. He gave up three runs on five hits across 1 2/3 innings pitched in two playoff games. 

However, those postseason appearances shouldn't be why fantasy managers avoid him at his 262.1 ADP. Jobe likely begins the season on the Tigers' Opening Day roster and could break out in his first full major league season. While the 22-year-old will likely be on some sort of innings cap this season, it's hard to pass on him in the later rounds, given his pitching upside.

Nick Mariano's CUTTER projections: 7-6 record, 3.59 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 129 K, 130 IP

 

Matt Shaw, 3B, Chicago Cubs

After the Chicago Cubs missed out on third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency, that paved the way for Matt Shaw to be the team's Opening Day third baseman. Shaw is MLB Pipeline's No. 19 overall prospect, and the infielder has been one of the best minor league hitters since being drafted 13th overall in the 2023 MLB Draft. 

He has a career .303 batting average to go with 29 home runs, 28 doubles, 99 RBI, and 46 stolen bases in 159 games across all five minor league levels. What was most impressive about Shaw in his minor league career, though, was how quickly he adapted to each level. Despite going from Double-A to Triple-A in the middle of last season, the 23-year-old hit .298 with seven homers, 21 RBI, and six stolen bases in 35 games. 

As a result, Shaw is a sneaky pick in the later rounds of fantasy drafts. He will be the Cubs' primary third baseman in 2025, and those who watched him in the minors have seen what he is capable of at the plate. The former Maryland product is definitely someone fantasy managers should know about entering drafts. He currently has a 262.3 ADP. 

FanGraphs projection: .250 BA, 17 HR, 63 RBI, 16 SB

 

Jasson Dominguez, OF, New York Yankees

The time has finally come for New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez to show his potential in the majors. With Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo not returning to the team, Dominguez is now ensured an everyday role in this Yankees lineup. That means he can post big numbers for New York in 2025. 

He has above-average power and speed, making him someone fantasy managers need to know about heading into 2025 fantasy baseball drafts. Dominguez has definitely showcased both of those traits throughout his minor league career. In 2023, the outfielder hit a combined .265 at the plate with 15 home runs, 22 doubles, 76 RBI, and 40 stolen bases in 118 games across Double-A and Triple-A.

Therefore, he can contribute solid home run, RBI, and stolen base numbers this season. Given that Dominguez is also a candidate to hit leadoff for this Yankees team, he is going to make a strong impact in 2025. Fantasy managers should start to get familiar with MLB Pipeline's No. 21 overall prospect because he is a star in the making. At his 138.3 ADP, he can be a steal in fantasy drafts. 

Nick Mariano's CUTTER projections: .257 BA, 25 HR, 73 R, 71 RBI, 28 SB 



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Fantasy Baseball Advice




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Yordan Alvarez

Resumes Swinging -- Return Imminent?
Jake Burger

to Miss an Additional 2-3 Weeks
TreVeyon Henderson

Signs Rookie Contract
Christian Watson

Goes on PUP List
Austin Riley

Hopes to be Activated Next Week
Ketel Marte

Lands on Restricted List After Burglary
Ricky Pearsall

Heads to PUP List
Brandon Aiyuk

Placed on PUP List
Luther Burden III

Signs Rookie Deal
Washington Nationals

Eli Willits Expected to Sign Contract on Saturday
Grayson Rodriguez

Being Shut Down Again - Will We See Him Again This Year?
Ezequiel Tovar

Activated and Back in Lineup on Friday
Max Fried

"Hopeful" to Pitch Next Week - Looks Like He'll Avoid IL Stint
Steven Kwan

Receives Injection in Wrist, Considered Day-to-Day
CJ Abrams

Back to Start Second Half
Alec Bohm

Back From Rib Injury on Friday
Trey Hendrickson

Holdout to Spill into Regular Season?
Jalen McMillan

Bucs Offensive Coordinator Not Forgetting About Jalen McMillan
Levi Onwuzurike

to Miss at Least Four Games
Nick Emmanwori

Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori Reach Agreement on Rookie Deal
Max Holloway

Set For Main Event
Brandon Lowe

Back From 10-Day Injured List
Dustin Poirier

Set For His Final UFC Fight
Roman Kopylov

Set For Co-Main Event
Paulo Costa

Returns At UFC 318
Luis L. Ortiz

to Remain on Leave for Another Month - Will he Pitch Again?
Daniel Rodriguez

Looks For Third Win In A Row
Kevin Holland

Set For His Fourth Fight This Year
Dan Ige

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
MMA

Patricio Freire Set For His Second UFC Fight
Daniel Zellhuber

Set To Open Up UFC 318 Main Card
Michael Johnson

Looks For Third Consecutive Win
Elijah Arroyo

Signs Rookie Deal
Jaydon Blue

Described as "Borderline Lazy"
T.J. Sanders

Bills Sign T.J. Sanders to Rookie Deal
Christian Wilkins

Raiders Put Christian Wilkins on PUP List
Jabari Small

Lions Add Jabari Small to Backfield
Quinshon Judkins

Remains Unsigned, Won't Report With Rest of Rookies
Mason Taylor

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Jets
Hendon Hooker

Leading Lions QB2 Battle Entering Training Camp
Ozzy Trapilo

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Bears
Tate Ratledge

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Lions
Jack Bech

Signs Rookie Contract with Raiders
Yegor Chinakhov

Requests Trade
Dakota Joshua

Maple Leafs Acquire Dakota Joshua
Lukas Dostal

Signs Five-Year Extension with Ducks
Shemar Stewart

Not Practicing With College Team
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Damian Lillard

Returning to Portland
Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
Brooks Barnhizer

Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
Jeremiah Fears

Scores 22 Points in Summer League Loss to Thunder
Isaiah Collier

Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
Caleb Houstan

Joins Hawks
AJ Johnson

Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
Washington Wizards

Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Connor Norby

Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Trey Alexander

Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Johni Broome

Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Jahmir Young

Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Tyrese Proctor

Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Cody Williams

Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
LeBron James

Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
Josh Hart

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
Rayan Rupert

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
Derik Queen

Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
GG Jackson II

Records 13 Points in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Johni Broome

Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
Kyle Schwarber

Named All-Star Game MVP
Harris English

Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
Daniel Berger

Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Clayton Kershaw

Retires Both Batters In ASG Appearance
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF