Key Hitter Prospects To Know For Drafts

Jarod's top hitter fantasy baseball prospects and draft sleepers for 2025. He discusses key MLB prospects, rookies and call-ups to target for fantasy baseball.

Not all fantasy baseball drafts are created equal -- some leagues may have eight teams, some 12, and some maybe 16 or more. Perhaps there are a few bench spots or there could be numerous bench spots to fill.

For managers in those larger leagues or leagues that have a plethora of bench spots, you'll have to sift deeper into the player pool in order to fill out your rosters. Make sure not to overlook prospects who, although have yet to debut, could be making impacts early in the season.

For this list, we're focused on prospect hitters who reside near or outside the top 250 picks in 2025 fantasy baseball drafts based on their current ADP. You can also check out my earlier article Top Hitter Fantasy Baseball Prospects for 2025 for some earlier-round targets, and be sure to bookmark our 2025 fantasy baseball prospects rankings for redraft leagues.

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Kristian Campbell, 2B/SS/OF, Boston Red Sox

Current ADP: 295
MLB Prospect Rank: No. 10 overall
2024 AAA stats: 19 G, 70 AB, .286-4-17-17-4, .404 wOBA, 139 wRC+

Peruse the Boston Red Sox's preseason top 30 in 2024, and you would not have found Kristian Campbell's name among the players listed after playing just 14 games at High-A by the end of 2023.

However, after cruising from High-A to Double-A and finally to Triple-A by the end of 2024, Campbell not only put his name up among the top Boston prospects, the Sox's 2023 fourth-round draft pick rocketed himself to the top 10 in all of baseball.

On the back of a sensational .330-20-77-94-24 line with a .447 wOBA and 180 wRC+ in 115 games (430 AB) across all three levels, the Georgia Tech product won MLB Pipeline Hitting Prospect of the Year and MiLB Breakout Player of the Year honors, as well as the Double-A Eastern League MVP for the production during his time there.

Was just thinking about this Kristian Campbell swing from the first series of 2024. Wound up being 450 feet and 113 mph exit velocity. What a special season it was for Campbell. Can't wait to see what he does in Boston. https://t.co/Ahm4TBSuD2

— Chris Clegg (@ChrisCleggMiLB) January 6, 2025

So, is he ready for the Show? Well, with only 70 at-bats at Triple-A, the sample size is small, but Campbell had an 81.8% Contact% and 88.8% Z-Contact% during that time. So, he makes contact at a better-than-average rate (76.8% was MLB average in '24), and better-than-average contact on pitches in the zone.

Not only that, the right-handed hitter recorded a 46.2% Hard-Hit%. Why is that important? Simply put -- the harder you hit the ball, the better chance you have to get a hit.

Sure, we can't expect those same numbers as soon as he gets to the big leagues, but if he can keep it up to start 2025 (assuming he starts at Triple-A), then it should reinforce that he can hit those pitchers and would be ready to test his mettle against the best that baseball has to offer.

What does have a chance to translate to the majors is his keen eye, notching a 14.6% career BB% in the minors (601 PA). Additionally, he's no zero in the stolen base department after recording 27 thefts in those plate appearances.

Recently acquired Alex Bregman could transition to second base, and if he does that would block Campbell's path to playing time at that position. However, Campbell played some shortstop, third base, and outfield last season, adding to his versatility, so his path to playing time doesn't necessarily have to go through 2B.

Recent rumblings have also said that Campbell could break camp as the starter at second base, with Bregman remaining at third base, which would move Rafael Devers to DH, so it's still possible Campbell could play his primary position, too.

The youngster is still going pretty low in most drafts and maybe not drafted at all in standard 12-team leagues. But if it looks like he'll make the club out of spring training, he could be a big-time fantasy contributor from the outset. If not, look for him to one of the earlier prospect call-ups of 2025.

Matt Shaw, 2B/3B/SS/DH, Chicago Cubs

Current ADP: 256
MLB Prospect Rank: No. 22 Overall
2024 AAA stats: 35 G, 152 PA, .298-7-21-18-6, .409 wOBA, 142 wRC+

The Chicago Cubs took infielder Matt Shaw with the 13th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. In his first taste of pro ball, the youngster breezed through High-A and Double-A, slashing .349/.384/.597 with seven homers, 13 steals, a .431 wOBA, and a 163 wRC+ in 159 plate appearances.

The 2024 season was more of the same, turning into an all-out audition for the Show. The University of Maryland product not only put up good counting stats and even improved some of them at the Triple-A level, but he also showed a more patient approach at the plate.

The former first-rounder's batting average went from .279 at Double-A to .298 at Triple-A, putting together a .284-21-71-78-31 stat line overall with a .394 wOBA and 146 wRC+.

Shaw has always struck out at a less-than-average rate, posting an 18.2% K% in 2024, but saw his walk rate increase dramatically year-over-year, from below average (5.3% BB%) in '23 to above average (11.9% BB%) in '24.

The 31 bags he stole in 2024 show that he has some speed as well, which would certainly be a plus for fantasy if he ends up at third base, a position that is generally devoid in that category.

With the Cubs set up in the middle with a pair of Gold Glovers in Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner, Shaw's path to playing time is the hot corner.

That path got clearer when the Cubs traded last year's third base acquisition, Isaac Paredes, to the Astros in December. Cubs President Jed Hoyer made that affirmation recently when he stated that Shaw would indeed have an opportunity to win the job come spring.

Right now, the 5-foot-9 prospect is the only real option at third base. Alex Bregman is off the table now after being acquired by the Red Sox. The Cubs signed veteran Justin Turner, but at 40 years old, he doesn't have much left in the tank and probably has more value as a leader and mentor than anything he can offer on offense or defense.

Shaw isn't on the 40-man roster, so the spot needs to be freed up too. But the ADP has surged as the season draws closer.

Regardless of how it pans out, Shaw looks like he'll be manning third for the Cubbies and could easily be a 20/20 player with the proper playing time. He appears primed to outproduce a current NFBC ADP of 256.

Who do you think will win NL Rookie of the Year?

Here's what front office execs had to say: https://t.co/XuHvnzHqrF pic.twitter.com/jjJrvwzRVg

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) January 6, 2025

Dalton Rushing, C/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Current ADP: 310
MLB Prospect Rank: No. 39 overall
2024 AAA stats: 37 G, 169 PA, .273-9-26-25-2, .399 wOBA, 128 wRC+

For managers looking for some power out of the catcher position late in drafts, Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Dalton Rushing could fit the bill.

Between Double-A and Triple-A last season, the 23-year-old belted 26 home runs in 420 at-bats while slashing .271/.384/.512 with a .401 wOBA and 142 wRC+.

His strikeout rate of 24.4% was a tad high in 2023 at High-A, which is not uncommon for power hitters, but the former 40th-overall draft pick was able to improve upon that considerably in 2024, striking out at 20.5%.

His calling card may be his keen eye, though, as the left-handed hitter boasts a 15.5% career walk rate in the minors, which was just as good at Triple-A last season (15.4%). That's something that should translate to the majors whenever he debuts.

Dalton Rushing, #1 Catching Prospect? pic.twitter.com/12hJHFqWxS

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) December 18, 2024

That's where it gets a little cloudy, as his main position is catcher, but the Dodgers already have Will Smith signed long-term. It's possible he's a better hitter than backup catcher Austin Barnes, but the veteran is surely more equipped to handle a major league pitching staff.

The Dodgers had Rushing play some outfield last season, which would make him more versatile, but the team has already brought back Teoscar Hernandez and signed Michael Conforto at the corner outfield spots where Rushing would presumably play.

So it will probably take an injury or prolonged underperformance to get Rushing up to the majors -- or perhaps he's moved in a trade at some point. But once he's there, a potential outfielder with positional eligibility at catcher who can hit for power and get on base makes for an intriguing fantasy asset.

At a current ADP of 310, the Louisville product won't cost much and could be a worthy bench stash in hopes of an early-season call-up in deeper leagues.

Honorable Mentions

More fantasy baseball prospects going later in drafts:

• Jordan Lawlar, Arizona Diamondbacks
• Coby Mayo, Baltimore Orioles
• Jacob Wilson, Athletics

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