Top 5 Fantasy Baseball Prospect Breakout Candidates for 2025

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. 

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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. 

All 7 Swings & Misses on Rōki Sasaki's Splitter from last night.

87% Whiff Rate. 😲 pic.twitter.com/2qm3O0dObi

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 5, 2025

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.

Dylan Crews starting hot in Spring Training 🔥

MLB's No. 4 overall prospect has a triple, a walk, two runs and a stolen base for the @Nationals already -- and it's still the third inning. pic.twitter.com/t2buojor2y

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 23, 2025

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. 

“I think Matt Shaw could very well be in the Rookie of the Year consideration if he's given 140+ games for the Cubs.”

- @SamDykstraMiLB on #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/gAhVYqLcAV

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 24, 2025

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 

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