Logan O'Hoppe (C-LAA) put together a solid if unspectacular first full season in the majors in 2024, posting a .244 average, 20 homers, 56 RBI, and 64 runs scored across 522 PA, with a slightly above-average wRC+ of 101. Contact was an issue as O'Hoppe recorded a 29.5% strikeout rate, 16.5% swinging-strike rate, and 68.5% contact rate. His 80.5% z-contact% was well below average. But he tended to blister the ball when he got the bat on it as his Statcast profile included a 46.5% hard-hit rate, 12% barrel rate, and 90.5 mph average exit velo. A launch angle of 15.3 helped him register a combined liner-flyball rate of 62% to make the most of his ability to make loud contact. It is concerning that his performance faded down the stretch, as he logged just a .196 average, 6 dingers, 14 RBI, and 23 runs scored in 207 PA after the All-Star break, with a wRC+ of just 64. During that span, O'Hoppe's strikeout rate jumped from 24% to 38% while his contact rate dipped to just 63.5% and his swinging-strike rate climbed to 19.5%, although his Statcast profile remained steady. There's been no indication that a nagging injury might have hampered his performance, so perhaps it was fatigue as he played the most that he has in a single professional campaign. Expect a similar season line in 2025, with a chance for better if he can avoid a similar falloff in production down the stretch.
Triston Casas (1B-BOS) is an intriguing option at 1B in fantasy in 2025 after he posted another above-average wRC+ (119) in 2024, albeit in another injury-shortened campaign. Across 243 PA, Casas hit .241 with 13 dingers, 32 RBI, and 28 runs scored. Concerningly, he fanned at a 31.5% clip but drew walks at a healthy 12.5% rate while contact was obviously a problem (14% swinging-strike rate and 69% contact rate) as his z-contact% in particular (76.5%) fell off a cliff. But Casas hit the ball hard when he made contact, with a Statcast profile that included a 45% hard-hit rate, 13.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo just north of 90 mph. A dip in his average launch angle to just 10.5 would have affected his power output more if not for a 25% HR/FB. It's worth noting that Casas' numbers likely suffered because the torn cartilage in his rib cage suffered in April forced him to miss over three months of action. If he can stay healthy, Casas seems like a lock for 25-30 bombs in his age-25 season, although his average seems likely to sit in the .240-.250 range unless he can slash his strikeout rate. Reports out of camp indicate that he'll bat against both lefties and rights, so volume should be there provided he can stay on the field.
Connor Norby (2B/3B-MIA) flashed some upside in his MLB debut last season, posting a .236 average to go with 9 homers, 20 RBI, 32 runs scored, and 3 steals across 194 PA with the Orioles and Marlins, with a wRC+ of 101. Norby spent the bulk of his age-24 season in Triple-A, where he batted .293 with 17 dingers, 60 RBI, 78 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases over 440 PA. That and his scouting profile suggest 20-10 potential, although his hit tool grades as slightly below average. As was the case in Triple-A before his promotion, Norby fanned a lot (33%), although he registered a more palatable 21.5% K% in 633 Triple-A PA in 2023. Norby absolutely struggled with contact in the majors, registering a 69% contact rate and 18% swinging-strike rate, with contact inside the zone poor (76.5%). His Statcast profile for his first run in the majors was a mixed bag, with a 38.5% hard-hit rate, average exit velo of 86, and a 15% barrel rate. His launch angle of 17 indicates that he had little trouble getting some lift on the ball, as he ripped liners at a healthy 25% clip and lofted flyballs at a 41% clip. Slotted into an everyday role with the Marlins, Norby is capable of a 20-10 campaign, but with a .240 or so average. He reportedly worked on his swing mechanics this off-season to unlock more power, so we'll see if he can get to the 30 homers he thinks he can hit.
CJ Abrams (SS-WSH) put together a second straight quality season in 2024, compiling a ,256 average to go with 20 homers, 65 RBI, 79 run scored, and 31 steals (albeit in 43 attempts) across 602 PA. With a wRC+ of 107 (up from 91 in 2023), Abrams was objectively more productive as he hit for more power (ISO up from .167 to .187) and drew more walks (BB% up from 5% in 2023 to 6.5% in 2024). Concerningly, Abrams did fan more often (up to 21.5% from 19%) as his swinging-strike rate climbed from 10.5% to 12% and his contact rate dipped from 80% to 77%. The good news is that his Statcast profile improved as his hard-hit rate climbed from 35.5% to 40.5% and his average exit velo went from 87.5 mph to a little over 88 and his barrel rate remained at 7%. The uptick in his launch angle from 13.5 to 15.1 did lead to almost a 3% increase in his flyball rate to 41.5%, entirely at the expense of grounders (40%) as his liner rate stayed at a touch above 18%. All things considered, Abrams should produce another 20-30 season in 2025, although the average will likely be unexciting at about .250. He indicated that he reported to camp with 10 more pounds of muscle than he had last season, so we'll see what that means for both power and speed.
Royce Lewis (3B-MIN) predictably missed significant time due to injury in 2024, logging 325 PA in which he registered a .233 average to go with 16 homers, 47 RBI, and 40 runs scored, with an above-average wRC+ of 108. In his age-25 season, Lewis's 23% strikeout rate and 8.5% walk rate were identical to those he posted in his eye-opening (if abbreviated) 2023 season (.309 average, 15 dingers, 52 RBI, and 36 runs scored across 239 PA). But his swinging-strike rate climbed from 11% to 13% while his contact rate sagged from 76.5% to 75%, in large part because his z-contact% slipped from 86% to 84%. Alarming, though, was the regression in terms of quality of contact, as his Statcast metrics tumbled across the board, with a 37.5% hard-hit rate (from 41.5% in 2023), 87 mph average exit velo (90 mph), and 11% barrel rate (11.5%). Lewis is a talented player, but it's tough to predict him to stay healthy for even close to a full season given his track record. But if he's able to register, say, 500 PA, 20-25 homers is realistic, although the combination of subpar contact and concerns about quality of contact raise questions about his ability to hit above .260, let alone top .300 again as he did in 2023.
Alex Bregman (3B-BOS) signed with Boston and is reportedly moving to 2B. This is great news for Bregman and fantasy owners, as his decent power should play well at Fenway while the position change adds roster flexibility and makes him an option at a fairly shallow 2B position. He was productive in his age-30 season in 2024, registering a .260 average to go with 26 homers, 75 RBI, and 79 runs scored over 634 PA, with an above-average wRC+ of 118. While his strikeout rate was pretty typical at 13.5%, it's concerning that his walk rate dipped to 7%, well below his 12% career clip. Much of Bregman's plate discipline profile remained stable, as he posted a 5% swinging-strike rate, 88.5% contact rate, 92.5% z-contact%, and 22% chase rate to go with a 45% swing rate. It's worth noting, though, that the swing rate and chase rate were both easily his highest in those departments since 2017, which indicates that he was being more aggressive at the plate. That's not necessarily a good thing given his ability to make contact, as a 75% o-contact% can mean less hard contact. Fortunately, Bregman's Statcast profile improved, as his 40% hard-hit rate was a career high while his average exit velo of 89 and 6% barrel rate were both par for the course. Expect a .260ish average to go with about 25 dingers in 2025.
Evan Carter (OF-TEX) will reportedly be considered for the leadoff spot to open the 2025 season, and he has batted leadoff in spring training. That's intriguing news given his plus batting eye and the power-speed combination that he flashed after reaching the majors toward the end of the 2023 campaign. Carter, of course, missed the bulk of his age-21 season because of a lingering back problem, but he's expected to be fully ready to go on Opening Day. We can't glean too much from what Carter did in 2024 before he was sidelined with that injury after just 162 PA, but what he did wasn't great, as he posted a .188 average with 5 dingers, 15 RBI, 23 runs scored, and 2 steals while registering a 26.5% strikeout rate against a 9.5% walk rate. His Statcast profile wasn't good (32.5% hard-hit rate, 6% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 86 mph) while his z-contact% was just 78%. Carter is only 22 and has potential, but he's little more than a lottery ticket in fantasy right now based on his lost 2024 season. There is 15-20 potential here, but the average may be a liability. The team will reportedly closely monitor his back this season, so he may get regular days off.
Dylan Crews (OF-WSH) arrived in the majors with some hype late last season as the 2023 #2 overall pick out of LSU had hit .270 with 13 homers, 68 RBI, 60 runs scored, and 25 steals with a 115 wRC+ across 449 Double-A and Triple-A to start the campaign. The 22 year-old then batted .218 with 3 dingers, 8 RBI, 12 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in 132 PA with the Nationals. He commanded the plate reasonably well with a 19.5% strikeout rate and 8% walk rate, but a .253 BABIP - down from the .316 he had in the minors before his promotion - sank his average. His contact rate wasn't bad at 77.5% while much the same can be said of his swinging-strike rate (10%). He did not chase often (26%) while posting a z-contact% of 87.5%. His Statcast profile was a mixed bag as he posted a 44.5% hard-hit rate, 89 mph average exit velocity, and 6.5% barrel rate with an average launch angle of 8.8 generating a 57.5% groundball rate that limited his power output. Unless he can lift the ball more, Crews is probably a 15-homer guy who should swipe 25+ bags. The average is a question mark, so expect .240 and be happy with anything more as his age-23 season will only be his third as a pro. Reports indicate that he's expected to be the team's #2 hitter to open the season.
Jarren Duran (OF-BOS) took a big step forward as a 27 year-old in 2024, registering a .285 average to go with 21 homers, 75 RBI, 111 runs scored, and 34 stolen bases across 735 PA, with a healthy 129 wRC+. Duran cut his strikeout rate to 22% (was 25% in 2023) while drawing a few more walks (up to 7.5% from 6.5%) while his swinging-strike rate dropped from 11% to 10.5%. Meanwhile, his Statcast generally improved as he registered a 43.5% hard-hit rate, 9% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 91 mph. A launch angle of 9.5 limited his power output, though, as he posted a 46.5% groundball rate. Encouragingly, Duran sustained his success in the second half and even showed more power, as he registered a .286 average across 269 PA after the All-Star break, while hitting 10 of his homers during that span (as opposed to a .284 average and 11 dingers in 402 PA before the break). Another 20-30 campaign is quite possible in 2025 while it remains to be seen whether he can replicate a .285 average since a .345 BABIP was fairly robust. Just make sure to keep an eye on the news as he's dealing with calf soreness that is reportedly not overly concerning.
Jackson Jobe (SP-DET) is one to watch as spring training unfolds as reports indicate that he could break camp as part of the Tigers' starting rotation if all goes well. The odds of him making the Opening Day roster seemed long after the signings of Alex Cobb and Jack Flaherty, but Cobb is reportedly dealing with a hip issue that will likely force him to start the season on the IL while health is always a question with Flaherty. Jobe, moreover, has reportedly worked on a curveball and two-seam fastball during the offseason in order to improve his strikeout rate in 2025. Indeed, after posting an 11.8 K/9 in 64 minor-league IP as a 20 year-old in 2023, that figure dipped to 9.9 in 91.2 minor-league IP last season. Control is also a concern, as Jobe posted a 4.4 BB/9 in the minors last season after that figure was just 0.8 in 2023. He certainly flashed his upside in a 4-IP MLB debut last season as his fastball averaged 97 mph. The former first-round draft pick (#3 overall out of high school in 2021) is widely regarded as a top SP prospect and has the pure stuff to emerge as a fantasy contributor this season, so make sure he's on your radar as spring training unfolds.
Garrett Crochet (SP-BOS) joined the Red Sox during the offseason after a breakout 2024 season in which he recorded a 3.58 ERA, 12.9 K/9, and 2 BB/9 across 146 IP. The White Sox did manage his workload down the stretch, though, as Crochet threw only 37.1 IP in the majors and minors combined in 2023 as he returned from Tommy John surgery. The southpaw threw just 38.2 IP after the All-Star break and while his ERA was 5.12 during that span, his 13.7 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, and 2.22 xFIP were stellar. Overall, Crochet was electric in 2024 as his xFIP came in at just 2.38 while he posted a 16% swinging-strike rate and limited the opposition to a contact rate of only 69.5%. The longball was an issue, though, as he had a 1.1 HR/9 and 14.4% HR/FB, but his Statcast profile wasn't too alarming with a 39% hard-hit rate, 9% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 88.5 mph. Expect Crochet to pile up more innings in his age-26 season and while the K/9 may dip a bit, a rate north of 11 seems likely while his advanced metrics suggest an ERA in the low-3s is quite possible. He has fantasy ace talent and should be drafted as a top-12 SP. His first outing of spring training was an eventful one as he lasted just 1.2 IP on a pitch count, allowing no runs on 3 hits and a walk while recording 4 punchouts.
Taj Bradley (SP-TB) turned in a solid 2024 campaign in his age-23 season, posting a 4.11 ERA, 10 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, and 3.62 xFIP across 138 IP. The righty's numbers were therefore significantly improved overall from his 5.59 ERA, 11.1 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, and 3.83 xFIP in 104.2 IP in 2023. Even though his strikeout rate dipped a little, his swinging-strike rate actually climbed from 11.5% to 12.5% while the opposition's contact rate slipped from 77.5% to 75%. Meanwhile, his Statcast profile improved slightly as his hard-hit rate went from 46.5% to 41.5% while his barrel rate declined slightly from 10.5% to 10% and his average exit velo remained steady at a shade over 91 mph. Bradley's average launch angle, moreover, fell from 17.1 to 13.3, which was reflected in a lower liner rate (down to 18.5% from 22%), higher grounder rate, (up to 42% from 36.5%), and lower flyball rate (down to 39.5% from 41.5%). While his HR/FB was still high at 15%, that was down from 19% the year before as his HR/9 dipped from 1.98 to 1.43. Look for further growth in 2025 as Bradley could cement himself as a top-40 fantasy SP with an ERA in the high-3s to go with a K/9 north of 9 and a BB/9 about 3. Just know that the move from Tropicana Field to Steinbrenner Field is a downgrade for pitchers.
Joe Ryan (SP-MIN) has reportedly recovered from his shoulder injury and was able to have a fairly normal offseason, so he appears to be in line to start the season as the club's #2 SP. Before sustaining the injury, the righty was enjoying another quality campaign as he compiled a 3.60 ERA, 9.8 K/9, 1.5 BB/9, and 3.44 xFIP ion 135 IP. In his age-28 season, Ryan recorded a solid 12.5% swinging-strike rate while the opposition registered a 75.5% contact rate. The biggest departure from 2023 was his improved Statcast profile, which included a 36.5% hard-hit rate, 8.5% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 88.5 mph. With a launch angle of 18.5, he's certainly a flyball-oriented pitcher (45.5% in 2024), so limiting the hard contact is key. Based on his multi-year sample size, fantasy owners should look for more of the same in 2025 - an ERA in the mid-high 3s to go with a K or so per IP.
Zac Gallen (SP-ARI) put together another quality campaign in 2024 with a 3.65 ERA, 9.5 K/9, and 3.62 xFIP across 148 IP, although his control wasn't sharp as he posted a 3.3 BB/9 after that figure was 2.3 or less the previous two campaigns. In his age-28 season, the righty's swinging-strike rate also slipped a little from 11% to 10.5% while the opposition's contact rate remained steady at 76%. Gallen's Statcast profile was his saving grace as his hard-hit rate dipped from 46% to 41% while his barrel rate fell from 9% to 7.5% and his average launch exit velo went from 91.5 mph to an even 90. He has enough of a track record in the majors at this point that we can project a season similar to the likes of Joe Ryan - a mid-high 3 ERA, and a 9-plus K/9. Once a borderline ace, he's more of a #3ish SP for fantasy.
Brandon Pfaadt (SP-ARI) was much better in 2024 than his 4.71 ERA would suggest. In his age-25 season, the righty logged a 9.2 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, and 3.58 xFIP over 181.2 IP. The gap between the ERA and xFIP points to an unlucky 64.5% strand rate in particular inflating the former. Pfaadt's 11.5% swinging-strike rate was solid while the opposition's contact rate was below-average at 77%. Statcast shows improvement across the board from 2023, as the opposition's contact rate (down to 39% from 43.5%), exit velo (down to 89.5 mph from 90), and barrel rate (down to 8% from 11.5%) were all better. He could take a step forward in the strikeout department in 2025, but even if not his strong control and improved ability to limit hard contact should help to put Pfaadt around the likes of Joe Ryan and Zac Gallen in terms of fantasy value (because there is a bit more confidence they can record a K/9 of 9.5-10). View him as a #3-4 fantasy SP right now with #2 potential.